Jerry From LA wrote:
I'm a little worried about how long it will take to find a replacement, which would be a reason to keep the car. I will add in more money to do so but this is not a good time of year for doing that.
You can't drive it legally once the title is converted to salvage to get your insurance payout so this is moot. As someone who bought back a vehicle because it was 3 grand in new parts, take the $. I paid 900 for the buyback and got 700 for it sitting in my yard for 2 years. So i had to stare at it for $200 loss and $1 per day storage fee in return.
Good choice taking the money. Sounds like you got a decent pay out on it!!
In reply to Jerry From LA:
So if you keep the car, how much less will you get when it's all said and done?
Sounds like you might have your old car back and on the road for about $800. (Trying to factor in a new taillight as well)
If that's correct, I'll be the lone voice out here and say get your car back - especially since you seem to like it and it's a good, solid known quantity.
You'll have $3000+ and a good car. Which would be better than taking the payout.
But maybe the car is wrecked enough that this isn't true.
If getting the Camry fixed enough to be re-titled and driveable isn't too hard, I'd take the buyback. It sounds like they're willing to let you keep the car pretty cheaply and IMO, if it runs, drives and says Toyota on it, someone will pay $1000 for it no questions asked, so you'll at least break even that way, if not come out ahead. Heck, I've seen a high mileage, cosmetically "meh" 94 Camry sell quickly for $1100 with a blown head gasket...
Really the obvious solution here is to go Circle track racing with it!
Obviously take back the car and use the drive train to start that mid-engine Locost project you always wanted to do. 
rslifkin wrote:
If getting the Camry fixed enough to be re-titled and driveable isn't too hard, I'd take the buyback. It sounds like they're willing to let you keep the car pretty cheaply and IMO, if it runs, drives and says Toyota on it, someone will pay $1000 for it no questions asked, so you'll at least break even that way, if not come out ahead. Heck, I've seen a high mileage, cosmetically "meh" 94 Camry sell quickly for $1100 with a blown head gasket...
The right rear tail section is just obliterated. I stuck some new bulbs in the shattered taillight assembly so they work but in order to pass the "brake and light inspection" required by CA law for a salvage car, the rear end would need to be pulled straight enough for a new assembly. So I'd have my own money in it too. I'm gonna let it go.
patgizz wrote:
Jerry From LA wrote:
I'm a little worried about how long it will take to find a replacement, which would be a reason to keep the car. I will add in more money to do so but this is not a good time of year for doing that.
You can't drive it legally once the title is converted to salvage to get your insurance payout so this is moot. As someone who bought back a vehicle because it was 3 grand in new parts, take the $. I paid 900 for the buyback and got 700 for it sitting in my yard for 2 years. So i had to stare at it for $200 loss and $1 per day storage fee in return.
A cautionary tale if I ever heard one.
mr2peak wrote:
Another Camry.
Kidding.
Go look at E36's
How important are back seats?
Hell, I'd go Camry before E36. While I recognize their fabulousness as a driving machine, I can't spend 3 grand on a car assembled with $36,000,000 worth of parts.
You might be surprised at how low BMW parts are priced if you stay out of the dealership.
Since I'm taking a little bit of time to settle (would be nice if I had something lined up to replace it with), the insurance company sweetened the pot by expanding "denial of use." Evidently, the insurance adjuster wrote up my car as "undrivable." Technically, I guess it is because I could be cited for the taillight even though I replaced the broken bulbs. This will add $575 - $750 to the pot, depending on whether or not I have to rent a car. Meanwhile, I've looked at every Miata and Celica etc in my price range but nothing floats my boat. I'm open to other cars except perhaps the Germans, mainly due to the cost of operation.
One of my neighbors has an '05 Lexus ES 330 in nice, clean shape. I might be able to score it if I add dollars and make a case for selling it to me for wholesale-plus rather than trading in.
Yeah, I know where I was in '64. It was GLENDALE. On the west side, though, not the east side where GHS is. Hawthorne Street. I don't think the house is there anymore. Probably not a great loss.
Go for the Lexus Camry.
CA is strict on most stuff, but salvaged cars isn't one of them. You need to get a basic safety inspection. It doesn't need to look pretty, you just need to stick a tail light on in a manner in which it won't fall off.
+You can have a running vehicle with know history for about $500.
+It will be faster, because you will care less if you wreck it.
+It will be worth more in parts than your total investment.
+When you buy another $3000 car, you chances of having a working car just doubled.
-CA registration fees make it more costly to keep an extra car.
-Do you have a place to park it?
-Cars tend to get jealous after you replace them and start breaking.
Show me the money. My daughter's 03 CTS got tanked. Got more for it than it was worth. Bought a real nice 2005 Altima with 100,000 mi for $3200.
Dirtydog wrote:
Show me the money. My daughter's 03 CTS got tanked. Got more for it than it was worth. Bought a real nice 2005 Altima with 100,000 mi for $3200.
I was thinking Altima coupe, actually. I've actually driven a manual trans '05 Altima sedan. I liked it quite a bit.
Boost_Crazy wrote:
CA is strict on most stuff, but salvaged cars isn't one of them. You need to get a basic safety inspection. It doesn't need to look pretty, you just need to stick a tail light on in a manner in which it won't fall off.
+You can have a running vehicle with know history for about $500.
+It will be faster, because you will care less if you wreck it.
+It will be worth more in parts than your total investment.
+When you buy another $3000 car, you chances of having a working car just doubled.
-CA registration fees make it more costly to keep an extra car.
-Do you have a place to park it?
-Cars tend to get jealous after you replace them and start breaking.
My wife won't ride in it anymore. Not since the accident anyway. She doesn't want me driving any more E36 M3boxes. I've owned a string of 'em bought at auction for pennies, then repaired and driven for 3 or 4 years. Unfortunately, looks have to play a part in my next car. Can't even believe I just wrote that.
I don't know if there are any in your price range but how about a Mazda 6. Nice to drive with near Camry reliability and stealth. Actually, I wouldn't hesitate to get another Camry. My folks have had excellent luck with them. They've run several to the 300k mile mark with little to no repairs.
There reaches a point when your DD should be reliable. Who needs to be fixing the vehicle they need every day for work. This leaves more time for their toys.
APEowner wrote:
I don't know if there are any in your price range but how about a Mazda 6. Nice to drive with near Camry reliability and stealth. Actually, I wouldn't hesitate to get another Camry. My folks have had excellent luck with them. They've run several to the 300k mile mark with little to no repairs.
I was maintaining mine with 300k as the goal. I even changed the oil since it got hit.
