So, Will This Buff Out?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
So, Will This Buff Out? 
I spun and smacked a Jersey wall Saturday. What's pictured is the worst of the damage. Is it possible to repair/replace the quarter panel? I figure State Farm will total the car but I don't know what they will want to give me for it. It's a stock 98 with 37,XXX miles and in excellent condition, well before this happened.
Rick Shaw.
Part No. 3102-04115877Brand: Action CrashNotes: PASSENGER SIDE QUARTER PANEL; SIZE 41 x 23.75 x 2.5 INCHES; MADE OF 20 GAUGE STEEL; (G)Position: Right - Passenger SideQuality: Premium - High quality new replacement part.Condition: New$100.98 PARTS GEEK
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 53
From: Winter Haven FL
Quarter panel damage on a unibody almost always ends as a total write off. After you buy back and make the repair you have to get it recertified to insure and register it. Let us know what happens.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Totaled. So, Stare Farm totaled my Trans Am, I expected that. The settlement is $11,200 after deductable. The initial cost to repair the damage is $5,200 but, the cost and difficultly in getting parts (the rear quarter panel) will drive up the cost. The buy back is $2,200. So I'm not sure if I want to buy it back and accumulate the parts I need over time and then go get fixed, or part it out, or just walk away. Opinions?
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 53
From: Winter Haven FL
If it's an LS then buyback and sell the drivetrain for profit. You can get about $3,500 for engine with trans and ecm as a package. Parting out the interior will be a few hundred more. People with the early 4th gen may want your brakes. The rest is hit or miss. When you're done the scrap value on what's left is a few hundred more.
If it's the v6 the math doesn't work and you walk away.
If it's the v6 the math doesn't work and you walk away.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 609
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville,fl
Can't tell a lot from the picture in the rain,, but how's the condition of the paint & the rest of the car.
How much do you personally like the car?
How bent up is anything else besides the part of the quarter worst dented?
These are all factors to consider.
From what I can see, looks like someone with my skill level might even be able to pull things back out enough to cover with an acceptable amount of filler, but hard to say.
How much do you personally like the car?
How bent up is anything else besides the part of the quarter worst dented?
These are all factors to consider.
From what I can see, looks like someone with my skill level might even be able to pull things back out enough to cover with an acceptable amount of filler, but hard to say.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Finally setteled with my insurance company So, after 3 months to the day i finally setteled with my insurance company. The initial settelment was for a little over $11,200. I pushed back and had to hire an appraiser to determine the value of my Trans Am. State Farm did the same, and between the 2 of them and myself the final ammount is $15,660. I feel pretty good about that. It's more than I paid for the car 6 years ago to begin with, and all i had in it was a new windshield and some minor rust repair on the windshield header. Otherwise it was a stock 1998 T/A with 37,000 miles on it. Oh, and I found out that it sold at auction for $7,000. I kinda hope who ever bought it is planning to fix it, it was a nice car.
Thank you for sharing your insurance experience with us. I have been mulling for a few years both a change in insurance provider and moving to an “agreed upon value” policy. This thread provides me a little more info for consideration.
