Crunch

The fender looks like it's minor damage, the door is more of the damaged part. These door parts are plenty are wrecking yards and pick a part type establishments. You can buy a complete door (hopefully the same blue) and install it. Should be less than $200 to get a complete door.

These cars are so old, the body parts are becoming worthless

 

it depends on whether the frame is damaged or not. can't be sure from the pic.

you don't have to accept it if they total it. you just have to pay the difference between the value and the repair cost, then weigh it against the cost of another car.

 

Simple fix, but not cheap. New fender, door skin, and plastic - between the fender and door. Possibly more plastic required, because of age - It's going to be difficult to reuse a lot of it because plastic becomes brittle with age. But then again, the other guy's insurance is paying for it. Paint match is also going to be very difficult.

Make sure they don't total it; because you won't be able to find a replacement. Make sure the insurance company pays you way over market value for it. If they bulk, tell them to put an equivalent car in your driveway tomorrow. That shouldn't be a problem, unless they are low-balling you.

If your handy; you can ask for a settlement check and keep the car; source the parts from a junk yard - hopefully the same color. It looks like it's still drive-able, but you might have to enter from the passenger side. You'll also have to take into account, if you have state mandated annual safety inspections - if it will pass as is.

 

I'm glad that everyone is fine.

So, your air bags didn't go off?
Iirc, 2008 still had the mechanical magnet/ball crash sensors? Those are massively biased at measuring only forward deceleration (crash forward into a brick wall). Maybe, not the best-est crash sensor (available today), but those systems are often super reliable(not counting the scumbag air bag inflator company /recall), and those types of air bags systems/crash sensors prevented millions of injuries, thousands of deaths, etc.

My WAG (Wide *ss Guess) is under ~$2,500?
Frame damage may raise the price.
Very simple stuff.
If concerned, Dealers often (but not always) have very good body shops.

Good Luck!

 

Blue is one of the more plentiful colors. I can get a complete door from Pull-a-Part for about 50 bucks. Not sure what you have available in Vermont, but I'm sure it's relatively cheap. It would just be a matter of changing the door lock and maybe the interior panel to keep your originals.

I doubt the car would be totaled for that minor damage.

But, if it is, the insurance company will normally have an option where you can keep the car, but with a salvage title. They will cut you a check for an amount less "the purchase price of you buying it back from them".

In my case 5 years ago, when my 2005 was pushed off the road by an SUV, their insurance totaled it and offered me 5700ish, or 5200ish if I wanted to keep the car. I didn't keep it because both front wheels were pushed back from hitting a steep cub straight on, among other damage.

 

Well, things happen if your out on the roads! I would collect as much as you can from the insurance and just replace the door when you get the chance to get one the same color. I bought my Gen2 on a whim because the AC worked good and it had just been painted, was cheap because it was salvaged and looked real good. Somebody backed into me in a parking lot and the car was totaled again! Now by far the cheapest car I've ever owned. I've even gotten used to the dent and might never fix it. Screw it, it's an old car but drives great! If the door has lost any funcinality you might be able to improve the situation with a hammer for a short term fix.

 

Ouch.
Thanks for the update!



Btw, last night, I was just watching the following video that follows.
They are talking with the Toyota Master Tech Mechanic - The Car Care Nut (TCCN).

Iirc, in the video, TTCN talks about how some aftermarket parts are now double the price of factory parts, because the factory parts have a big back order.
Specifically, he mentioned a ball joint that has a 600+ part back order.
The ball joint is typically ~$70 from the dealership. So, to fix a car now, they have to buy an aftermarket ball joint.
The aftermarket price for the ball joint used to be ~$40, the current price is now $150! Because, of availability shortages of the ball joints.
Wth?!?

Also, dealerships aren't making money on new cars(as much as before - fewer cars), the dealerships don't have used cars to sell, the repairs take a while because of part availability, so... in order to make up for the losses, the dealerships has greatly raised the hourly rate for the dealer mechanics.
Of course, the independent mechanics see the dealer hourly rates go up.
Therefore, the independent mechanics also decide to raise their hourly rates (because they can).
Ugh....



Note: Start at 4:55 for the part where TCCN talks about the ball joint price.

Code:

https://youtu.be/UW281vjw6Zk?t=295

Toyota Mechanic Explains What's Going On in the Car Market | YAA + @the Car Care Nut
Apr 5, 2022
Your Advocate Alliance (YAA)



Btw, I saw the massive part cost rate increases on one of my other cars. I live in a CARB State (all of New England, except for NH, are CARB States).
Two years ago, to be safe, I got a CARB catalytic convertor on my other car.
Fwiw, other than new owner registration, as far as as know, most of the inspections (in New England) look to see if there are the correct number of catalytic convertors on the car, not if they are CARB certified. But, that could change, and you never know for sure.
Iirc, the cost difference was ~$650(non-CARB) vs ~$950(CARB). Imho, for the extra $300, it was worth the piece of mind.
I recently saw a person on another forum complain about the price for the CARB catalytic convertor - it's now $2,600.
Wth! My guess is because of availability.

From watching the above video, I now see why the prices of some parts are currently outrageously over priced.



Good luck with your repair!

 

Wrong thread.

 

The Car Care Nut has a number of useful videos. And a bunch on hybrids as he owns one.

Now we have one more thing to worry about, not only are the catalytic converters getting stolen but the whole car will be stolen to strip for parts.

Time to get your comprehensive insurance coverage people! It’s usually the cheapest part of the insurance bill, at least.

 

Market up for used parts, or more justification for jacking up prices? Can get a complete used door in your area for $150-250. Not sure anyone would buy a new door for a 2008 vehicle. Videos on youtube for how to pop out the dent in your door and dent places can massage that dent out. Of course the other driver is paying so no big deal.

 

More click bait. Imagine, if you subscribe to his youtube videos you can get the news on the latest ripoff, he will find them for you, Scotty Kilmer is the worst. Lol.

No mention of which ball joint, didn't notice any info from the clip.

Ball joint 4333049055 for a 2008 Prius from Toyota.com $86, on Rockauto aftermarket $25.
My 2008 4x4 Tacoma front wheel bearing NSK 54KWH01 is OEM supplier $56 Rockauto.