Need your advice!!! This is serious

As a lot of you guys know my KJ was in a bad accident yesterday (thanks to a freaking idiot). The tow guy thinks the insurance company will fix it up but it is in pretty bad shape. The entire front right corner of the KJ is severely damaged and I believe there may be a radiator leak because there was fluid all over the ground after the accident. I'm hoping it's the windshield washer fluid as it is located in the right corner but who knows. The engine was still running good after the accident. My dad thinks the repairs will run at least 3,000.

I've got a lot of shit coming my way as my insurance company will deal with another (since nobody was found to be at fault since there were no witnesses at the scene). But the big question is should I keep My KJ now after such a bad accident?

I need an opinion from you guys:

Should I?

*Take the insurances 4,000 to 5,000 for it and buy a new KJ
*Have the insurance company fix it up and keep it
*Or have it fixed up by the insurance company, sell it, and then buy a new KJ

My personal opinion is that it all depends on how superficial the damage really is. If there was damage that would never allow the Jeep to drive the same, then I would likely part ways and start fresh.

With that said; $3000 can add up quickly on a vehicle just in labour costs. A while back, my VW was rear ended at a low speed that required the bumper skin to be repainted. That ran $600 alone, with only $100 being for materials.

Don't forget, insurance companies will always seek the cheapest fix.

If the frame is bent, get a 4x4 KJ.

Get a 1994 Toyota Paseo.

I would get a reputable estimate(s) to find out the severity of the damage first. And I'd agree about the frame issue. If the frame has been bent or compromised - get another KJ or KK.

Sometimes things can be less severe than expected but my bet is you may be looking at quite a bit more than $3000 in damage.

I hit a deer, just after i got my kj, actually 4 days after i got it, and it was only a fawn at that, anyways at first glance my turn signal was broke, and the front bumper in that area ( driverside ) was damaged, so I figured not much right, well wrong, under the headlight assembly and a few other items was broke as well, and that was $900, after i paid my $200.00 deductable, and that was just parts and labor, because the bumper is unpainted. But i have to agree with most on here, if the frame is bent badly, then cut your loss, if you can and get another kj

When my '85 Toyota 4 X 4 pickup got rear ended, the insurance adjuster told me it could be fixed. Keep in mind this vehicle spent over 12 years driving the beach, so advanced rust was a factor this guy wasn't looking at, plus the fact that the accident tore my rear axle completely off the frame.
I said to the insurance guy...."if you fix it, and it crab walks down the road after all the repairs are done, is your company going to make it right".....with that he said....."we'll total it".....

Every accident is different, as I'm sure your damage is far different than what happened to mine, get a couple estimates from reputable body shops, compare what they say to what your insurance company wants to pay, then go from there.
It's a hard call for anyone to make sitting behind a computer, do what makes the most sense to you, this is an opportunity to get something new, but it'll cost you more than fixing the damage. If after fixing the damage your KJ may never be quite the same, you may end up getting something new after all, and the accident will follow the vehicle to any potential buyer that will use that information to low ball you......

good new is the frame can not be bent the KJ is unibody
yes it has sub frames but they ,by design, can be replaced
the problem is getting the body shop to do it right
I know of 1 case where a TJ ,fairly new, got into a bad wreck
it was found to be the other guys fault
the car was a total loss and there was seemingly minor body damage but the front side
of the TJ was bent and steering box ripped off
insurance paid for a new frame but body shop tried to repair and pocket the money
lucky the owner saw it and got what was paid for

In your case you have a 4 ,pushing 5, year old Jeep with 90K miles on it
it is a 2wd sport which also is not good
when we bought our new car we looked at trading it in the offers were $6-$7
we had a 6 year old ,at the time, with only 70K, limited with all the options
in mint condt. ,we sold it on the street for $8K
if the bill gets up to $5k you may be getting a check or $5K and no repairs

what I would do and try to get the most from the insurance company
and sell the KJ as is ,probably get $1-2K
use that to buy a 4wd Jeep

I agree with J-Thompson....even if the damage is only superficial, I'd get rid of it. what'd the guy smash you in a parking lot or something? how were there no witnesses? How can they not figure out how the accident happened by the damage?

OP's original post explains accident:
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45619

That rediculous...You had the right of way...Period.
But I wasn't there but it seems pretty cut and dry.
You're luck has got to turn around.

I hit a deer the same day i bought my KJ, $1800 to fix that, and there was no body damage, no paint, just all the plastic stuff that had to be replaced, along with a washer fluid reservoir and pump, wheel well liner, etc etc etc... It added up fast.

I bought a used 2010 liberty sport 20,000 kms in early May this year. Three weeks later my son hit a parked car with it. The insurance company payed the $6500 bill to fix the front end.

I plan to keep this jeep for a long time so I will get my moneys worth out of it. The trick is, the dealer did all the work. Trained Techs and OEM parts.

You really need to compair the repair bill to the real value of the vehicle, then you can decide if you want to get into another vehicle at some cost to you.

Just remember no matter what your insurance company tells you, you can get your vehicle fixed at the shop/dealer of your choice. They CAN NOT force your hand at where to get your Jeep repaired. So go get some estimates on your own.

Like others have said, I would get estimates first and then weigh the cost, value, and hassle of the fix against getting a different vehicle. I would go to reputable repair shops in the area but would also get an estimate from a dealer. For something severe like this, I personally would rather a dealer fix it.

Grab the money. sell the dented KJ and go for a 4x4 KJ, we all know you'll appreciate it. This is your best and only chance at getting a 4x4 KJ, dont miss on it ...

Take it to a body shop yourself if you can. I am in York also I would recomend Pritz auto body or Rudisil's as good shops that have good long standing records. see what they tell you. some body shopps like the one in Dover on Hilton Ave my family has also delt with will you hosestly and very forwardly tell you if its worth fixing or not. get 2 or more estimates on your own if you can. if the insurance is not going to fix it cut your losses and trade up to a 4x4 KJ. I know you will be very happy with a 4x4 if you loved your 2wd.

ThunderbirdJunkie said:

Get a 1994 Toyota Paseo.

Click to expand...

At least it runs.

Update? what happened here? Fixing it or moving on?

Well they called me today and there gona fix it. I took them about two weeks to tell me that tho

I'm getting it fixed up by pritz because I've heard that they do a good job.

I've got a picture of it on my facebook if you want to check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=151632&id=100001039003936