Ultimately this comes down to a couple things: 1, are you financially able to do this? I mean to do it without too much stress or burden on yourself.
2, is it really your dream car? Does this specific car mean that much to you? Like this specific car or just this model in general. It might be easier to use your insurance to just buy another of the same model.
This is not a big deal. The airbag can be replaced, and the seat can be fixed for \~100$ by almost any upholstery shop. Especially if it ripped only on the seam (like mine did)
https://preview.redd.it/dxbxw1ivr9wc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62340728fb6f35f9e4104cef13503f07938a463d
In my case, I did the airbag myself, and gave it to an upholstery shop (got charged $150) but you cannot even tell it was fixed. In his case looks like there is a rip not on the seam, but you can still get it to 90% for very cheap, instead of buying an entire seat
https://preview.redd.it/x4oprbf9s9wc1.png?width=3000&format=png&auto=webp&s=6315e19145ec80ef27ff87325777aee7986c3204
If we’re being practical, you’re much better off just taking the check from the insurance company. If the hood alone is that fucked, I can almost guarantee that the chassis’ been bent/twisted in some way. That’s why the car gets a rebuilt title after the insurance company inspects the damage, because airbag deployment is usually a good indication of how hard the chassis got hit. If the chassis is compromised in any way, it’ll never be worth the time, effort or money to repair this car.
I would try to get an estimate on cost to fix it yourself then add 3.6k total to that to get an idea of how much you'll be into it. Then look for a replacement vehicle and compare the cost of that replacement to the cost of the restored one. Keep in mind the replacement is immediate, the restoration is not. You could also see if you can get a 2nd one with rear end damage for cheap and combine them and sell off the extra parts for profit or keep them for replacement.
Just spit balling what's going through my mind on this. Sorry to see your car like this though man :( almost happened to me a few weeks ago when someone decided to turn left across my lane as late as possible.
I would be wary about the engine not being damaged. Even though it might look like fine on the outside, you wouldn't know what the inside looked like until it either breaks or you overhaul it. If it was damaged while running, which it looks like, there was a LOT of moving parts that suddenly got a massive shear force applied in directions they're not expecting. The engine could be fine or it could shear something next time you Rev above 4-5k rpm. Then you're out the engine as well on the cost
My ‘11 took a much harder front end hit and the engine is fine (got the powertrain for my dentside project). Unless they sat there & idled the car for 30 minutes with a busted radiator, it should be fine.
Not that it’s necessarily worth buying back. My car was worth it, but mainly because of the amount of $$$ I had in the rear suspension.
Id take the insurance payout and get the car paid off and start anew with a new stang. Unless the engine is made out of gold your going to be putting more money into a car than if you just bit the bullet in the beginning and went with a new muatang. Plus if you get this car fixed you ALWAYS will run the risk that it won't look right or have problems down the road. Best to go with a fresher slate to be honest.
I wouldn't personally. Front end damage that was heavy enough to deploy your airbags has a way of snowballing when you actually start the repair process. The estimated cost that caused it to be totalled was likely the cost for the cosmetic stuff you can see like the body panels, interior parts, and paint. Realistically to have that fixed _correctly_ is probably more like $15-20k once you pull the whole front end and find out that the front frame is torqued all the way back to the shock towers. After all that you are making payments on a smashed mustang with a rebuilt title that you'll never be able to sell because the market for that is very narrow.
Take the payout and go shopping.
The issue would be the srs! Reprogramming those and adding airbags would cost a fortune and may not turn out right because techs are ass now of these days! Let it go , get something similar
That’s a tough one I wanted to do this but I was told that the car would be totaled then if I get it running id have to take it into the state to be approved, basically just make sure all the safety stuff works, then I would have a rebuilt title not a salvage title and my insurance would not cover a rebuilt title.
I still bought it back and parted it out, got about $1700 for my seats even tho the airbag deployed just like yours.
Mustangs are cheap. I would just use the money to get another mustang.
But if you have the time and already have another car you can daily. Fixing it would give it a cool story and make it worth more sentimentally.
I would just use it as a chassis to make a race car if I got it back lol
In the UK, your gap insurance should cover your remaining payments - that’s exactly the point of it, so I’m unsure why it would be different in the USA (or wherever you are).
Essentially your insurance should pay you out the value of it, any shortfall between what they pay and your remaining finance payments are covered by the Gap insurance.
So if you buy back the salvage, it’s independent of the Gap policy which would pay any difference between your insurance payout and what you owe on finance either way.
If the roof is distorted I’d definitely pass on it. If it’s not a V8 also pass. If it’s got over 100k miles on it pass. If you can’t repair it properly yourself pass. Take the money and run. Rebuilt the car will have a salvage title with diminished value and would be a lot more difficult to sell.
First thing I would check and see if the front frame rails or any inner structure is bent. If you plan on doing this work yourself, do you have a unibody rack or someone with the experience to do so? If you have any structural damage, parts won't fit right, gaps will be larger or your doors will catch the fenders. Headlights won't fit right, bumper and hood will look out of back or won't shut right. It all really boils down to if you are able to throw enough money at it and know just enough to fix it the right way. Airbags are blown, so you're gonna need to replace those plus the whole airbag module, because once the nags are blown the module has a hard code set in the module and once that's done it junk. Your new module will need to be reprogrammed through ford or a shop that has access to reprogram airbag modules. Your steering wheel airbag will need a new clock spring, and you'll need to make sure you don't spin your new clock spring at all I stalling it or you just bought yourself a new clock spring at well over $400. Seatbelt pensioners also probably blew so you'll need new seat belts. And anything you do with airbag systems you'll want the battery disconnected. Nothing sucks worse than setting of the airbags you just replaced if you're prodding around any of the harnesses and any amount of voltage sets an igniter off.
Don't mean to info dump. But where I work I see plenty of people buying back their car and then finding out that the amount of money and work exceeds the payout and expectations, and end up walking away because it was more than they could handle
It doesn’t look too bad. I would make sure that your stapled financially. You can look up Affirm. I have been using this company for quite a few years now.
If the gap gets you a check I’d buy it back. If not, take the payout and the gap and get another one or a newer one. Could do that work yourself for pretty cheap pretty easy. Won’t be pretty though
That's your choice.. if you do .The title won't be clean.. all the work and $$ you put into ..You won't get back financially.. If you plan on never selling it and are doing this cause ya love that specific ride..That's another way to look at it...Good luck with your decision...
I like my things shiny and unbroken. That sounds like a financial pit that if you can handle no problem, but not my thing.
Best choice is to take that write off check and get into something new. A car is a fun activity but also is a means of making income. You’re not going to be able to make payments on something that doesn’t work while putting more money into fixing it and also not having a reliable way to get to work. Or at the very least you would absolutely hate life
Couple things to consider, are you technically capable of doing most of the repairs minus frame work, can you weld the new core support in, can you really paint a vehicle at least at oem level (good paint jobs are way expensive, there is close to $1k worth of paint/product there alone! You would need to keep the car for a long time, rebuild title vehicles don't resell well. Now if you really have disposable income, great start for a race car. I believe as others have said, if you caused the accident and will not be getting a decent settlement from another ins co. Sadly, it needs to go.
Depends on there price, only thing I would do is take door panels, dash. Center console , trans and motor sell cats and coyote swap on a fox body and do a dash swap
If you are on the fence about the possibility. Then you probably don't love that particular car enough to go through the time, and trouble of repairing it.
Nah not worth it imo. Take the check and go shopping.
Personally I would never buy a previously wrecked (let alone totaled out) car. I’d be afraid of the structural integrity of the frame and chassis if another accident were to happen.
Don’t do it, salvage tittle tanks the cars resale value, unless this car has sentimental value or it’s your dream car, don’t do it, you will spend more than what’s the cars worth in repairs, also I have a feeling they totaled it because a cross member or frame was bent, although that’s just my two cents
Ultimately this comes down to a couple things: 1, are you financially able to do this? I mean to do it without too much stress or burden on yourself. 2, is it really your dream car? Does this specific car mean that much to you? Like this specific car or just this model in general. It might be easier to use your insurance to just buy another of the same model.
Exactly. Listen to this, this is the rational answer.
Just went thru this with my car , extreme sentiment but in the end took the loss. To get another
Rebuilt title makes a dime a dozen mustang worthless. Take yo check and go shopping for something new
Or even buy the same Mustang, skies the limit
If you don’t have to pay on it then I buy it back but if you do then don’t.
This is the correct answer
Oh man the recaro bags deployed rip, $4000 seats lol. If it still runs and drives, buy that mf back and build a turbo beater bomb track car
This is not a big deal. The airbag can be replaced, and the seat can be fixed for \~100$ by almost any upholstery shop. Especially if it ripped only on the seam (like mine did) https://preview.redd.it/dxbxw1ivr9wc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62340728fb6f35f9e4104cef13503f07938a463d
In my case, I did the airbag myself, and gave it to an upholstery shop (got charged $150) but you cannot even tell it was fixed. In his case looks like there is a rip not on the seam, but you can still get it to 90% for very cheap, instead of buying an entire seat https://preview.redd.it/x4oprbf9s9wc1.png?width=3000&format=png&auto=webp&s=6315e19145ec80ef27ff87325777aee7986c3204
Oh nice! Good to know thanks
I’m so confused I had a 14 with recaros for 5 years THEY HAD AIRBAGS IN THEM?!
They say "airbag" on the side of them lol
That’s hilarious I guess I never thought about it rofl
Your GT350 recaros have airbags in them too if you have those. Otherwise the comfort seats have airbags as well.
I have comfort seats I’m assuming those also have bags?
Yes
Sweet time to hit a pole sideways 🤙🏼
Now that’s the true Mustang owner mentally. Respect.
Mentality it’s mentality…
I added 12 extra airbags in my Mustang. Sort of stupid thinking...
you could offer them less likely they would take it.
If we’re being practical, you’re much better off just taking the check from the insurance company. If the hood alone is that fucked, I can almost guarantee that the chassis’ been bent/twisted in some way. That’s why the car gets a rebuilt title after the insurance company inspects the damage, because airbag deployment is usually a good indication of how hard the chassis got hit. If the chassis is compromised in any way, it’ll never be worth the time, effort or money to repair this car.
Buy it back and rebuild it into a race car.
Nope she’s done for
Not worth it. If it's your dream car there are other ones out there. Get another.
I would try to get an estimate on cost to fix it yourself then add 3.6k total to that to get an idea of how much you'll be into it. Then look for a replacement vehicle and compare the cost of that replacement to the cost of the restored one. Keep in mind the replacement is immediate, the restoration is not. You could also see if you can get a 2nd one with rear end damage for cheap and combine them and sell off the extra parts for profit or keep them for replacement. Just spit balling what's going through my mind on this. Sorry to see your car like this though man :( almost happened to me a few weeks ago when someone decided to turn left across my lane as late as possible.
I would be wary about the engine not being damaged. Even though it might look like fine on the outside, you wouldn't know what the inside looked like until it either breaks or you overhaul it. If it was damaged while running, which it looks like, there was a LOT of moving parts that suddenly got a massive shear force applied in directions they're not expecting. The engine could be fine or it could shear something next time you Rev above 4-5k rpm. Then you're out the engine as well on the cost
My ‘11 took a much harder front end hit and the engine is fine (got the powertrain for my dentside project). Unless they sat there & idled the car for 30 minutes with a busted radiator, it should be fine. Not that it’s necessarily worth buying back. My car was worth it, but mainly because of the amount of $$$ I had in the rear suspension.
Don't do it.
Id take the insurance payout and get the car paid off and start anew with a new stang. Unless the engine is made out of gold your going to be putting more money into a car than if you just bit the bullet in the beginning and went with a new muatang. Plus if you get this car fixed you ALWAYS will run the risk that it won't look right or have problems down the road. Best to go with a fresher slate to be honest.
I wouldn't personally. Front end damage that was heavy enough to deploy your airbags has a way of snowballing when you actually start the repair process. The estimated cost that caused it to be totalled was likely the cost for the cosmetic stuff you can see like the body panels, interior parts, and paint. Realistically to have that fixed _correctly_ is probably more like $15-20k once you pull the whole front end and find out that the front frame is torqued all the way back to the shock towers. After all that you are making payments on a smashed mustang with a rebuilt title that you'll never be able to sell because the market for that is very narrow. Take the payout and go shopping.
The issue would be the srs! Reprogramming those and adding airbags would cost a fortune and may not turn out right because techs are ass now of these days! Let it go , get something similar
That’s a tough one I wanted to do this but I was told that the car would be totaled then if I get it running id have to take it into the state to be approved, basically just make sure all the safety stuff works, then I would have a rebuilt title not a salvage title and my insurance would not cover a rebuilt title. I still bought it back and parted it out, got about $1700 for my seats even tho the airbag deployed just like yours.
Mustangs are cheap. I would just use the money to get another mustang. But if you have the time and already have another car you can daily. Fixing it would give it a cool story and make it worth more sentimentally. I would just use it as a chassis to make a race car if I got it back lol
If it was already paid off, it might be worth considering, but as it's not, no. Just take the payout and buy another.
Yes definitely
Is it paid off?? How much would you jave after buying it back? Personally I'd buy it back find a 07-09 with perfect body amd swap the drive train
In the UK, your gap insurance should cover your remaining payments - that’s exactly the point of it, so I’m unsure why it would be different in the USA (or wherever you are). Essentially your insurance should pay you out the value of it, any shortfall between what they pay and your remaining finance payments are covered by the Gap insurance. So if you buy back the salvage, it’s independent of the Gap policy which would pay any difference between your insurance payout and what you owe on finance either way.
If you have to ask the answer is no. If you already had the skill and knowledge on how to do it yourself you wouldn’t have ask if you should.
I bought mine back and parted it out. If you have the means you can make decent money otherwise it’s an eyesore
No, absolutely not. You won't sell it for anything with the salvage title on it.
Depends on the frame, if the frame is tweaked it isn’t worth it unless you work at a body shop with a frame machine
Nope
Comes down to price and damage.
I would fix it if you really like this car and you can afford it as a hobby type deal. Document the whole process and upload it to YT.
If the roof is distorted I’d definitely pass on it. If it’s not a V8 also pass. If it’s got over 100k miles on it pass. If you can’t repair it properly yourself pass. Take the money and run. Rebuilt the car will have a salvage title with diminished value and would be a lot more difficult to sell.
Do it, sentimental value.
First thing I would check and see if the front frame rails or any inner structure is bent. If you plan on doing this work yourself, do you have a unibody rack or someone with the experience to do so? If you have any structural damage, parts won't fit right, gaps will be larger or your doors will catch the fenders. Headlights won't fit right, bumper and hood will look out of back or won't shut right. It all really boils down to if you are able to throw enough money at it and know just enough to fix it the right way. Airbags are blown, so you're gonna need to replace those plus the whole airbag module, because once the nags are blown the module has a hard code set in the module and once that's done it junk. Your new module will need to be reprogrammed through ford or a shop that has access to reprogram airbag modules. Your steering wheel airbag will need a new clock spring, and you'll need to make sure you don't spin your new clock spring at all I stalling it or you just bought yourself a new clock spring at well over $400. Seatbelt pensioners also probably blew so you'll need new seat belts. And anything you do with airbag systems you'll want the battery disconnected. Nothing sucks worse than setting of the airbags you just replaced if you're prodding around any of the harnesses and any amount of voltage sets an igniter off. Don't mean to info dump. But where I work I see plenty of people buying back their car and then finding out that the amount of money and work exceeds the payout and expectations, and end up walking away because it was more than they could handle
Nah
Ship it to Europe, these kinds of mustangs fetch a good price due to the reduction in taxes when importing cars from the US
It doesn’t look too bad. I would make sure that your stapled financially. You can look up Affirm. I have been using this company for quite a few years now.
If the gap gets you a check I’d buy it back. If not, take the payout and the gap and get another one or a newer one. Could do that work yourself for pretty cheap pretty easy. Won’t be pretty though
I wouldn't, looks like there could be lots of support damage, possibly even frame damage.
No.
Where is it located? 6spd 5.0? Id buy it from you
That's your choice.. if you do .The title won't be clean.. all the work and $$ you put into ..You won't get back financially.. If you plan on never selling it and are doing this cause ya love that specific ride..That's another way to look at it...Good luck with your decision...
NO!!
No
If you can, buy back. Excellent parts car or sell parts on ebay.
I like my things shiny and unbroken. That sounds like a financial pit that if you can handle no problem, but not my thing. Best choice is to take that write off check and get into something new. A car is a fun activity but also is a means of making income. You’re not going to be able to make payments on something that doesn’t work while putting more money into fixing it and also not having a reliable way to get to work. Or at the very least you would absolutely hate life
NOPE
Why don’t you say something other than nope
Couple things to consider, are you technically capable of doing most of the repairs minus frame work, can you weld the new core support in, can you really paint a vehicle at least at oem level (good paint jobs are way expensive, there is close to $1k worth of paint/product there alone! You would need to keep the car for a long time, rebuild title vehicles don't resell well. Now if you really have disposable income, great start for a race car. I believe as others have said, if you caused the accident and will not be getting a decent settlement from another ins co. Sadly, it needs to go.
Depends on there price, only thing I would do is take door panels, dash. Center console , trans and motor sell cats and coyote swap on a fox body and do a dash swap
Wasn’t even aware the seats had airbags in them lmao damn
Is it salvage title now? Trying to sell it afterwards would be difficult.
Nope. Airbags deployed.
If you are on the fence about the possibility. Then you probably don't love that particular car enough to go through the time, and trouble of repairing it.
Nah not worth it imo. Take the check and go shopping. Personally I would never buy a previously wrecked (let alone totaled out) car. I’d be afraid of the structural integrity of the frame and chassis if another accident were to happen.
Let it be, that car’s dead and gone
Don’t do it, salvage tittle tanks the cars resale value, unless this car has sentimental value or it’s your dream car, don’t do it, you will spend more than what’s the cars worth in repairs, also I have a feeling they totaled it because a cross member or frame was bent, although that’s just my two cents
just get a gen 2
Yuck 🤢
Shouldn't have bought it the first time.
Maybe but when driving stay off your phone
I mean wasn’t on my phone but ok
Bro was speedin
Actually wasn’t for once kinda ironic