Hi,
This past Saturday I wound up skidding and hitting a guardrail in my once "mint condition" volvo. This baby has no rust, barely 150 K miles, a working air conditioner. For a car this old, it was really a "luxury car".
The car still runs and runs rather well. It just is missing a headlight, the grill on the front, a part of the bumper, adn the trunk is dented. I don't know what to do!!! I was given the name of a reputable body shop nearby and I will most likely get the "damage" from them tomorrow.
How much is too much to put into this car to fix it?
It makes me angry because I think that if I chopped it up and sold it piece by piece I would make more on it than if I just sold the car as is......
My inclination is to put no more than $1,000 into fixing it, and I wonder if even that is too much.
I'm so attached to this car! But I also know I need to be reasonable. Please help!!!!!!
Diane
I may have killed my 86 volvo 240 DL :(
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dielotosblume
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 25 January 2005
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The real question is "what is the car worth to you?"
Actually an 1986 is not that old for a Volvo and only 150K is just broken in. My daily driver is a 1981DL with 120K on it. The other thing to consider is even if you have to pay $2000+ to fix it, what car you buy to replace the car for that money? Not much.
The great thing about Volvo is the strength of the cars and your damage is only superficial, a couple of new parts bolted on and some paint and no one will ever know.
Just my $.02
Actually an 1986 is not that old for a Volvo and only 150K is just broken in. My daily driver is a 1981DL with 120K on it. The other thing to consider is even if you have to pay $2000+ to fix it, what car you buy to replace the car for that money? Not much.
The great thing about Volvo is the strength of the cars and your damage is only superficial, a couple of new parts bolted on and some paint and no one will ever know.
Just my $.02
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dielotosblume
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 25 January 2005
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Hi,
I sent my 1986 baby to a highly recommended body shop about 10 days ago.
When I called in for the estimate the guy told me that he had tried to get used parts but hadn't been able to because of the year, and that what he HAD been able to get his hands on were parts that were new but not made by volvo (I don't really understand this). I mentioned my surprise that my mechanic (who only does volvos) did not have the parts. He said that he was under the impression that this man wasn't keeping any parts anymore but that maybe I could call him and find out.
My mechanic, it turns out, DOES have the parts.
I called a few days later and couldn't get an estimate, but the body shop said that he was sorry but there would not be that much of a difference in the price when all was said and done....something about before market and after market values....I really didn't understand, and because I was in shock, didn't ask him to elaborate. I just figured I would wait till I got the real numbers.
This just seems sooooooooo shady to me.
We are talking an estimate to the tune of $2900 for a headlight, a hood a bumper and possibly some paint. I just think that is very high.......certainly much more than I even paid for this car (which I do love and misss).
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Diane
I sent my 1986 baby to a highly recommended body shop about 10 days ago.
When I called in for the estimate the guy told me that he had tried to get used parts but hadn't been able to because of the year, and that what he HAD been able to get his hands on were parts that were new but not made by volvo (I don't really understand this). I mentioned my surprise that my mechanic (who only does volvos) did not have the parts. He said that he was under the impression that this man wasn't keeping any parts anymore but that maybe I could call him and find out.
My mechanic, it turns out, DOES have the parts.
I called a few days later and couldn't get an estimate, but the body shop said that he was sorry but there would not be that much of a difference in the price when all was said and done....something about before market and after market values....I really didn't understand, and because I was in shock, didn't ask him to elaborate. I just figured I would wait till I got the real numbers.
This just seems sooooooooo shady to me.
We are talking an estimate to the tune of $2900 for a headlight, a hood a bumper and possibly some paint. I just think that is very high.......certainly much more than I even paid for this car (which I do love and misss).
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Diane
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Kmaniac in California USA
- Posts: 301
- Joined: 15 January 2005
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- Location: Concord, California USA
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I am sorry to hear about your unfortunate event.
One thing you must understand about body shops, is that they make there money charging insurance companies for the work they do. I would imagine that the majority of your estimate for repair is for labor to do the work. Plus, shops will almost always mark up the price they charge you for the parts they obtain on your behalf.
With your car being so old, (not late model), the body shop wasn't confident that they could find the parts for your car to begin with. Now that you have found the parts for him, he is going to charge you fully for his shops time to put in all together.
Now, I am a do-it-yourselfer. I hate to pay someone good money to do something I can do myself. If I was in this position, I would obtain the parts myself, replace them myself, as much as possible, the pay the body shop to complete what I couldn't do myself. Much cheaper that way. If you don't feel comfortable doing things like this yourself, then you are at the mercy of whichever body shop you choose to do the work. I would suggest getting multiple estimates and getting the parts yourself.
Any which way you go, $3000 to repair your own car, as long as you like the car and it is in good condition otherwise, would be a lot cheaper than a brand new car. You will lose at least that much in depreciation when you drive a new car off the lot.
One thing you must understand about body shops, is that they make there money charging insurance companies for the work they do. I would imagine that the majority of your estimate for repair is for labor to do the work. Plus, shops will almost always mark up the price they charge you for the parts they obtain on your behalf.
With your car being so old, (not late model), the body shop wasn't confident that they could find the parts for your car to begin with. Now that you have found the parts for him, he is going to charge you fully for his shops time to put in all together.
Now, I am a do-it-yourselfer. I hate to pay someone good money to do something I can do myself. If I was in this position, I would obtain the parts myself, replace them myself, as much as possible, the pay the body shop to complete what I couldn't do myself. Much cheaper that way. If you don't feel comfortable doing things like this yourself, then you are at the mercy of whichever body shop you choose to do the work. I would suggest getting multiple estimates and getting the parts yourself.
Any which way you go, $3000 to repair your own car, as long as you like the car and it is in good condition otherwise, would be a lot cheaper than a brand new car. You will lose at least that much in depreciation when you drive a new car off the lot.
Chris the "K MANIAC"
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
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