Good Afternoon All,
I have to admit I feel cheeky asking for help as I have let my membership lapse but between working away and life in general I have covered less than 1,000 in the last 2 years with the old girl and just haven't had time to enjoy her (well that's the best excuse I've got! - I couldn't get my old user up and working either).
Anyway..... 2 weeks ago today I took her out, only to pop to the shops and some kind individual ran a red light and has caused loads of damage. It's been declared a total loss so now I have some decision to make.
My car is a '99T S14a Touring, black with cream leather. 110k miles, just passed it's MOT about 7 miles before being written off. She is pretty much rot free and as she was fully re-sprayed 3 years ago was pretty much mint before the accident. Only mods are an apex type 2 FMIC, HKS induction kit and some 18" wheels.
The insurance company have made an initial offer of £5,000 for the car and told me it will cost £1,150 to buy it back for salvage.
Without taking it apart (a good mate of mine who runs a body shop has had a good look) It's going to need, front cross member, bumper support bar, front bumper, bonnet, n/s front wing, n/s side light, front indicators, both head lights and a grill (this is what we can see without taking it apart).
Initially I though the insurance company would try and offer £2k or something silly and I'd do well to fight them to £5k so the fact they have offered that straight out of the box has thrown me. Should I be pushing for more?
Not long after the accident I was determined to repair her but I'm estimating the parts (from salvage) to be the best part of £1,000, the repair bill will be another £1,000, then I need to get an engineer out, a fresh MOT and with a bill of £1,150 to buy her back I would think best guess to put her back right would be £3,500 and would think as a Cat S write off she is not going to be worth any more than that so I'm starting to wonder if it is worth it.
I feel bad letting her go off to the great scrapyard in the sky and were I 20 and living at home I would definitely spend the time repairing her but if it's just going to cost me a load of time and hassle and not make financial sense I'm now thinking I might take the £5k, chuck £3k-£4k extra in and by myself a BMW E46 M3 coupe to go with the cab I already own.
Any pointers/ideas etc would be much appreciated as I really don't know what to do right now.
TIA
Dave