I have an 03 350z with 83000 miles on it. ive had it for almost 4 years now, got it with 45k on it. I was recently in a wreck and smashed the entire right side of the car. The rear quarter panel, the door, and the fender need replaced as well as the piece above the door that connects to the roof. Im estimating 3k in damages. it still drives but it is very ugly. I was wondering if it is unheard of to trade this in for a big step down to get me through my last 9 months of University. Would a used car dealership even think of trading me like an older 4-5k car to just fix it up and sell this?

I can show pictures but I was just curious if used car dealerships do trade-ins like this? I realize i'd still lose a lot of money if I did this but Im a broke college kid who hit some black ice with only liability.

 

Well they clearly wont give you squat for a damaged car, 4 years im assuming the car is payed off. just fix it and drive it.

 

dont have enough money to fix it and I need a car. My options are very limited.

 

if it's minor cosmetically just ride out until you get a job, then fix it and trade in.

 

Ive worked at dealers and you wont get much. They lowball.

 

what they will give you is value minus retail cost of repairs. they can fix it for less than that then dispose of the fixed car.

 

Piks?

 

the dealers would take anything in. but they will give you next to nothing for it

your best bet would be to try to sell it privately or obviously get some sort of insurance claim

 

OP: Why would you only get liability insurance!?! Don't say you couldn't afford it because if you couldn't afford full coverage then you shouldn't have bought a Z...

 

OP, if the car drives fine, then just drive it. Save up money to get her fixed up, then decide from there.

If you trade it in, you're gonna get a$$ raped by the dealer, and you're just going to lose more money.

 

Hate to disagree with the other posters but it does happen years ago I traded in a 280 Z for a 300 Z. The 280 had been vandalized. It had a screwdriver taken to the paint with cuts to the metal covering the car and wheels. The dealer gave me the retail minus 50% of the estimated cost for a full pant job.

Besides, what have you got to lose by asking?

 

Who said he bought it?

OP, since there's no lien on the car, put a for sale sign on it for $7,000 OBO. If someone bites, great; buy a $6,000 car and put $1,000 towards a good tune-up and maintenance. If not, you still have a car.

 

cough, cough "insurance loss", cough,cough

 

In all honesty, just buy like a $500 winter beater car and drive it out until you get the money to fix it.