Well I may be screwed. The insurance people (Geico) want to fix my car. They estimate the street value of the car at $27,000 and thus they are ok with repairs that may go up to $14k.

I have moved the car to a Honda authorized body shop in hopes that they when they do a more thorough analysis they will come up with a price that is higher than 75% or about $20k in damage so it will force the car to be totalled.

Honestly I don't see how I have many options if Geico wants to repair it instead of paying me the $27k.

Anyway what I may do is go ahead and get it fixed and then attempt a trade in. The trade in will be around $24k (though I suspect they will try to get me to take less because of the accident). Geico and the body shop is assuring me that they will make the car the same as new and that Honda's warranty (100,000 miles) will still be in force.

What do you guys think?

I am really not wanting another car payment. The S2000 is paid off but now I really want the Mini.

-mark=

 

Hmm, here's my first thoughts:

Place an order for the Mini of your dreams @ MSRP - if you change your mind you are not obligated to buy the car. Be sure that your contract states that your deposit is fully refundable; our contract with Southbay shows that as well as the MSRP pricing.

During the time your Mini is on order the S2k will be repaired. When it is completed to your full satisfaction drive it, see how you feel. If you still want the Mini, or another car, take the time to see about selling the car yourself. I think is you use Autotrader and the like and do it yourself you will get more money then a trade in and getting the loaded Mini of your dreams will be less painful You can get a good idea of when your Mini wil be in so you should be able to time the sale of the S2000 pretty closely - maybe have to rent a car for a week if you wan tto be sure to have the money from the sale on hand for picking up the Mini.

Anyway, the details can be worked out, but my first thought was that this could work for you and you could get the car spec'd out as you want. On the other hand, you could buy the Mini now and deal with selling the S2k later and pay off the majority of the loan for the Mini at that time..

Hope that helps :smile:

 

Agreed, get in the queue for a MINI now. That will give you several months to figure out what you want to do without delaying your MINI delivery day if that's the route you decide to take.

 

I just traded in my MINI for an Accord and I checked out the S2000. I didn't drive it but if I were you I'd be tempted to sell it and get a 2006 MCS. The S2000 is very nice and fast and its was probably bullet proof but now you are going to have to trust that they repraired it correctly.

I thought the S2000 was very uncomfortable to sit in but I'm 6'1" 242lbs. The MINI has tons of leg and head room but it will be slow compared to the Honda. You will also have to take it to MINI dealerships for all the "FREE" maintance.

Good luck trying to seel your S2000 by yourself. I got a total of ZERO calls for my 2004 MINI COOPER S, Mint Condition, 11k miles, tan leather, k/k stereo, sunroof, 6 sp, fast, 28,500.

 

Maybe that's because your price was, how to put it, a bit optimistic...

Don't know the history of the S2000 affair but if it wasn't your fault, you can get compensated by the insurance company for the diminished value which inevitably occurs after such major body and paint work.