The Car Accident Saga Is Over

[ProfessorGAC]

Yesterday, I received the settlement from the insurance company.
Because the car is nearly an antique (1998 Sebring convertible with 140k miles), parts to repair can't be found.
So, they paid me the fair market value for a dent in the door!
Thing is, the settlement amount is exactly $260 less than I paid, out the door, in June of 2020.
So basically, my cost to own has now dropped to $3.94 per month.
I'm just going to drive it with the dent until I start having issues, but now I have an extra 5 grand on hand to add to the cost of a new car in a couple years. If I pay cash I get $5000 more car. If I borrow, I have a lower principal so a small payment.
I can't believe that this worked out so favorably.
Of course it requires an owner who cares so little about what the car looks like. But, I'm on of those guys.
Instead

[2naSalit]

1. Sounds like...

A better deal than you thought?

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Yes, Way Better

Since I bought the car for $5,300 5&½ years ago, I never envisioned the market value to be anything close to what they paid.
I expected 50% of that, maybe less.

[2naSalit]

6. Nice...

Probably best to wait out the winter to think about replacing it anyway.

I'm about to turn over 250K on my 92 4Runner, still runs great, needs a paint job before I have rust spots. I sold that BMW earlier this year and am glad of it. My friend, who bought it, has had her fun with it and is ready to get something else, starting to turn into a money pit. Never had that problem with the 4Runner... and it takes regular gas rather than premium.

Glad you got a good return on that, not good with how it came about but still.

[viva la]

3. Great! Usually....

It works out badly, a working car totaled and they pay $800, which won't buy a working car.

I'm glad for once it worked out and you can still drive the car!

[underpants]

4. Good.

The only car wreck I’ve ever been in was from picking up my wife from a hospital stay during pregnancy. We got slow motion T-boned in my 3rd vehicle, a pick up truck.

This turns out better than the country western standard it sounds like.

I bought the Toyota for $1,400. Insurance gave me $700 after the accident and I kept the truck. Got the gas tank and windshield replaced. Sold it for $1,200. Months later I get a call from GEICO to settle the claim …uh oh. The lady said there’s a mental anguish part of the hit and run settlement.

$649. I agreed that that was exactly amount of the mental anguish that I had.

[GreenWave]

5. Aren't there dent popper people where you live?

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Maybe, But I Can't Find One

The much bigger city near us probably has one, but not sure I want the inconvenience of driving 20 miles, renting a car for s couple days & then going to get the car.
The car is 27 years old, so cosmetics aren't exactly a priority.

[True Dough]

8. Glad it worked out so well, Prof

Not sure you care to even go through the trouble at this point, but if you want to try to remove or at least improve the look of that dent, watch this:

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Pretty Nifty

Since I can't get to the inner surface of the door like he could through the truck, the bridge puller kit looks like a good option.
I'm certainly willing to spend under $20 to see if it works.

[debm55]

9. Glad you are okay and everything is fine.