Umm, okay, so I remember that it's a 1998 Corolla you bought brand new in '97, after an unfortunate incident in Hampden, and it was either the VE (cheapest) or CE (mid-level) trim, with an automatic (don't remember any other options except probably air conditioning); probably the CE. Right so far? You've had it for about six and a half years, right? so at let's say 10k miles per year (not maybe a whole lot around Boston but a good number of longer trips?) it has 65k miles or something--plus the big dig out of the side drops it down to "fair" condition. Well, according to the Kelly Blue Book, the value for a car in that condition in Massachusetts would be $3,370, and values can range widely. Also, there's been a glut of used cars recently, due to extremely low interest rates and (especially for American-brand cars) huge incentives, i.e. rebates. My uncle out here recently sold a used car (thank you, Craigslist) and bought another used car and a used van, so he talked to a number of salesmen and buyers. Apparently, even a few years ago, one would expect used cars to sell at the private party or retail value or more, whereas now the typical retail price is now the wholesale/trade-in value and the actual sales prices are less than that.
To make a long story short, the cost of repairs is almost the value of the car.
How about another option: take pride in your car's decrepitude. You're living in or near the East Coast outpost of the People's Republic now! Become one with the revolutionary masses! That's right, you hate the Infernal Combustion Engine as much as any Earth-Firster, but damn the government subsidies toward highways and single-family homes; curse the govt.'s failure to tax petrol at a 200% rate, like England does; rage against the lack of viable transit options! You're just forced to have a car, so you bought the second-cheapest Toyota, that's right, a car from the company that now makes the hybrid Prius! You bought a durable, economical machine that will long outlast GW and the Hummer H2's (of course, their owners only buy them because they have small dicks). You're forced to own a car, but you're ashamed of that fact-- so be proud that you don't care about the looks of your vehicle. Moveon.org and Greenpeace could use the money instead.
Save $2998. Buy a "Love Your Mother [picture of the earth]" bumper sticker and complete the effect. Or this site has some great ones. Never wash your car either. It's waste of money, time, and natural resources.
Unfortunatly I find it hard to decide whether to get this fixed or not due to lack of infomation -- for instance:
Just how much do you like this car ... do you have any personal attachment to this car and want to keep it as long as possible or can you really take it or leave it.
How much of a financial burden would $3000 be for you?
How is the car working in other respects? You've hinted that this accident doesn't seem to have changed the performance of the car, but was that performace ever any good to begin with?
On the one hand, it probably needs fixing. aspartaimee, who knows cars, says that damage to the wheel well is important. On the other hand, if the car is old and you don't think it's worth the effort, then you can mentally write it off and know it'll go when it goes. Having not that many years ago sunk $1000 into a car the insurance company totalled a month later, I can understand this urge...
Can you make an unsurance claim? Let them total the car and buy a new one?
If it were me, I'd take it to a trustworthy mechanic (I can recommend a great, scrupulously honest one, if you don't have one) and ask whether the dent affects safety/performance/longevity at all. If it doesn't, leave it alone.
Depending on how often you need to use the car, you might look into having the Somerville High School auto-body shop fix it. They only charge for parts, but they're not fast. This I learned from the shop teacher, who said that a good many senior citizens use that shop for repairs, because they often can do without a vehicle for a week or two.
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To make a long story short, the cost of repairs is almost the value of the car.
How about another option: take pride in your car's decrepitude. You're living in or near the East Coast outpost of the People's Republic now! Become one with the revolutionary masses! That's right, you hate the Infernal Combustion Engine as much as any Earth-Firster, but damn the government subsidies toward highways and single-family homes; curse the govt.'s failure to tax petrol at a 200% rate, like England does; rage against the lack of viable transit options! You're just forced to have a car, so you bought the second-cheapest Toyota, that's right, a car from the company that now makes the hybrid Prius! You bought a durable, economical machine that will long outlast GW and the Hummer H2's (of course, their owners only buy them because they have small dicks). You're forced to own a car, but you're ashamed of that fact-- so be proud that you don't care about the looks of your vehicle. Moveon.org and Greenpeace could use the money instead.
Save $2998. Buy a "Love Your Mother [picture of the earth]" bumper sticker and complete the effect. Or this site has some great ones. Never wash your car either. It's waste of money, time, and natural resources.
The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized.
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Can you make an unsurance claim? Let them total the car and buy a new one?
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Do, do.
I really meant to hit the 3rd button. Well, no.
Re: I really meant to hit the 3rd button. Well, no.