Thread: HARD decision comments needed!

frame damage is the killer in this case, if it was just cosmetic fender and hood damage then i would say fix it, but if the core support and frame are fubar then part it out and find something else

This.

For about double your $700 you could easily find a running 1.6 and then swap whatever's still good over, so it won't be as much of a waste for those new parts you just bought.

Food for thought: I know it's not that easy right now to just jump out and get another, but think about blowing that $700 plus anything else you find, not to mention labor (a shop's or your own blood, sweat, and tears, either way it won't be cheap), when what's most important right now is your studies. Another thing to consider: how safe is the car now should you get into another accident?

Then again, if it's salvageable for just those $700-800 bucks and you can make it safe (then fun) again, then keep it and do that. Think about it.

guys. our cars are uni-body construction. there is no frame to speak of. just a bunch of pressed steel thats bolted and/or screwed together. no i-beams. no s-beams. no ladder type frame work at all.
suspension parts, hoods, bumpers and fenders are easily replaced. if the underlying areas like the strut towers or floor pan are tweaked bad enough, the car is a total, imho.
whats the car worth to you? i say get a couple estimates from the pro's. good luck.

Look for another. When frontal crash happens if it reaches fenders in anyway the car is compromused buy another shell which can be found quite easy

I Think this idea is best. U could probably find a 1.6 for under 1k easy in good shape. Everything comes over easy. If you have the facility to do it and the skill or some locals to geek out wit, go for it

Do what i did. Find a cheap 1.6 ($250) and swap everything over. Upgrade along the way, its a fun project and will help you know your car.

QFT. More and more vehicles are being manufactured unibody, vs. body on frame construction. If it's tweaked, no amount of work is going to make it right again. Your insurance company will scrap it, so you should do the same.

Find another project

absolutely correct...take it from someone who worked in the reconstructive autobody industry and realize your unibody is trashed. you cannot just "replace" suspension parts after a wreck of this caliber. The front suspension of the b14 chassis is also a structural component that ties the knuckle to the upper frame. where the components bolt to the frame is all tweaked. you will never get the holes to line up without a frame machine.

I got everthing you need for 400 + shipping.

OP
As a former Body shop estimator and Tech I might have some insight on this. Can you post pics? How exactly did the suspension get damaged? If you just hit the guy in front of you square how did that affect the suspension? Are the shocktowers pushed back? So many times does a car look so much worse than it really is. The guys that are saying we have unibody cars are correct there is no "frame damage" nowadays. There are frame rails that extend into the engine compartment, but those can be straightend. or even sectioned and replaced. Do the doors still shut correctly? Look at the roof and rear C pillars are there any buckles in them? If so find another car.

If you were to strip all the removable damaged stuff of the car. Radiator, headlamps fenders hood, bumper.. all the bolt on stuff. I bet you might be suprised how little of the car is actually hurt. I am still very curious how you tore up the suspension.

No matter what you will need a professional body shop to repair your car. I didnt see any mention of insurance. Have they even looked at it?
Remember this. Anything can be fixed. Its just a matter of how much you (they) want to spend