Got into an accident and smacked the carpool wall in my 06 Z... long story short, it costs about 16k to fix - subframe damage, slight damage to quarter panel and passenger side of both bumpers, passenger front and rear suspension torn up, both passenger wheels need to be replaced. Amazingly, there is no damage to the pass. door, no broken windows, airbags not popped, headlight and tail-light still intact, hood and hatch still open and close with no obstruction. Insurance will definitely not total the car because its worth 26k private party sale. I am sketchy regarding the subframe but I do understand that its unibody and can be returned to factory specs. However, how should the suspension be replaced? Do they need to replace both sides of the car? I am insured through esurance and they do guarantee repairs for the life of the car. Should I just let them do their job and not worry?
-Shawn
behind rear wheel

front bumper cover, wheel/suspension damage

rear damage, wheel saved the day but destroyed the suspension and everything related to it

 

it will never be the same afterwards.

 

The guy above is an idiot.


If the car isnt to badly damaged it could repaired easily. The repair estimates are simply a joke. The body shop industry is dying a sad slow death. They need guys like you to make some money. But cant tell how bad the car is with out a few pics. If the car wasnt totalled out it can be repaired!!!!

 

it "can" be repaired, but if you suffered frame damage they will have to bend and tweak it back straight which will weaken the frame. Depending on how bad it is, this could cause higher speed vibrations, slack in the steering wheel and a few other annoying, unavoidable down falls. When they say a car is never the same after frame damage they mean it. The post above is correct, the estimates to fix the car is rediculous because they know the insurance is going to cut a check. 16k worth of damages is no joke, i would consider taking the money and getting into a new Z. Pics would be nice though....

 

With "subframe damage" and "front and rear suspension torn up" I agree with Ztalker. They may be able to put it back together, it might even look like new but it will always have issues. Almost guaranteed that the tires will wear poorly. On top of that, things will break, random things, and you will be coming here saying things like "the spring in my door handle broke and it is floppy now" and everyone will comment about how they have never heard of that before.

Chris

 

i have state farm and if the cost to repair my car is 50% or higher value of the car they will total it.. /shrug

 

How many of these cars have any of you guys actually fixed. It appears alot of you like me are in the body shop business and I would love to know what cars you say cant be fixed with subframe damage and the suspension torn up? I raced GT series for more then 10 yrs and hate to say atleast one of those cars had the suspension torn off the car each race and it was still on the track the next week running fine. All 5 of my last 911 gt Porsches are still competeing and everyone had at least one major accident.

I have never bought a 350Z off of Copart that needed more then $7000 cdn to fix it. Some of the quotes for the cars were over $20000 US to repair. If you look at dealer cost of the parts maybe but we get 20% to 30% off anyways. Things like airbags and the like can be purchased off Ebay. I have rebuilt 9 350Z's in the lasty 16 months and have only had problems with my A/C and having to reset the steering wheel for the VDC to work properly. I think we have here alot of people who really dont know much about repairing a car.

 

You have a nail in your tire.

Get another estimate? Find a friendly estimator?

You will always hear some noise or something after a repair like that even if one doesn't exist.

 

most of the times, if the damages are borderline to be totalled, your adjuster might be able to pull a few strings if you step for foot down hard enough.

let them know, even after repairs, you wouldn't feel safe driving the car anymore. it worked in my situation.

however, your airbags didn't deploy, nor did the windshield bust. good luck.

 

Well... At least you didn't do this... That vette will never be the same fo sho.

 

insurance company decided to total the car... I will be getting their offer tomorrow. I know that I can counter their offer with my own research. However, if they offer a buyback and I decide to keep the vehicle, what do I need to do? I just want to keep it as a parts car. Once Ive taken out everything, do I just have it towed to the land fill? How does this work with DMV? Thanks for any help.
-shawn

 

WHAT THE.....OH GOD...don't think they made it out of that car.

about the bent frame comments....i don't know how most shops work, but i used to have a dakota that I was told had frame damage after an accident. insurance agent said it was totaled... i told them I wanted it fixed anyways, since it wasn't my insurance claim.

long story short, different body shop fixed the truck..they said there wasn't a single bit of frame damage. they said the other place prob got did lots of work for state farm and the agent talked them into saying it had frame damage.