Bad R/T Wreck, Need Advice

[RT23]

Originally Posted by Clean'n'Mean

It tears me up but my R/T is in purgatory right as now and I need some opinions.

Last weekend I was almost hit by a drunk driver in black cavalier that was taking a turn way to wide, I was going 35 around the same turn and when I swerved to avoid his dumbass, my dumbass ran my pride and joy 2012 R/T 6 spd over an 8 inch curb. Of course, the cavalier man drives off without stopping.

The car is in need of serious repair, but has not been declared a total loss by my insurance. I've paid the 500 dollar deductible, but the car is getting nearly $9000 in repairs. Just some off the items needing replaced: New lower Front Grill, New front bumper, new rt front fender new radiator, new radiator mount, new ac system, new front 20in wheel, new tire, new tpms and abs sensors, new front rt suspension assembly ( all bars, knuckle, shock, upper/lower control arms), new engine crandle, new tire rods, and new rocker moldings. just to name some of the needed repairs.

The repairs are being performed by a Chrysler certified collision center, and save for the paint job, I'm led to believe that my warranty will still be intact.

Nevertheless, I'm still heartbroken over the car and shook up from the accident. It will change my life in the sense that I will always take turns slower on public roads, and DRIVE MORE DEFENSIVELY.

I'm asking if you think the car will drive the same after all these extensive repairs are completed. My R/T has just under 10,000 miles, and a great deal of TLC. But I'm concerned that it will never ride the same with new parts on one section of the car, with slightly used parts on the other sections. Along with the added hassle of a more complex maintenance schedule. If I notice a major difference, I'm considering selling the repaired car, at an unavoidable loss, then taking some time to save up for another.

What do you think? Is my Beauty worth saving? I'm tearing out my hair over this

Depending on circumstances of course, shoulda let the a$$hole hit you. Course i can't say, wasn't there. It should be good if the shop is good. Hope all works out well for you. Keep us up to date and if your not happy with the work/repair, do NOT accept it. Insist on what YOU WANT and don't let them persuade you otherwise. Best of luck.

[Clean'n'Mean]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Indeed the airbags did not go off, and I've heard this place is one of the best in the region for Chryslers collision work. So its possible it will drive ok.

I'm wasn't ever looking to keep this car for a few years just to sell it and get some of my money back, I want it to be in my driveway when I'm on my deathbed! That being said, if it drives well I'll certainly keep her as my daily driver and mod it out gradually.

I really don't want, nor can afford a new car. The bluebook estimates I'll take a hit of about 10 grand selling the car in repaired condition. However, if the repaired car does not drive well I will stick with the issue and keep my insurance from just closing the claim.

I've been told the repairs should be complete in a week or so, holding my breath til then

[garylee]

I've been an owner of a body shop for over 35 years and you should not have any problems. The insurance company is responsible to return the vechicle to pre accident condition. They are responsible for the repairs to be correct. The body shop is responsible for the repairs on your vehicle also. If this is a certified shop through one of the major paint manufactures, PPG, Dupont, etc. all of the paint work is LIFETIME WARRANTEED. Be sure to ask the repair facility if they are a certified shop and get a written warranty. Note: we keep a copy of the warranty framed on the wall for all our customers to see.
You should be fine and should have no problems. Keep in mind, all of us are human and we do make mistakes... If you find a problem, present it to the shop manager and they should take care of it with a smile.
I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, you can pm me.

Also, do not worry about closing the claim as we have had claims reopened a year after the accident.

[USRWDV8]

Originally Posted by super8man

A long time a go, in a galaxy far, far away, folks used to forage for parts at junkyards and cobble together some pretty fast machines. I think you are obsessing about the imaginary "some parts will be older/newer than other parts" syndrome.

I think there's a lot of truth in that and that the damage is often psychosomatic after a wreck (the 'trust' is gone). Since Clean'n'Mean can't afford to just fix it, replace it, and take that hit... he should probably take it in stride and realize that it's part of life: cars age as soon as we drive them and they're just machines. It'll be fine as a daily driver.
I also think that hitting a curb instead of another vehicle was the right thing to do (on top of a natural reflex) no matter how wrong the other driver was. Cars are deadly weapons. Now critters are another story, hit them instead of losing control. That no one was hurt is a happy end result.

[TRDutch]

Good luck with everything C&M
I really feel for you
Every stone chip, mysterious roof dent
Micro scratch etc.. Makes me sick
I was cleaning my engine cover the other day and put it on a towel on my other cars sun roof to dry and a gust of wind slammed it on the driveway scccrtratch!
Sometimes I do some stupid $#!+
Anyway hope it works out.

[Lashlarue]

I wouldn't worry about the carfax showing up. My 97 Cobra suffered $8000 in damage in 2001, was repaired and the accident didn't show up on Carfax, my 98 Corvette was flooded in my driveway and it took $3000 to get it running again, it too never showed up on Carfax. Sold it to Carmax got top dollar $16,000 due to the low mileage, 35k in 2007.Both cars drove just fine after repairs.

[SuBXeRo]

if the frame is laterally off, you are in trouble. Cars are never the same after an accident, never perfect again. You just hope they will drive and feel the same and drive as they should. hopefully itll be ok andyou can continue to enjoy your car

[USRWDV8]

That's true, but 'not the same' doesn't mean 'unsafe'. It may be a more economical and ethical solution to just hang on to the car and drive it into the ground, rather than pass it on to some poor sucker on the used market. It might need more frequent alignments or pull to one side more at times, but as long as it's minimal I wouldn't sweat it too much (most cars with a few miles on them end up with some quirks).

[Kivuli]

I'll tell you this: If the same happened to me I would absolutely keep her if the repairs were done right, and if they weren't I'd scream and yell until they were! Any other car wouldn't be the car that had my name on the factory sticker.

[workerunit]

Take it to the best, most modern body shop that is recommended by your insurance company.
Do Not Under Any Circumstance have your vehicle repaired at a body shop that is not approved by your insurance company.

The reason is, if you have it repaired by a body shop that is not recommended by your insurance company, they will not under any circumstance stand behind the repairs if problems are found down the road after you have signed the insurance payment check over to the body shop.

I am to be knowing of this......