Gotta love having a 16 year old new driver - *update*

[CMNTMXR57]

If you can buy it back for only $300, I personally wouldn't waste time rebuilding it. I'd be parting that thing out...

Not sure about Misery, or Missouri, whichever, but if it has been totaled by the insurance company, any attempt to re-title it will be a salvage type title. That will make the car much harder to sell in the long run, and obviously not worth the money you'll probably have to put in to fix it (the $7k - $8k), as the car is only worth that amount "roughly" now in non-salvage condition.

Otherwise, I'd just take the insurance check and run... Move on to something else.

[ddalder]

$300 is an attractive consideration for buy-back, but I agree that resale later with a salvage title will be more challenging. So, it really depends on whether you plan to keep it for yourself long term or part it out. Of course parting it out will take space and time so this may also be a factor. Insurance companies protect themselves. If it was in exceptional condition you are likely being shorted (at least to some extent) on the value.

On a similar but slightly different note, I encourage anyone who has a lot into a very clean vehicle to consider an appraisal and to insure at that value. I recently had mine appraised and the value is substantially higher than the market value in my area. The cost of the appraisal was negligible compared to the difference between the two values and there was only a $50 fee to the insurance company to have it insured accordingly.

[CMNTMXR57]

$300 is pretty darn cheap actually... I wanted to buy back my GTP when State Farm totaled it, so I could part it out but they first said no, then gave me some absurd amount.

[1oldman]

I think I will force my 16 year old to help me fix it as punishment, and
not let him drive any of the other vehicles until this one is back on the road.

I'm sure you're not going to appreciate this old man's POV, but what ever you do, do not make it punishment. Make it a learning experience and quality time to spend with your 16 year old. They are going to need the skills needed to repair the car. JMHO, this is a great opportunity for you and your 16 year old. I wish the two of you a great time, and a great running Bonneville. - BC

[skregal]

I work in the ghetto - well actually in Ferguson. YES, THAT FERGUSON!
I could sell this car in Ferguson easy. I have them begging me every
day to buy my 95 and it has 230K on it. A good running car that is
not damaged cosmetically will always be worth a grand or two.

It really just depends on how much those parts cost me.
The condenser, radiator, fiberglass frame piece, cross member support,
hood, fender, headlight, rubber nose section, and paint.

If those costs more than $2000-$3000, I may just part it out.
I just got to find someone else who is parting out theirs first,
and get a deal on some used parts.
I do have a trailer, so I can go get large stuff, like a front end clip.

BTW. my 18 year old loves cars and refuses to let me sell the 95 SSEi.
My 16 year old couldn't care less, and working on cars at all is punishment to him.
I just want him to appreciate having transportation, but I wouldn't tell him
fixing the car is punishment. I think he may expect I just buy another vehicle
for him to use. Oh no.

[CMNTMXR57]

I didn't realize Ferguson was so close to Hazelwood, which is where I bought the GTO at, years ago, from Behlmann.

[skregal]

I had service done at Behlmann's before. A buddy of mine went to school with Kenny Behlmann
and we used to party on their farm property up in Florissant years ago. I guess they sold that dealership
and bought one west of St. Louis because it isn't Behlmann's anymore.
The farm is now a neighborhood call Behlmann Estates or something.
I think maybe Kenny's dad passed away and then all the GM changes created a nightmare.

[CMNTMXR57]

I thought they just moved further down 270.

Back in 2003/early 2004, they were one of the few Pontiac dealers in the U.S. that physically had GTO's on the ground, let alone one in my color and transmission combo, and only selling for MSRP. Which on that car WAS the deal. Every dealer was tacking on $5k - $10k markups on the original 2004's.

I originally had an identical car ordered through Sewell in Dallas, TX, but Holden was being wishy-washy with TPW, and I was getting pissed. So it ended up one of the St. Louis members on LS1GTO PM'd me saying that there was an identical one already on the ground there at Behlmann, for MSRP, and I got on the phone immediately... The rest is history.

[2000Silverbullet]

Buy it back and part it out.
Get your son to remove all the good parts and get him to sell them. He gets 1/2 the profits will give him some incentive and teach him how to wrench.

[1tinindian]

That's an easy fix for me.
Any consideration as to selling the whole car, as is?

[1oldman]

That's an easy fix for me.
Any consideration as to selling the whole car, as is?

That's about a days drive each way? - BC

[skregal]

I'm going to try to fix it first. If I can't find all the parts I need
(and I'm not going to buy new ones) then I will part it out.

[00Beast]

That's an easy fix for me.
Any consideration as to selling the whole car, as is?

That's about a days drive each way? - BC

I'd say for him it's probably a long day for the whole trip.