2012 Crashed....Fix or Total ???

My 2012 Tacoma XSP-X was t-boned last week dead center on the front passenger tire. What looked like minor damage has turned out to be a bent frame. Geico is saying that will replace the frame with brand new from Toyota or the current estimate for total loss is $17k. I put together a long list of various upgrades which the Adjuster said he could factor into the total loss figure likely putting the revised total at $18k. With 135k miles on it I hate to give it up considering it's been a great truck and will probably last for many more miles.

I have to wonder however if I would be satisfied with a new frame or if I'm just asking for future troubles. Also, I'm not sure how putting a new frame on it might affect the future value. Would potential buyers be like "Awesome, a brand new frame" or like "WTF, not original frame. I'm not touching that with a 10ft pole".

What do you guys think? Take the money and run or stick with it?

The crash caught on my Dash Cam too. https://youtu.be/YGLqvlMNDBY

 

I'd fight for more. Is geico representing you or the person that hit you?

 

A new frame is much better than fixing the bent up one. As long as you can pass that documentation down to the next owner of you sell it I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. It will hurt the value as it'll have a branded title now though. You'll get a truck back with fewer little quirky issues having a brand new frame vs. a fixed one. As long as everything else that is damaged gets replaced or repaired correctly I think I would go for the fix if you really want to keep the truck and are attached to it. It'll be hard to find one like yours for what they are looking to give you for total loss. If you go total loss argue for more $$$ that's kinda cheap for what you have

 

That dashcam really saved you. That car that hit you had other cars on the left and right of it going into the intersection, so probably thought it had the green light also and went.

 

replacing a frame isn’t considered a total loss if they’re willing to do it and let you keep the truck, but that history will still follow your truck. this can mean trouble for your insurance rates, any future repairs you want your insurance company to pay for and/or total loss value if you do total it out in the future. you’re vehicle “history” is a rating factor.

have them total it out and will $18k get you close to what you want now? it won’t get you another 2012, i’m guessing.

 

Keep it,and let them fix it.

 

Wow, That looked totally avoidable from the video. I know you had the right of way, but damn.

 

Got hit in almost the same place on my '08 and ended up having to total it (door was out of alignment, frame damage, and more). Best advice I got dealing with that was to insist the insurance company find an exact replacement. When they couldn't find one they gave me my purchase price -$500 back. The truck was 4 years old.

 

I vote total it. You never know what will pop up down the road that isn't addressed by frame replacement.

 

I would take the total loss option. Take the money and start over. Maybe negotiate a little more before just taking it - look at comparable trucks in the area and what it will cost to replace what you had, and use that to negotiate a better pay-out if similar trucks are indeed more than 18k.

 

If you intend on selling it down the line I would just take the money now. Like others said, try to negotiate for what the truck would actually go for in your area.

 

Fix and keep unless they can put you in a new 2019 SR5 5 DCSB.

 

Completely was

 

Did I mention my 18 year old son was driving at the time? It's also possible that if he jammed on the brakes he might have been struck from behind instead.

 

Geico represents the other driver. My insurance company is not involved.

 

That sucks. His rates will probably go up regardless of who was at fault just because of having an accident on record. But in all seriousness it might be beneficial not only for the sake of rates but just his safety to enroll him in some type of defensive driving course.

 

If he was looking in the direction of the oncoming civic, he may have never seen it, if the A pillar was blocking it. I doubt if his eyes are behind the rear view here the dash cam was mounted.

 

17K. Hell no. That is way too low. F'n Geico lowballing.

 

Get your insurance involved. People always make the major mistake of not involving their own insurance, when in fact , they should. For those saying not to contact your insurance, take that advice with a grain of salt.

 

I agree 100% @TacomaMike37. Time to contact your agent @Jamers99. Let your insurance cut you a check then they will go after Geico, leaving you out of it. This is what you pay them for.