Are Fiestas that easy to total?

[OrangeFiST]

Are Fiestas that easy to total? This little fella doesn't seem that hard to fix. Does it cost 5 or 6 thousand to fix? To me, a salvage title brands it as damaged goods.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fiesta...5aab2208:g:pwQAAOSwYaFWeu9d&item=272104104456

 

[frankiefiesta]

Hell I'd drive it around like that lol

 

[twolf]

Are Fiestas that easy to total? This little fella doesn't seem that hard to fix. Does it cost 5 or 6 thousand to fix? To me, a salvage title brands it as damaged goods.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fiesta...5aab2208:g:pwQAAOSwYaFWeu9d&item=272104104456

This would easily cost way more than 5-6000+ to fix, follow the panel and see where it ends. That's not just something you can bolt on/bolt off, you have to cut/weld/fill/paint, plus there is very likely suspension damage...

He says it needs a new door..

Unpainted door shell from Ford: $753.10

Quarter panel: $732

Paint materials: $759 (I hit a deer with my car and I'm taking these numbers from my paperwork, they repainted much less on my car than they would on this car)

My labor charges for the deer hit were...

33 hours body, 25 hours refinish, billed at $42/hr (Magnum Collision, a shop that works on exotics) for a total of $2,436 in labor.

$4,680 assuming similar numbers to my car. My car actually ended up being close to $10,000 worth of damage and didn't get totaled.

This car would likely cost significantly more, welding sheet metal is time consuming and several panels would have to be prepped and blended for the paint to match. Plus who knows what hidden damage exists. Insurance companies know what they're doing, haha.

 

[Wimp Lo]

What I don't like is the wrinkle in the C pillar near the roof, If the unit body is tweaked it might never be right again.

I think it would be a great foundation for an R2.

 

[our guile]

plus there is very likely suspension damage...

Depending on the speed of the impact, I wouldn't rule out frame damage either.

Insurance companies know what they're doing

Exactly. This car is that price for a reason.

Twolf, were you driving around Midtown this morning? A MO or RR Fist drove by me as I was pulling out of my apartment complex. I couldn't tell the color with all the rain.

 

[twolf]

Depending on the speed of the impact, I wouldn't rule out frame damage either.



Exactly. This car is that price for a reason.

Twolf, were you driving around Midtown this morning? A MO or RR Fist drove by me as I was pulling out of my apartment complex. I couldn't tell the color with all the rain.

Midtown Atlanta, nope. But you should join the ATL ST Club, if you have a Facebook. PM me for info

 

[RAAMaudio]

A lot more serious damage that it appears, they used to section unibody cars which is what I would do on this one but now they want to replace all the damaged metal with new material and the labor is a killer with drilling out spot welds(a pain in the arse I know from personal experience in building race cars).

One day I will be looking for a car like this to section in the damaged parts and cage it for a rally car build or if waiting long enough a clean car for a good price.

As it is this car is worth far more in parts than as a fixer in most areas of the country at least.

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On another note I really want to find a home for this cool little engine to swap it into something....

 

[Plainrt]

that thing way overpriced for the work it needs. I could see that if needed front fender and bumper or something

 

[scotman]

Many modern cars are using some fairly exotic metals to get the crash ratings that they have. Fiesta uses Boron steel in many structural areas to provide the needed integrity. most of the front structures deform on impact by design. front rails spread the crash forces through the body. Airbags deploy and the seatbelt tensioners in occupied positions do a pretension and then lock on impact(that means they are a one shot deal ,like airbags) The front passenger bag will often crack the windsheild because it deflects off the glass as it deploys (so, add in a windsheild too) . All the bent metal will have to be replaced. It cant just be "tweeked back" into place. Its all very involved. and thats before any paint is sprayed.

 

[bodytech]

Many modern cars are using some fairly exotic metals to get the crash ratings that they have. Fiesta uses Boron steel in many structural areas to provide the needed integrity. most of the front structures deform on impact by design. front rails spread the crash forces through the body. Airbags deploy and the seatbelt tensioners in occupied positions do a pretension and then lock on impact(that means they are a one shot deal ,like airbags) The front passenger bag will often crack the windsheild because it deflects off the glass as it deploys (so, add in a windsheild too) . All the bent metal will have to be replaced. It cant just be "tweeked back" into place. Its all very involved. and thats before any paint is sprayed.

Im impressed with your answer!

 

[TheStig]

I seriously dont even know what to think anymore if that is totalled but my car wasnt. This was almost 12k worth of damage (in that area, paperwork is in the car with the repair warranty) and was not "near" totalling it says my insurance company.

Personally i still feel like i got hosed completely as now im driving around a car that is worth less than half of what i owe on it. And they had to replace the rear suspension, twist beam, entire body panel, etc.

 

[twolf]

Compared to yours...

That is $9,012 in damage. Of course, this is with the cost of 2 new side skirts, because the body shop broke clips and you can't order the clips separately. And they had to order a new door panel.

 

[scotman]

I think there will be a lot of fully drivable totaled fiesta around as the miles increase. With most crash damage being frontal, used parts will not be available.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Once a vehicle is totalled and gets repaired....it will not be repaired again by insurance if it gets drilled again....this is what I was told here in Mn when I was looking at a Infiniti m45 v8. Great looking car....but that was the kicker for me was it going to be non repairable by insurance If there was another accident. Look into the laws and insurance regulations before anything is set in stone. Imo...

 

[scotman]

I think there will be a lot of fully drivable totaled fiesta around as the miles increase. With most crash damage being frontal, used parts will not be available.

Yup. At the very least, a crash history on the Carfax report becomes a point of downward negotiation for sale or trade in. In Michigan some insurance companies have the titles tagged as "rebuilt". I saw a 13 Fiesta hatchback getting " rebuilt" in a Ford dealer body shop. It was drilled in the rear and was getting a new right rear rail, tailpan, trunk floor(was on back order) bumper cover and all the frosting that dresses it plus some misc stuff. Estimate was around 7,200 bucks. It was a fully drive able car minus the jambed shut hatch! I wonder what that cars resale value is as a rebuilt?