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Hey Folks, I was in a rear-end collision, fortunately nobody was hurt. However I am wondering if you think my xj8 can be fixed, it looks pretty bad I still drove 100 miles back home after the accident and it still runs pretty smoothly. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry about your accident.
Driving 100 miles home with that airbag flopping around on the steering wheel must have been interesting.
Well at least you don't have to worry about that long list of service items now. And driving it home is probably a good idea. The insurance companies generally don't like to pay for towing and long term storage. Good thing the radiator still holds fluid. Are the fenders damaged?
Seriously though, while any car can be repaired, unless you have a way to do it yourself, and can find parts cheap, that automobile is probably not worth repairing .
I suspect that deployed airbags are the main deal-killer. For sure it would be an insurance write-off (which is economics).
It's actually hard to see how any car with airbags (ie > 1996/8) can be maintained as a classic when it becomes 50yrs old or so.
Thanks for posting and glad you're OK.
If you love the Jag and can't see going without one, just go get another one. A lot cheaper than fixing that one!!!
Assuming you even have collision coverage, the insurance company isn't even going to consider it. Take their money and run to cargurus or somewhere and find another one.
Looks like a total loss, mine was totaled for a lot less damage that this.
The front plastic bumper, with left corner chrome piece.
The front left fender, with side lite & wiring harness, left headlight, radiator support, tire & rim, $8,400 estimate.
Bought the car back, the headlight has one of three mounting points broken, with its radiator support, there.
They still work fine, as well as wheel and the tire, so they were reused.
My Jag now has a salvage tittle, was repaired for a little less than $5,000, still looks & drives great.
Total lose as far as the insurance goes, but I would def look at buying it back from them, especially if the radiator is still intact, all the parts can be got from a breakers or fleabay, etc, shop around and find same colour parts, and you won't even have to fork out for paint, Air bags are the problem, it's easy enough to replace the airbags with used units, BUT, i know that with a lot of cars the air bag control modules should be replaced too, seen it happen before, didn't replace the module and first bump in the road, the air bag went off. Airbags deploying has also been known to melt the wiring.
Really depends on what money the Insurance would want from you to buy it back, if it's buttons, I'd def buy it back, had a few good bargin cars over the years buying write-offs.
I bought my Miata back from an insurance total after the top was wrecked when my garage ceiling caved in during a hurricane. The car was cosmetically damaged with scratches and a couple of small dents, and of course needed the replacement top. The frame from Mazda was about 3500, which is why they totaled it. Without the top frame being bent, I would have gotten three new body panels, a paint job, and a new top to go over an undamaged frame. The frame damage put it "over the top" for the settlement. They gave me an obscene amount of money for it, and only wanted 1600 for buy-back. Where am I going to find a perfectly running Miata that needs a top for 1600 bucks? A new top for about 250, and an eBay frame for about the same, done!
You are not gonna be as fortunate in finding parts inexpensively. Even if it were repaired, that car is not trustworthy. What other damage lurks back in those deeper sections? If it were my car, it wouldn't even be a consideration. Take the money and run. Go get another one!
Not to be too picky, but You were in a front-end collision. Rear-end collisions are where you can do anything you want since the guy behind you is at fault, and His/Her insurance company is going to pony up. I was rear-ended in my 5 year old 93 VDP and repairs + rental cost 16 grand.
Or upgrade: hop on an American Airlines A321 Transcontinental First Class to San Francisco ($1,600) and pick up this beast https://shift.com/car/2006-blue-jaguar-xj/c1704056
2006 XJR 56,000 miles $18,000. Drive home in luxury (wait until May to collect it... better weather).
Depending on your motivation, skill level, finances, time & room.
Buying it back for a parts car, if nothing else might be a plan.
I repurchased mine for $2442, put $5000 back into it.
Looks great now, like it never happened, the paint really matches well.
When my 96 xj6 was hit from behind the insurance company totalled it and I had to fight them for $2500 because of its age. I bought it back for $80 because I was reluctant to admit it couldn't be saved. Unfortunately, the repairs were beyond my skill or budget, and I ended up selling it for $500 to a local car builder, who used the chassis and suspension underneath a 65 Ford f100 body. I guess the old truck handles really well in its new life!
Not to be too picky, but You were in a front-end collision. Rear-end collisions are where you can do anything you want since the guy behind you is at fault, and His/Her insurance company is going to pony up. I was rear-ended in my 5 year old 93 VDP and repairs + rental cost 16 grand.
I was just rear-ended and they totalled mine out. I'll probably get some low ball pay out. 75% of actual cash value is max of damage allowable. They only look at ACV Actual Cash Value. No retail..
Rear-end collision, can it be fixed?
