captclam

I really need some sound advise. Someone vandalized my totally cherry 1993 Sc400 Pearl Coat car. Here is what they did:

Interior-
Smashed the windshield, sunroof glass, and drivers window.
They smashed the rearview mirror
They cut up the outside rim of the wheel (not airbag)
They cut the door panel on drivers side, upper and lower but not the controls or armrest
They broke the intrument cluster glass.
They smashed in the center left air vent.
They cut up the drivers seat very badly, including the bottom parts
They cut the trim around the radio

Exterior:
Keyed the whole driver's side
Keyed the highbeam and passenger side light lenses
Keyed the bumper cover

The insurance company says it is a loss.
They are willing to cut $1800 off the price of the loss and let me keep it.
Should I keep it? Can I repair all that damage reasonably?
If so, I will need your HELP! I will need to find these parts so I may replace them myself.
As far as the paint is concerned I think I am screwed. That part of the estimate alone is over $3500.

Please give me some advise. I igot the car as a one owner out of Palm Beach, Florida and it runs like a raped ape. Fast, smooth, a total dream car. If you say I should fix it, please be specific on what I could do. Like how to get the steering wheel re-wrapped without removing it. Or how to replace the instrument cluster glass without buying the whole cluster.

Finally, if I take the deal and keep the car does the car then have a salvage title? If so, how does that work.

I will post pictures of everything on Monday. Until then, pray for me!

Captain Clam in Northern Indiana

Vegassc400

That depends on how much of an emotional attachent you have to this car. I'd say take the money. and buy a new one. You could pick up another SC400 for less than that. I always seem some 92 and 93 SC400's for around 8k.

NRG

damn.. what you do to deserve that? hahahha
gl

aliga

iTrader: (147)

keep it, it should not cost you that much to fix it, before you get the car painted, buy a body kit!

sc4canada

man keying it on the hood and fender is one thing..... but that? where did you leave it parked? maybe u should add this to the "haters thread"that was up a few weeks ago. Anyways best of luck to you hopefully some of the more experienced members can help you out.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Nick

sweetsc400

That is just bu!!****. I don't know what you did (or if you did anything), but nothing is worth messing with a nice car. If it were me, I would take the money and get another. I wouldn't want a car knowing that all that had happened to it. Somehow it seems that a car is never the same after having so much body/interior work done. But Aliga has a good idea, if you do keep it go with a body kit. Good luck bud, I'm sorry to hear about that. . .

Matt

0l33l

iTrader: (3)

Find the person who did this and run into his car

Angel

Take the cash and buy another.

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Capt,

Email me at drinkdontdrive@aol.com so we can talk.

Peace
Jonny
Dx3

Vegassc400

BTW, there's a 92 SC400 for sale in the classifieds for $6500. For that amount you could have both

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

0l33l
please check your PM. thanks.

Hermosa

If many of the parts on the car are mechanically sound then it might be worth keeping the car if you have storage. Think about getting another car and then if you need to replace certain things you can use the other parts. If you go forced induction then you have spares. You can part out the rest to folks here and save them a bundle too. I wish I had a parts car for my SC to cannibalize.

SCoupe

RE: SALVAGE TITLE Once upon a time, I bought back a car (Civic, damaged front qtr panel) from my insurance co. just as you are considering. The title is then recorded as salvage, without regard to what happpened to it, (in your case, cosmetic only). Your car would forever more be stigmatized with cars removed from a swamp, had a fire and the like. That would suck. Sounds like you would get a check for $7,500 to do this work, and you will need to spend much of it buying parts.

Salvage title destroys any resale value. (I donated the Civic to charity after driving for a year or so). This is a disincentive to putting humpty-dumpty back to gether again.

Hearing about what happened to you magnificant car makes me sick. I am very sorry. I would not get over the loss very easily. I afraid you are in for a lot of work if you keep it. You are going to have to purchase a Lexus Repair Manual (not on a CD).

Here's a link to a very good salvage shop in CA that I have purchased from. They specialize in Lexus/Toyota and ship anywhere. http://www.taprecycling.com/

My sympathies

SCooby400

lol

kwg

iTrader: (1)

i personally wouldnt want to keep a car thats been damaged by someone else. i'd take the cash and get a new one