Should I repair my Buick or get a new vehicle?

Y

your_dear_old_mother

New member
I was in a car accident this afternoon on my way home from the pharmacy. I was taking a different route home, so I guess I wasn't used to the ebb and flow of traffic in the area. I was getting on to an overpass to go from one freeway to another. I looked down for a moment, and I didn’t notice that traffic had slowed down. I rear-ended the a large SUV. I hit the trailer hitch on the SUV, so they barely had any damage. My 1998 Buick LeSabre was another matter. An ominous fluid was leaking on the ground. I think it was radiator fluid. I’ll definitely need a new grille, hood, and bumper. The damage is probably $2,000 at a minimum. If it wasn’t any other vehicle, I don’t think it would be worth repairing, It was the last car my late husband ever drove before he died. The sentimental value is enormous. I also just had the engine rebuilt a little over 3,000 miles ago.

I only have liability insurance. Should I get the car fixed or get another pre-owned vehicle (new is not an option right now)? Either way, I'll have to borrow money from my sons, which is embarrassing. Thank you in advance.
 
You are talking about a lot of damage...
...and the air bags did not deploy?

Five years ago, just the cost of the airbags on my '94 LeSabre was in excess of $3,000, plus hood, lights, grill and bumper, like yours. (Hit a deer)
The insurance company totaled the car.

If you can get it fixed for $2,000, go for it. Make sure the repair shop is a reputable one. But first check out what those used Buicks are going for for sale. You may be able to pick up a similar one with fewer miles for less than $2,000.
 
I think I would try to fix it. Especially with the sentimental value, and having to borrow money for either option.
See what your sons think.

Good Luck and God Bless
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Depending on the damage you might of bent the frame. At that point it is worthless. If the frame is not bent or cracked and the motor was just redone. Meaning a crate engine or complete rebuild no used motor swaps then it might be worth fixing. To get all the work done and matching color and new radiator and body parts it might cost you around $2,000 easy. Also being 11 years old the actual value of the car is low. Might cost more to fix then what the car is worth.
 
tough call, get a couple estimates and then weigh sentiment against practicality. if it has 2k damage,can you replace it for less? if not fix it.
if it will cost more than you can replace it for...you have to decide what the sentiment is worth.
I held on the my fathers old pick-up for 10+ years before finally letting it go. was a hard decision, sometimes regret it,sometimes know it was time to let go.
Remember just because the car is gone,the memories don't go with it,they are always yours
 
get it fixed, I am sure if you go to the right shop they can do a quick fix which will make it safe, it won't look pretty but it will be safe and cheap. So if it was only the radiator and you can get them to fix it for like $200(the damage, take bumper off and make hood go down. You could probably get it all for around $700 and later when you can get the car back to new.
 
go around see what place will do it cheapest and get it fixed..engine rebuild couldnt have been cheap and if you buy a used car your just going to have to put money into it anyways to fix it so no point goin down that road again..and theres the sentimental value.. u can most likely even get those body parts cheap at a junk yard and just have them painted so it shouldnt be that expensive
 
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