05 Insight 5spd w/ 71k orig. miles is likely totaled. What's its value?
 

Don't ask how I could run onto a curb and proceed to damage the radiator pillar and frame. But I did just that.

HELP PLEASE: I would appreciate any help as to what the car is worth. The engine is original and well cared for.

2nd OWNER: I snagged it around 5 years ago with around 35k miles on it and drove it to Colorado. bought it from a dealer in Minnesota, who took it on trade from a man who lived north of St. Paul.

NO RUST. Prior owner hardly drove it and does not show any evidence of salt exposure.

ORIGINAL BATTERY REPLACED WITH IMEI THAT AN ASE TECH KEPT IN HIS OLD 2001 INSIGHT: It seems strong as the prior owner had the vehicle hooked up to a charger and "conditioned." Aside from some normal scratches and dings, the vehicle is as good as a 71k mile Insight should be.

CAN SOMEONE HELP ME UNDERSTAND ITS VALUE IF SOLD AS IS ON EBAY OR ON ANOTHER SITE? I don't think I want the insurance company to haul it to a junk yard in Denver.

WHAT ABOUT THE VALUE OF MAJOR AND MINOR COMPONENTS, BODY PARTS, THE ENGINE, MANUAL TRANNY COMPONENTS, ETC? Also IF I WERE TO SELL THE MOST VALUABLE COMPONENTS/PARTS, anyone identify which items are in the most demand and valuable if they are in excellent condition?

Thank to all who can provide some help with my questions.

That sucks. Sorry for the loss of such a cool little car. Glad you don't just wanna let it get scrapped.

If you are researching used parts prices, then look up your vehicle here: Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

I see first gen Insight manual transmissions for $350-$700 right now (in good shape).

Can't you get it repaired?

Just because the insurance company totaled it does not mean it can not be repaired. Ask them their payout amount with you keeping the car. Get it fixed and keep driving it. You won’t be able to get full coverage with a totaled title so carry pl and pd.

I had a $1000 Chevy astro van, got rear ended, I was paid $1400, I fixed it myself for $300.

Buy it back. Bought back my cts after it was rear ended, spend $0 "fixing" it. Kept driving it another 40k miles then sold it. (After I wrecked it)

I don't understand the website. How do I post photos of the damage?

Here ya go:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...die-35386.html

I was told aluminum frame means more expensive to repair.
 

And therefore the cost could not be justified. The other issue is that once the repair is made, told that the weld area would be weaker, making the car less likely to crush and absorb impact as the "crush zones" were engineered to work.

I would think you could only make the car stronger. These cars are tough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbNlR-fMlOw&app=desktop

Thank you. I think I figured it out
 

I used Google photos and inserted a link to a photo "album" with all of the photos at the site where the miserable mistake I made occurred, and then an album of all of body shop photos.

But thank you for your response. Grateful you were so prompt in reply.

Let's see if the google photo album shows up when you click on the link.
 

You can check these out and let me know if this option worked. Thank you. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XRx0ztpfSrGFLfwH3

I can never watch that without shock. I arrived at that race just afterward. Crazy.

Scary!!! I saw signs of life. How did the driver fare?

There is the proper way to bend metal, where it retains its strength, and the improper way. You can pop dents and dings without worrying about structural integrity. I do not know if it is possible to straighten a frame without weakening it further. I believe the proper way to restore a salvage car is to replace the damaged components. Some bolt on and off, but others are welded.

Someone welded on new chassis arms on both sides of this Focus, which seems like the proper method, but they also used body filler on the chassis!

I do not know if the body filler alone is responsible. Was it welded wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjxM9chAe1k

Hospitalized, but amazingly he survived relatively intact, IIRC. No permanent or crippling harm (to body). I think he might have continued driving. But I don't think HASPORT fields an Insight anymore. They have a sweet CRX they race too. Or at least I have seen it run in the past.

Anyway, the driver, Brian Gillespie, was probably saved by his own determination to have the best safety features. Yes, we can see him moving at the end of the crash video. On that day, the Great Spaghetti Monster tested and blessed his example of safety and brilliance.