There was damage to the trunk lid, the rear bumper and the body panel underneath the bumper. The estimate sits at $2800 or so right now. I'm just thoroughly upset that 1) my car in the shape it's in could be appraised at $2400 somehow talk about a slap in the face. Hell if you take the wheels and heads and add em up I could sell em for that used. and 2) that despite having 225K miles on it which kills the value you can't tell me that A) it runs like a 225K mile car or looks to be in the condition of one.

 

Well they're totalling it. They're giving it a whopping $700 extra to the car for being a pace car bringing my total up to $3192 yayyyyyyyyyyy. I don't see why I've been paying insurance for this car if that's the case. Well in any case be prepared for a mod sale of epic proportions folks because this thing is not going to a yard.

 

Sorry about your car man... that sucks. but id love to get at some of the goodies you got. Too bad shipping that hood would probably be too expensive and risky. But I am planning a trip to cali this summer.....

And of course glad you're ok sir.

 

Man that sucks. Would you be willing to buy it back and repair it? Honestly the damage does not seem that extensive.

 

Sorry about your situation
That is a real shame. By chance, have you tried finding another '00 Pace Car for sale in comparable condition? If so, how does the asking price stock up to your pay out? Could you pick up another Monte and move your mods over?

Also, on a note with "buying back" the car and fixing it. This can vary by state. But I recently learned, in Ohio, if you buy back the car and Insurance got the title marked "salvage", you fix it, get it inspected and then the title moved to a "rebuilt" title, many insurance companies will NOT allow you to have full coverage!! I learned this when I bought my '04 Grand Am this year, it was totaled and rebuilt in '06/07, I had a small fight with my insurance company and they later said no issues with full coverage and they won't devalue the car because it was "rebuilt", but they required pics of it for the policy (and this car is crazy good looking in all aspects, so I told them to go nuts with pics when I brought it by).

Just something to keep in mind.

 

How many miles where on the car?

 

220k something I think.

 

I've been debating on what to do. I think because it's titled in MS it won't be a salvage because the damage wasn't extensive enough so that's good. But I would like to sell it whole if I could. Crappy part is I plan on getting out in October and not having a job lined up is really scary to try and buy another car as right now that one has been paid off and I have no car payment. I wouldn't have a problem parting it out but at the same time I don't know if there's enough market anymore to ensure that I can sell it all fast enough to cover me in buying a different car. I'm so torn as to what to do.

 

So, they are claiming the car's value on a check to you comes to $3192 and damages are at $2800???
I know some people around me that had a vehicle with damage bordering the value like you're situation. They might be the exception, but they flat out told insurance the car is not being totaled, now fix it.
I also know someone that had a GM replacement crate motor in an Astro Van and made a stink that because of that motor (that he had documentation on), that alters the value scale, because the motor mileage was next to nothing. Was anything big done? Such as new bottom end with your top-swap or a new trans?

You could stomp your foot down and try that, see what happens. Or, take the cash, take it to a reputable shop and get fixed, cover the difference out of your pocket.
Or, looking at the pics, pop the bumper cover out, drive it the way that it is (pending nothing is preventing it from being drivable).

The toughest issue you have is the mileage being so high. That for many people is "end of life" and the car is on "borrowed time". That is what really messes with this setup.

You'll figure out what to do that is right for you out of this situation.

 

Well the initial estimate I got was $2800. The appraiser said it was $5100 worth of damage. But he listed replacing a bunch of stuff that wasn't even damaged. Like the taillights and the limited edition nameplate which is like $500 worth of parts by themselves.