Well...about three weeks ago, I finished completely refurbishing my 2005 Mini Cooper convertible in preparation for the spring. From an appearance standpoint, the car looks like it's two years old and everything was nearly flawless. Everything that was cracked or weathered was replaced, emblems, body seals, engine tune up, etc. The car runs great too, freshly serviced motor and transmission about a year ago, even though it has 140k miles.

Anyways, two weeks ago, we were hit with a massive hail storm, and unfortunately, the car was sitting outside. The main damage is that the back window was shattered. There are various hits of hail, but those I can easily have fixed with paintless dent repair. So, here is the question, insurance has totaled the car. If I turn the car into them, they will give me roughly $4,200.00. If I keep the car, then I would only get around $2,000. I also found out that the title will remain clean. In Texas, an insurance company is not required to report a car as salvage if it was damaged due to hail.

So, should I keep her or let insurance have her and find another Mini....perhaps a Cooper S?!?

 

Factor cost to repair window and PDR work! Sounds like 2000.00 leaves you with money leftover.

 

I would say your insurance company is being quite generous. I'd take the deal and make the repairs which would still leave some good change in your pocket.

 

Ouch! I've had hail the size of peaches hit my car before that didn't shatter the back window. Personally, and if you really want to, I'd keep the car. You can do the PDR work in small increments if you don't want to do the whole thing. That is what I have done. I have the roof and a few panels left. My car was completely covered in dents from this storm. I felt helpless watching it happen. Anyways, if you'd prefer to take the 4200 and search for an S, that's entirely up to you though.

 

Well...somehow, I ended up keeping this car and while looking for a used top, ended up buying another R52 Mini Cooper S convertible...so now I have two. Which still leaves me with a broken window on my original car....lol. I've thinking of just sewing in a piece of plastic and calling it a day.

 

wow that's a really high buyback vs buyout number, I would have expected more like 1000 to buyback