At what point should you stop caring about body damage?

[Brammer]

I recently backed into a truck in my 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix and I'm torn whether it's worth the hassle of filing a claim and getting it fixed or just saying to hell with it. 176,xxx on the clock, clear is peeling off the front and rear bumpers, rock chips in the hood, front bumper has a big rash on it from a previous incident.
Mechanically it's in decent shape, typical of it's age. Leaks/burns a little oil, motor mounts need to be replaced, suspension has never been replaced. I mean let's be honest I use the car to tow a trailer with a motorcycle ha!
The dent didn't go down to bare metal, so it's not going to rust, but it did bust (the already aged and de-laminating) tail light. Those suckers (OEM) are ~$200 alone, and my deductible is $500.

What say you? When is it time to throw in the towel about what it looks like?


edit : pictures of the beast.

http://i.imgur.com/DRdzIEp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DMquJtI.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TSOr1dZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Fie1HFe.jpg

[Bio248]

immediately.

[Brammer]

immediately.

That's kind of what I was thinking. It's time to stop caring about what it looks like, I just hate to think my time with this car may be ending soon, mainly because I'm not in a great position to take on a loan.

[SomeDudeAtHome]

I'm at the same spot you are. When I got it I cared the first couple years but after a few winters have stopped. I'll still wash and wax it but that's as far as I'll go. I keep the interior spotless though. Kinda bothers me having to look at it with imperfections but it's just a car meant to get me from point A to point B.

[ericspecullaas]

when your car looks like this




its time to stop caring

[Scottydoggs]

id toss a new tail light in there, then compound all the white scuff off the quarter, same for the front black scuff there on the bumper. if theres paint under it still. and let the dents be.

[Bronco Boy]

Aren't these cars disposable? LOL

[ericspecullaas]

these cars are like underware you need to change them often.......

[Bronco Boy]

This thread made me remember back when I dented the right door of my Bronco; was coming out of a trail and got to close to a stump. I felt it, then my buddy walked up beside me and said, "What did you do?". I laughed and put the window down. When the window would only go 1/4 of the way down, I knew the stump won. LOL



That was far from the first dent that truck had on her. And the fix was fun too...... removed door panel, have friend hold 2x4 against door, hit 2x4 with hammer. Repeat until window went all the way down. LOL

[EHB]

immediately.

i bet you laughed at "old yeller" ....

[JamesIvey24]

just smile and claim a deer ran into you.

[idrivejunk]

If nothing else, consider insurance value. A couple thou difference in how much you get if somebody runs into you. If that happens, no insurance company cares if you were driving on 3 cylinders and only have one gear left. Only how many panels appear to be un-wrecked and are shiny in the same color. Same on the interior, not much has to work it just has to look reasonably undamaged. If it doesn't need any panels, you get over 3 grand. If it needs a bumper and one metal panel, you might get 6-800 bucks.

You were still within reach of good wreck money before the quarter smash. Polish that and touch it up though, and it may not look like the panel needs to be replaced like it does now. An unbroken tail lamp, spray paint here and there, I think you're still in the game if she runs healthy. Unfortunately the only way to get all the value out of these cars is to drive them until the whole thing is falling apart. You just have some skint up paint and some neglect growing obvious right now. I say love on em when you can and neglect as needed, but I drive junk.