This is a separate thread to my last but this is the situation I have before me. After speaking with RAC and them saying they write off cars when they hit the 60% mark in damage compared to the amount insured, I have the following options as I think they may do it.

1) They write my car off in which I take it out to Welshpool, they give me a 32k cheque and I leave the car there.

If this happens, I can a) find a car with the 32k and everything is peachy, or
b) buy the bike i want (roughly15k-20k) and then find a car with the left over plus a bit of saving which will give me about 16k-18k to spend on a car. I won't be able to get another sti obviously.

2) They write my car off and then I take the option of buying it back from them at a price that it would get a Pickles and then I get a cheque of the remainder making up the 32k. I keep a dented car and fix it at my own expense and am left with who knows how little to get a bike with.....

3) I ask that they don't write my car off but ok the 20grand+ repair job and I get all new panels on the STI and full respray front to back making it look like new.

What are your thoughts boys and girls? Any other alternatives?

Cheers
Dan.

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Respect Mya Authoritaaaaaa!!!

a) if you dont think you would get $32k on private sale on the car in a pre-damaged state, then take the money and run

c) you wont repair it cheap, take the money, or leave it dented!

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Long live the WRC

If it was ME I'd take the $32k and put the bike on hold til summer
plus it would give a bit more time to save extra towards one and I
would get another newer STi now.

I wouldn't get the current one repaired unless it held great sentimental
value or was something special because even though they can repair it
I'd prefer another car as I'd always know it was damaged.

But hey that's just me.

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221.7KW-ATW 498.5NM MMS ROLLER DYNO & BUILT BY STi NINJAS, BUILD #318/600

EBISU SUBARU, SHIBUYA-KU TOKYO

Working on the assumed knowledge stated in OP that all panels are to be replaced I see it like this:

• Replace bonnet, fenders, skin four doors 'when the car hasn't been involved in accident is no biggie as its childs play panel beating;
• Remove and replace roof, now this is where it gets interesting, dependant on damage to roof will be the factor in it being replaced or repaired 'anyone that's had to chase numerous dents on a roof for repairing knows how time consuming and annoying this can be, so lets assume its replaced.

• Has the new roof been sealed properly, windows are going to have to come out, have they been put back properly (cross fingers nothing's going to leak);

• Replace rear quarter panels, have the new quarters been squared up properly, have they been sealed properly (cross fingers these don't leak)

• Vehicle down time in the event that someone fucked up...I have a feeling you'll get your metaphorical taser out mate

If I don't have to subject myself to possible shit storm that can occur with the replacement of these parts would I really want to? 'Its not like its a factory issues where if worst comes to worst they'll replace the vehicle, its going to be a situation where what level of quality are you prepared to live with.

Repaint vehicle, issues with paint job, scenario one , bumpers, bootlid spoiler, splitter, side skirts, bonnet vent is a difference colour to the rest of the car 'if indeed the bootlid spoiler, bonnet vent, side skirts do get painted at all.

Worst case scenario, well....ummm orange peal isn't something only associated to fruit, this takes us back to what level of quality are you prepared to live with.

You mentioned purchasing the vehicle back from the insurance company and subcontracting the work out yourself.

All I can say is unless the car in question is one of a very limited number of vehicles left on the road, or the baby Jesus was born in the back seat DO NOT GO DOWN THIS ROUTE , its only going to end up in tears, or having the original quote for work done blow out leaving you in the position where you have no choice but to repair the vehicle as you've already spent so much on it.

Repairing cars with extensive damage should only be undertaken by those that can do the work themselves, and I assure you that even when someone whom does the work themselves goes back and puts a dollar value on the labour, even they'll go backwards.

TL;DR version of entire post:

What tuna said

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Piss it off, buy litre bike, buy a half reasonable daily.

That is all

Brendon

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Losing is worse than death. You have to live with losing....

option a take the money and run

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Funny looking German Subaru

^ What he said, taking any mods off which you can get away with. Even down to buying a $100 set of wheels/tyres to offload yours for more later. I see heaps of cars in the Auction pics online with no stereo & no gear knobs etc.

Unless the car is of some sort of significance to you, otherwise remember it's just a hunk of metal.

Would you really be happy with the car if the repair job wasn't 100% purfect.
Do you want to take that risk?
I've seen a few paint jobs where the colour doesn't match, unless you have someone to trust, it's a big risk.

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2000 Mitsubishi Evo Tommi Makinen - Diamonds are a girls best friend.
Tokyo Motorsports - www.tokyomotorsports.com.au

Take the cash, buy a bike. Kim at Lloyd Chapmans is very nice and can probably do you a good deal on that Suzuki you want

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[S]kid[S]

Don't wait till summer to get the bike. Much harder for them to sell this time of year so you should get a better deal.

Quite a few mint looking second hand bikes going on PSB at the moment that have been on the market for a few months that you could probably get a good deal on to if you want to go that way.

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Stoner & Webber 2011 World Champions