Had a little fender bender yesterday...

**MrVito** · 07-26-2011, 04:50 PM

Was on my way to work yesterday morning, making a left turn on a green arrow, when somebody decided to run the red. They have insurance, admitted fault, were ticketed etc.

So now I'm a bit torn. If my STi is totaled out, do I buy a beater to get me by for the next year, and save the cash to put towards my FR-S? Do I buy another 04-05 STi? If it's repaired, should I take any pain and suffering money + devaluation payments and set it aside, then trade in the STi next year on the FR-S?

I had been planning on keeping the STi AND buying a FR-S, so my 240SX would have a RWD friend, but at this point I'm not really sure what I want to do. My biggest gripe is that the STi was an 04 (the lightest of the ones we got in the U.S.), Java Black Pearl, Gold BBS's, tastefully modded, and in perfect shape with 66k miles on it, I don't think I can find one nearby for a reasonable price. I want to stab the woman that hit me.

**G4BROKE** · 07-26-2011, 05:11 PM

Wow..that really sucks, sorry to hear.

**Genki** · 07-26-2011, 06:56 PM

That doesn't look at all like a total to me. Did the airbags pop?

**HyperFX** · 07-26-2011, 07:33 PM

Sorry to see some battle damage. I also agree that it doesn't look totaled. If the frame is not bent and the engine still intact you can certainly repair it. Probably needs some front end job. *honestly it looks like a drift car that hit a wall which is repairable. I would repair it, sell it and buy a FR-S next year, which is in a few months.

**Cal** · 07-26-2011, 08:42 PM

Were you ok from the accident? I would also think that it is not a total, since it it look likes hood, front bumper and fender and a headlight. Just make sure they give you a rental for the time your car is being fixed and that you pick a good shop.

**ryun84** · 07-26-2011, 11:43 PM

Sucks. Luckily you're not seriously hurt (I hope). Still sad to see such a pristine and beautiful vehicle in such shape. I, too, think it is not totaled. I'd say you repair it and drive it around until the FR-S is available. Take any pain/suffering/devaluation money and put it aside to have on hand for whatever you see fit. Anyways, hope you feel better.

**modifiedMR** · 07-26-2011, 11:45 PM

Might be frame damage there and the car will never really be the same. If it's the frame, get rid of it. That really sucks dude. That's my 3rd favorite style of the STI (behind the bug-eyed and new non-hatches). I don't know if it's totaled, but sometimes things like the whole engine bay are tweaked and it's hard to get things right again.

**ej25ti** · 07-27-2011, 09:29 AM

OH NO!!! MY TWIN!!!

Sorry to hear man, that looks exactly like what happened to me! Hope everything works out! Glad she accepted fault and what not!

**MrVito** · 07-27-2011, 10:46 AM

Well, the body shop's estimate is just under $8,000 for now, but that is pending review after sending a parts list to Subaru to get accurate prices. They're also sending the car to Subaru to have a new timing belt put on so they can start the car and see if everything is running correctly or not, and get an estimate from them for mechanical repair. After all that, they'll be able to tell me weather or not it's getting fixed, or totaled out.

**Cal** · 07-27-2011, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by MrVito

Well, the body shop's estimate is just under $8,000 for now, but that is pending review after sending a parts list to Subaru to get accurate prices. They're also sending the car to Subaru to have a new timing belt put on so they can start the car and see if everything is running correctly or not, and get an estimate from them for mechanical repair. After all that, they'll be able to tell me weather or not it's getting fixed, or totaled out.

$8000, hmm.... I just did KBB on a 2004 Sti sedan with stock options with 50,000 miles in excellent condition and got a trade in value of 17K, also did an WRX with same miles, good condition, stock options, and got a value of 11K.

I would think your car would be fixable.

**MrVito** · 07-27-2011, 03:36 PM

04 sti, 66500, excellent condition, I didn't check the trade in value, but the private party and dealer prices were both just a hair over 20k.

**Cal** · 07-27-2011, 08:44 PM

Which means you should be good as far as repairs go. Most states don't total unless it is flooded or at the 70-80% margin. I forget GA right now, Im thinking it is 80.

**MrVito** · 07-28-2011, 11:52 AM

USAA said 70% for a friends truck, so yeah, It'd have to be another 6k in damages to total it out. Though the timing belt broke in the accident, and the EJ257 in an interference motor, so it's most likely got at least a couple of bent valves and scarred pistons. I wonder if they factor in a months worth of rental car and devaluation into weather or not to total it. Going to be stuck in the auto v6 Charger for a minimum of 3 weeks, ugh, land yacht.

**Cal** · 07-28-2011, 10:10 PM

V6 Charger to this day is the most disappointing vehicle I have ever driven. Does the adjuster know about the interference part of the engine?

**MrVito** · 07-29-2011, 06:25 AM

I told them about it, they said it's still got to go to Subaru to have a new timing belt put on to see how much mechanical damage there is. I talk more to the agent handling the claim, State Farm uses NADA values, so 16725 for my car. She also said that at this point, and significant mechanical damage will total it out, so keep your fingers crossed.