Fuelly Forums - Need advice

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My son was driving back to college last Sunday evening when he hit a deer. He was driving a 2001 Honda Accord EX. The front passenger side was fairly banged up but I was actually able to drive the car out of the ditch and onto a tow dolly.

Using Edmunds TMV calculator the Honda Accord with present mileage and condition is worth ??? ($2,935-cost of parts needed to restore) using the "damaged" calculation.
If it had not been damaged it would have been worth $4,131.00 (private party)

I took all the damage parts out so I could estimate the parts needed.
So far it appears I need the following:
1) Windshield ($250)
2) Passenger Front tire (Will be covered under Discount tire warranty)
3) Front bumper cover ($$ @ junkyard)
4) Passenger Fender ($60 on ebay)
5) Bumper retainer - passenger side ($20 on ebay)
6) Hood ($$ @ junkyard)
7) Radiator core support ($50 on ebay)
9) passenger headlight assembly ($50 on Ebay)
9) Hood latch ($25 on ebay)
10) battery (covered under Autozone warranty)
11) Radiator ($$ @ junkyard)
12) Radiator fans assemblies (both) ($$ @ junkyard)
13) A/C Condensor ($160 at autoparts store)
14) A/C system recharge ($$)
15) Air filter housing ($$ @ junkyard)

I might be able to do all the work myself (since I didn't have comprehensive coverage) except the radiator core support seems to be part of the front frame and is bent severely.

I'm wondering should I part the car out or try to restore to original condition?

Its certainly not worth paying someone to repair it, but if you're willing to do most, if not all the work yourself, then put a $500 Maaco paint job on it, you can probably have a decent looking, drivable car in the end without spending too much. Have you also considered buying a similar car with a blown motor, and either using it as a parts car to fix yours, or transplant your power train into it?

It's fixable and it's worth fixing. How are we to assess your skills and desire to tackle the job?

Skill level = intermediate

Desire = low

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradosaurus (Post 164431)

Skill level = intermediate

Desire = low

LOL, +rep for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradosaurus (Post 164426)

I didn't have comprehensive coverage

Collision coverage is what would cover this, not comprehensive...though most people get collision and comp together.

Anywawy, I'd go with Jay's idea of buying a similar car that needs what your car has. With your intermediate skill level and low desire it doesn't sound worth doing all the work correctly to fix this one up, so the only other option would be to hack it together half-assed so it is a beater.

This is my thought process:

If I could part the car out for at least $1500.00 I could take the money I would have spent fixing it (~$1200) and buy a fairly good car.

The 2001 Honda Accord EX has leather seats, sun roof, 6 CD changer, power windows, power seats, tires are 80%, rims are good.

The car runs fine so I'm thinking if I'm patient and part it out by next summer I could buy a 1998-2000 Honda of some sort.

I'm going to try to sell it outright for $1500 and see if I get lucky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theholycow (Post 164437)

Unfortunately my collision coverage does not cover birds or animals. :eek:

I agree that you should spend the time, money, and effort trying to locate a different car. I do think that you will have a hard time finding an Accord with a bad motor but is in decent shape otherwise... those are really durable engines.
Still, if your skill level is no better than my own, you will probably never be able to get it perfect, and that may affect the car's drivability and/or safety.