Wrecked Z - Fix it or ditch it?
Ok we are going to give you tough love here cause we in the Z community love you:
Sell a kidney, a lung and buy new 350z lol.
Omg I hate to pile on but how on earth you paid over 30k for 4 year old car is astounding!!!!!!! No offense but if you don't have the sense to compare prices and not overpay by a FEW THOUSANDS IN LOANS, not have the sense to get gap insurance... If I were you I'd keep my faith in airbags. Lol see a pattern of bad decisions here? You're trying to argue against the marits of airbags is hilarious after your many good decisions you've made (sarcasm) lol
Here's my $100 million advice. Buy a geo metro, get gap insurance, don't pay more than 1000 on the geo, move in with parents.
Sell a kidney, a lung and buy new 350z lol.
Omg I hate to pile on but how on earth you paid over 30k for 4 year old car is astounding!!!!!!! No offense but if you don't have the sense to compare prices and not overpay by a FEW THOUSANDS IN LOANS, not have the sense to get gap insurance... If I were you I'd keep my faith in airbags. Lol see a pattern of bad decisions here? You're trying to argue against the marits of airbags is hilarious after your many good decisions you've made (sarcasm) lol
Here's my $100 million advice. Buy a geo metro, get gap insurance, don't pay more than 1000 on the geo, move in with parents.
Last edited by SoldzMyZ; May 26, 2010 at 04:43 AM.
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From: Boise, Idaho
Hmm I don't know how some of you got kick *** prices on your Z's... my defense for this is it was very hard finding a nice pool of them here to choose from in the area where I live. Not only that but since I didn't have cash up front to go buy one for myself and make my own deal, I had to go through a dealership. We all know why they are called stealerships... Granted I didn't try to bargain with the dealer either which was no help. Like I said from the beginning I didn't think my purchase through and rushed the buy, the two biggest mistakes one can make.
Now my question to you guys, when you buy a Z... and if a good one is 500 miles away how the hell do you get it? Do you deal over the phone then drive there and drive it back? Or do you arrange to have it shipped?
Zmazing03 - I know it will cost over $2K, that's if I want it done properly... but if I'm just trying to get it in decent enough condition to track the car I can probably get away a lot cheaper.
$440 for radiator, $350 for the entire rad support, front bumper reinforcement beam $205... bunch of other bits and pieces maybe $500. Used body panels from junk yard maybe $500. Used right headlamp maybe $250. So I think it's possible to get it down for close to $2,000 if that is all that I do and that all that NEED's done. Granted I haven't had the car on a lift, checked by a auto-body repair guy, or even have torn it apart enough to know how bad it really is. It could be worse and will cost way more that this. And it usually ends up that way...
andrew's 350Z - No I don't wanna sell the wheels... but they are just the cheap Rota's and the OEM's are probably worth more used. I wanted my wheels back but insurance wouldn't give them to me saying I had to put the OEM ones back on, with tires... WHY??? Anyway, it may be part of my bargaining to get them back and hold them for my future Z.
booey1979 - I have the sense to get GAP, that sense just wasn't enable when I bought the car. lol... yes, horrible and stupid decision. And i'm just being fecisous about the airbags, mainly because if I were to get the car back i'm going to track the car and not really drive it on the road.
As for your advice... already done. lol... Except the Geo is a old RX7 (just as slow), and WHY GAP on a POS? And already living with the rents to save cash for another year.
Now my question to you guys, when you buy a Z... and if a good one is 500 miles away how the hell do you get it? Do you deal over the phone then drive there and drive it back? Or do you arrange to have it shipped?
Zmazing03 - I know it will cost over $2K, that's if I want it done properly... but if I'm just trying to get it in decent enough condition to track the car I can probably get away a lot cheaper.
$440 for radiator, $350 for the entire rad support, front bumper reinforcement beam $205... bunch of other bits and pieces maybe $500. Used body panels from junk yard maybe $500. Used right headlamp maybe $250. So I think it's possible to get it down for close to $2,000 if that is all that I do and that all that NEED's done. Granted I haven't had the car on a lift, checked by a auto-body repair guy, or even have torn it apart enough to know how bad it really is. It could be worse and will cost way more that this. And it usually ends up that way...
andrew's 350Z - No I don't wanna sell the wheels... but they are just the cheap Rota's and the OEM's are probably worth more used. I wanted my wheels back but insurance wouldn't give them to me saying I had to put the OEM ones back on, with tires... WHY??? Anyway, it may be part of my bargaining to get them back and hold them for my future Z.
booey1979 - I have the sense to get GAP, that sense just wasn't enable when I bought the car. lol... yes, horrible and stupid decision. And i'm just being fecisous about the airbags, mainly because if I were to get the car back i'm going to track the car and not really drive it on the road.
As for your advice... already done. lol... Except the Geo is a old RX7 (just as slow), and WHY GAP on a POS? And already living with the rents to save cash for another year.
For a rebuild my costs:
less than 100 for aftermarket radiator, auto, new shipped
239 new rad support complete local pickup
70 used front cover, 80 used re-enforcer with foam
hood 120 used, fender 80 each used
light 90 used and 600 to paint all.
Misc stuff ~~100
Restraint system was a little extra but it was replaced since I loan this car out [full time now].
Runs and drives better than new..[no feathering]
less than 100 for aftermarket radiator, auto, new shipped
239 new rad support complete local pickup
70 used front cover, 80 used re-enforcer with foam
hood 120 used, fender 80 each used
light 90 used and 600 to paint all.
Misc stuff ~~100
Restraint system was a little extra but it was replaced since I loan this car out [full time now].
Runs and drives better than new..[no feathering]
For a rebuild my costs:
less than 100 for aftermarket radiator, auto, new shipped
239 new rad support complete local pickup
70 used front cover, 80 used re-enforcer with foam
hood 120 used, fender 80 each used
light 90 used and 600 to paint all.
Misc stuff ~~100
Restraint system was a little extra but it was replaced since I loan this car out [full time now].
Runs and drives better than new..[no feathering]
less than 100 for aftermarket radiator, auto, new shipped
239 new rad support complete local pickup
70 used front cover, 80 used re-enforcer with foam
hood 120 used, fender 80 each used
light 90 used and 600 to paint all.
Misc stuff ~~100
Restraint system was a little extra but it was replaced since I loan this car out [full time now].
Runs and drives better than new..[no feathering]
but to the OP.. atleast go out and take the bumper off to see if theres anymore damage.. it takes like 15 mins
Ditch the car! And don't even think about buying a new one until you pay off that $9K! When you make mistakes, you gotta pay for them. And the consequence here is that you gotta drive a beater for a little while. Don't get sucked into the "ghetto-rich" mentality of driving a nice car that you really shouldn't be paying for. Just wait it out, take your time, and get yourself in a position to buy another Z outright.
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From: Boise, Idaho
I have a feeling some of you guys just scan the pages quickly and don't actually read everything...
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.
Last edited by gregom; May 26, 2010 at 06:10 PM.
My body is used to being thrown around in the car since I track the car a fair bit, so I stay in my seat and don't flop around like some people do when driving. I have a friend who has gone to the track with me as a passenger and he flops around like those inanimate crash test dummies, seriously has no muscle control at all... really annoying. Those people need an airbag... but someone who can stay in their seat without moving around too much probably doesn't in this type of collision.
I hate air bags just as much as you, but they are there for a very real reason.. and not because some people flop around like fish out of water when they take a hard turn.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 23
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From: Florida
Just a thought.
You can fix the car for around $2,000. OK, throw in the airbags and a little fudge, $5,000.
But the insurance company is going to total it out for $15,000.
Must be either the dumbest insurance company on the planet and you should take the money quick before they fail and you get nothing, or , they know something you don't know.
Which do you suppose it is?
You can fix the car for around $2,000. OK, throw in the airbags and a little fudge, $5,000.
But the insurance company is going to total it out for $15,000.
Must be either the dumbest insurance company on the planet and you should take the money quick before they fail and you get nothing, or , they know something you don't know.
Which do you suppose it is?
I have a feeling some of you guys just scan the pages quickly and don't actually read everything...
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.
Hmm I don't know how some of you got kick *** prices on your Z's... my defense for this is it was very hard finding a nice pool of them here to choose from in the area where I live. Not only that but since I didn't have cash up front to go buy one for myself and make my own deal, I had to go through a dealership. We all know why they are called stealerships... Granted I didn't try to bargain with the dealer either which was no help. Like I said from the beginning I didn't think my purchase through and rushed the buy, the two biggest mistakes one can make.
Now my question to you guys, when you buy a Z... and if a good one is 500 miles away how the hell do you get it? Do you deal over the phone then drive there and drive it back? Or do you arrange to have it shipped?
Zmazing03 - I know it will cost over $2K, that's if I want it done properly... but if I'm just trying to get it in decent enough condition to track the car I can probably get away a lot cheaper.
$440 for radiator, $350 for the entire rad support, front bumper reinforcement beam $205... bunch of other bits and pieces maybe $500. Used body panels from junk yard maybe $500. Used right headlamp maybe $250. So I think it's possible to get it down for close to $2,000 if that is all that I do and that all that NEED's done. Granted I haven't had the car on a lift, checked by a auto-body repair guy, or even have torn it apart enough to know how bad it really is. It could be worse and will cost way more that this. And it usually ends up that way...
andrew's 350Z - No I don't wanna sell the wheels... but they are just the cheap Rota's and the OEM's are probably worth more used. I wanted my wheels back but insurance wouldn't give them to me saying I had to put the OEM ones back on, with tires... WHY??? Anyway, it may be part of my bargaining to get them back and hold them for my future Z.
booey1979 - I have the sense to get GAP, that sense just wasn't enable when I bought the car. lol... yes, horrible and stupid decision. And i'm just being fecisous about the airbags, mainly because if I were to get the car back i'm going to track the car and not really drive it on the road.
As for your advice... already done. lol... Except the Geo is a old RX7 (just as slow), and WHY GAP on a POS? And already living with the rents to save cash for another year.
Now my question to you guys, when you buy a Z... and if a good one is 500 miles away how the hell do you get it? Do you deal over the phone then drive there and drive it back? Or do you arrange to have it shipped?
Zmazing03 - I know it will cost over $2K, that's if I want it done properly... but if I'm just trying to get it in decent enough condition to track the car I can probably get away a lot cheaper.
$440 for radiator, $350 for the entire rad support, front bumper reinforcement beam $205... bunch of other bits and pieces maybe $500. Used body panels from junk yard maybe $500. Used right headlamp maybe $250. So I think it's possible to get it down for close to $2,000 if that is all that I do and that all that NEED's done. Granted I haven't had the car on a lift, checked by a auto-body repair guy, or even have torn it apart enough to know how bad it really is. It could be worse and will cost way more that this. And it usually ends up that way...
andrew's 350Z - No I don't wanna sell the wheels... but they are just the cheap Rota's and the OEM's are probably worth more used. I wanted my wheels back but insurance wouldn't give them to me saying I had to put the OEM ones back on, with tires... WHY??? Anyway, it may be part of my bargaining to get them back and hold them for my future Z.
booey1979 - I have the sense to get GAP, that sense just wasn't enable when I bought the car. lol... yes, horrible and stupid decision. And i'm just being fecisous about the airbags, mainly because if I were to get the car back i'm going to track the car and not really drive it on the road.
As for your advice... already done. lol... Except the Geo is a old RX7 (just as slow), and WHY GAP on a POS? And already living with the rents to save cash for another year.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
Man, I just read this whole thread, took me a while. Sorry to hear bro, that totally sucks!!!!!
This forum can be pretty lame at times, and I don't care who you are, you know what I mean. Some people have given some great advice, but overall, its kinda pathetic. Its an example of the society we live in. Negative. Always focusing on problems, rather than solutions. Relax people.
I know how I would feel if I lost my Z, not great, and I wouldn't want some jerk rubbing it in, just to show how cool they are on teh webz... thats all.
I dont know if I would buy it back. When your upside down in something, sometimes you have to cut your losses, and not invest more. I deal with mortgage loss mitigation for a living. If I were in your situation, I would watch lots of funny movies, hang around with lots of friends
...hide the guns... 
I would probably have to say let her go and work a deal with the bank, which it already sounds like your doing. Good luck, and play it by ear. Get that extra principle paid and get a new DB Z asap.
Last edited by WhiteNoiz; May 26, 2010 at 09:30 PM.
Do it, I love socks
Man, I just read this whole thread, took me a while. Sorry to hear bro, that totally sucks!!!!!
This forum can be pretty lame at times, and I don't care who you are, you know what I mean. Some people have given some great advice, but overall, its kinda pathetic. Its an example of the society we live in. Negative. Always focusing on problems, rather than solutions. Relax people.
I know how I would feel if I lost my Z, not great, and I wouldn't want some jerk rubbing it in, just to show how cool they are on teh webz... thats all.
I dont know if I would buy it back. When your upside down in something, sometimes you have to cut your losses, and not invest more. I deal with mortgage loss mitigation for a living. If I were in your situation, I would watch lots of funny movies, hang around with lots of friends ...hide the guns...
I would probably have to say let her go and work a deal with the bank, which it already sounds like your doing. Good luck, and play it by ear. Get that extra principle paid and get a new DB Z asap.
Man, I just read this whole thread, took me a while. Sorry to hear bro, that totally sucks!!!!!
This forum can be pretty lame at times, and I don't care who you are, you know what I mean. Some people have given some great advice, but overall, its kinda pathetic. Its an example of the society we live in. Negative. Always focusing on problems, rather than solutions. Relax people.
I know how I would feel if I lost my Z, not great, and I wouldn't want some jerk rubbing it in, just to show how cool they are on teh webz... thats all.
I dont know if I would buy it back. When your upside down in something, sometimes you have to cut your losses, and not invest more. I deal with mortgage loss mitigation for a living. If I were in your situation, I would watch lots of funny movies, hang around with lots of friends
...hide the guns... I would probably have to say let her go and work a deal with the bank, which it already sounds like your doing. Good luck, and play it by ear. Get that extra principle paid and get a new DB Z asap.
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,274
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From: Boise, Idaho
Well I keep thinking about it and I just don't want that auto back... and I really don't want to try and fix it. I'm going to try to get a few more grand out of insurance and negotiate the rest with the bank and get the eff out of this crap deal ASAP. I'll just have to suffer a year in a torque-less RX-7, which is really the only major annoyance I have. But I got my manual back so at least i'm not half asleep when driving, which come to think of it may have caused the crash in the first place... j/k, but it's nice to drive a manual again. But honestly i'd take the torque and auto of my Z over the manual where a bicyclist can get off the line faster than me. 
I'm out guys, thanks for all the responses... i'll let you know what happens, and hopefully in about a year or so i'll be back here with a nice DB 350Z in manual.
And yeah, my signature is now a kick in the nuts.
I'm out guys, thanks for all the responses... i'll let you know what happens, and hopefully in about a year or so i'll be back here with a nice DB 350Z in manual.
And yeah, my signature is now a kick in the nuts.
Last edited by gregom; May 27, 2010 at 03:51 AM.
I have a feeling some of you guys just scan the pages quickly and don't actually read everything...
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.
Anyway I think where the headlight sits is part of the entire front radiator support. It doesn't look like the damage went beyond that too much. It's a good idea to go tear the front bumper off and take a look but I don't think the insurance will let me. They wouldn't even let me go get my stuff out of it and wanted to ship it to me, despite the fact the salvage yard is only a mile from where I work.
TPete19 - Who said anything about buying a new one quickly? If you read my posts you'd see I plan to pay it all off before getting another Z. There is no way i'm buying another one now with an existing loan. And I don't have any 'ghetto-rich' mentality you speak of... I'm perfectly fine with having a beater car, I have great respect for driving a beater. But I really, really enjoyed driving the Z. And that is what it's all about for me... the enjoyment of driving a fun car, enjoying the weather with the top down.
ErkTheJerk73 - Clever name... indicative of something? lol, anyway dude 19.5K for an 03 with 90K miles? lol... no thanks. Even if I did have the money why would I do that when I could of got a 04 with 22K miles, as a Roadster, in the color I wanted, and the transmission I wanted for only $16,750? Makes about as much sense as my first buying decision. No disrespect intended.