Bent front frame rail: Does this warrant a total loss?

Many people have found that once the frame is bent, the car usually never drives the same again.
You would probably be better to either take the total loss or fond a comparable replacement vehicle and have insurance pay for that.

 

frames can be straightened, but it depends on who is doing it. if at all possible, i would prefer it totaled, and purchase a new car.

 

I recently bought a 2008 from Steve at autobeyours.com, who specializes in rebuilding salvage Gen 2s. This one was in a front wreck, and he had replaced both front rails. I drove it 380-some miles to deliver it, and I think it tracks better than my own car. So it can be done, if done right.

-Chap

 

The insurance companies often make more money parting the car out than the car is worth whole. Since Toyota's stance is that the car is to be a total loss if any permanently attached (welded on) part of the uni-body is damaged, the insurance company will often call it a total loss when they didn't need to.

 

... which is weird, considering they even publish a whole manual on nothing but how to remove and replace all those welded and brazed bits ....

-Chap

 

Not so strange, in my opinion. They don't recommend it, but if you are going to do it, they have procedures. The are a seller of parts, after all.

 

Do you know if Toyota’s statement on this has been published? If they have such a rule, I wonder if it might apply only to new vehicles before delivery, or perhaps to Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, rather than to customers’ vehicles already in use.

As @ChapmanF notes, Toyota publishes an extensive library of Collision Repair Manuals, Collision Repair Information Bulletins, and training courses, giving approved procedures for safe repairs, including the welds to replace the damaged front side member seen in the photos of @Sylki's Prius c.

 

I like cars like this because they're cheap to buy off people. Maaco pulls the frames for me and gets the front bumper close. Your frame looks cracked or going to crack. Might need a bead of weld after that. Ins and owners who use ins won't go for that crap. But I set low expectations so the shop knows I'm ok with and it's a cash deal. Then I drive the car another 100k miles.

If the bumper won't line up it'll pop off on the sides every time. Often the radiator frame is bent back too. Every case is different. Maybe u can take the acv/replacement cash, buy the salvaged car for a good price?