Ugh, that forum post is spot on unfortunately, most rear quarters are welded on. You may be able to find a body shop that could possibly do a spot repair, maybe weld in a patch from a donor car, depending on what the damage is underneath but cheap it will not be. Really sorry to see that happen.
WTF!!!! That is like the 5th car you have lost to a parking space!!
In reply to GVX19: Need to spend more time driving, less time parking!
stinko.
Damn . . . Sorry that happen to you and that sweet 540.
that reminds me of hennessey honda of woodstock
m4ff3w wrote: From one forum post:When it comes to quarter panel replacement it is alot bigger of a deal. The quarter panel is welded to the car. To replace the quarter you would need to remove the rear window because it is spot weld inside the jam and you would have to section the rear door jamb and the rear pillar to weld the new one on.
That is bog-standard rear quarter replacement on almost ANYTHING. So it's basically no worse than anything else. Honestly, i doesnt look like that bad of a deal. The big thing is that insurance will total any $4k car over a quarter panel replacement.
So, that being said, i would let them total it, buy it back, get it fixed (along with the shoddy lower rocker panels and conveniently fixing the other damage on the rear bumper cover it picked up earlier), and keep going. If you dont plan to buy it back, let me know and i may give you the buyback money and keep it for myself.
Its POSSIBLE if you try to argue that, based on condition, comparable 540s are 6k cars, you might sneak under the 'totalled' line with the repair cost, and then there would be no chance of a salvage title (which really doesnt matter anyway on this car, imo) and it would be slightly more convenient to fix because then you could plausibly ask for a rental while your car is being repaired. And dont forget to get the money from that kid that rear ended you. That will be a double payout for the rear bumper.
First two estimates were $4300 and $4060. I'm hoping I can convince them to fix it and not total it.
I got a check for a bit over $5700 to fix the car/get a rental. Now the question is to fix it or to replace it?
Depends on if you will be happy with it after repair. I would part or sell that one and find another.
Hmm... I'd have a hard time just replacing my E46 with another if something happened to it and I was given a check for the repair bill. So it's got a clean title still? I'd fix it.
Yes, clean title.
Vigo pointed me to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Maserati-430-black-with-cream-5-speed-41000-miles-extensive-service-work-/261536684634?_trksid=p2054897.l4275
So very tempting......
Fix it and enjoy the goodness of 4.4
I would consider buying a new one and keeping this as a parts car. $5700 should probably buy one that's cleaner with less miles than the current car. Good job on the settlement!
or buy an e34 wagon and swap everything over.
2002maniac wrote: or buy an e34 wagon and swap everything over.
That would be my first choice, but I just moved to an apartment with no garage.
hmmm.... cage this one, lemons/chump race it, buy another......
In reality, try to make friends with a bodyshop and see what you can do to get this fixed.
m4ff3w wrote: Yes, clean title. Vigo pointed me to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Maserati-430-black-with-cream-5-speed-41000-miles-extensive-service-work-/261536684634?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 So very tempting......
Didn't you already try that experiment?? What's the saying, blow up on me once, shame on you...
I say do a cheap fix on it and keep driving it. $500 fix, pocket $5200 and put it in a savings account. You should be able to get someone to weld in a halfway decent patch, grind, filler, and paint over it. It should look about 60% okay.
dculberson wrote:m4ff3w wrote: Yes, clean title. Vigo pointed me to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Maserati-430-black-with-cream-5-speed-41000-miles-extensive-service-work-/261536684634?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 So very tempting......Didn't you already try that experiment?? What's the saying, blow up on me once, shame on you... I say do a cheap fix on it and keep driving it. $500 fix, pocket $5200 and put it in a savings account. You should be able to get someone to weld in a halfway decent patch, grind, filler, and paint over it. It should look about 60% okay.
That's a valid point, but this car is a late 430 vs an early Biturbo. The 430 has a whole multitude of fixes comparted to the carb'd, early diff Bitrouble.
I'm trying to convince myself not to bid on it.. but damn it is hard.
For the record i still think you should fix the car. End up with a better car than you started with, which you already LOVED, and just pretend you never had the money you'll spend. You'll probably come out a little on top for your trouble, so just be happy about that.
Ive got a couple grand in insurance money sitting in checking to spend fixing a $4k prius. I am DEFINITELY just going to fix the Prius and pretend i never had it. In fact, i will probably spend a little more fixing up little bits of pre-existing damage from before we owned it.
I thought the 430 was a Biturbo?
Ojala wrote: I thought the 430 was a Biturbo?
It is, but a much evolved Biturbo.
I managed to not buy it.
No good representation from Italy in your area. I'm of the thinking you should find an Alfa 164 or a 75 in another state and import it:
I'm afraid I'm not up to date on craigslist search engines these days. I are teh sorry.
Cheers!
-Bill
The price on that Milano is a bit optimistic, but a 164 would be cool. I would have been tempted to buy that 430 too if I had the money, it looks really nice.
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