I just wrecked my 98' Pathfinder SE. Into a tree. The airbags were deployed, the radiator crushed, the bumper warped and the hood slightly bent up. From what I understand this makes it totaled, amirite?

My question, how much could I expect to sell it for in this condition? The Bluebook value was at a little over 4,500. Before the fateful collision of course. Any help would be appreciated. Or you can lock my thread... whatever.


If it at all helps, I gots some 4wd rockin' in it, Bose sound, mirror tint, sunroof, after market alarm system/keyless entry.

sounds pretty repairable to me man.

The airbags you'll have to take to a shop to do and that could be expensive,

but the rest is really easy stuff. The rad, bumper and panels you can probably find in a scrapyard or get pattern panels for cheap, and they really shouldn't be hard to fit yourself, or if you know someone who's good with cars to do for you for a few beers

You should probably take it to a good honest shop to get it checked over properly and make sure that the frame isn't bent and all the suspension and brakes are fine, too, it doesn't sound like you're clued up on cars so these are things that you might not notice if you inspected it yourself

It doesn't sound like a whole lot of work to get everything back in shape assuming you didn't warp the frame. If you did, it's going to be alot more expensive to get it pulled back into alignment.

How fast were you going when you hit the tree?

It doesn't sound like a whole lot of work to get everything back in shape assuming you didn't warp the frame. If you did, it's going to be alot more expensive to get it pulled back into alignment.
This.

If the chassis is warped, it's expensive to have it sorted, and the car will never be quite right afterwards... Checking it for trueness is also quite a lengthy process. Is it obviously bent?

From the looks of it, it seems the same. But then again what do I know. So, I need to take it to a shop and have them look at the frame?


Now, supposing It becomes to much of a bother... can anyone tell me how much this may has decreased the value of my vehicle?


I was not really going that fast at all.


Many thanks to those who have helped thus far.

the resale value of your car has reduced drastically.

half of its value prior to the crash?

the resale value of your car has reduced drastically.

half of its value prior to the crash?

Less, If the rad was really crushed and not kinked, i doubt the engine and tranny were spared. If there is a crossmember before the engine, that was probably kinked, sop either way you're in deep shit.

If the chassis is twisted or damaged in any way it's an instant write off no matter how much money you have the throw at it. Some things pretty much ensure your insuarnce company will write them write off when damaged, that's just the way it is*.

It only sounds like a small accident really, so you may well be fine in terms of damage, but I have seen chassis's warper from less.


*A chassis is the one part of a car you can't replace or fix. There is only one thing that I know of that can be even slightly called an exception, and it is of very limited context: Old Joe is restoring a rusted out car of significant historical importance, and it's almost entirely rust, including half of the chassis. What remains of the chassis can - if he's lucky - be approved for transplant, to be butchered out and then welded into the reproduction as a replacement.

If the chassis is twisted or damaged in any way it's an instant write off no matter how much money you have the throw at it. Some things pretty much ensure your insuarnce company will write them write off when damaged, that's just the way it is*.

I'm not sure how it works over there, but it's fairly common for people to fit new chassis (or half chassis) to Land Rovers and the like over here if it gets warped or rusted beyond repair.

If the chassis is twisted or damaged in any way it's an instant write off no matter how much money you have the throw at it. Some things pretty much ensure your insuarnce company will write them write off when damaged, that's just the way it is*.

It only sounds like a small accident really, so you may well be fine in terms of damage, but I have seen chassis's warper from less.


*A chassis is the one part of a car you can't replace or fix. There is only one thing that I know of that can be even slightly called an exception, and it is of very limited context: Old Joe is restoring a rusted out car of significant historical importance, and it's almost entirely rust, including half of the chassis. What remains of the chassis can - if he's lucky - be approved for transplant, to be butchered out and then welded into the reproduction as a replacement.

I have seen seen chassis swaps done before.

I'm not sure how it works over there, but it's fairly common for people to fit new chassis (or half chassis) to Land Rovers and the like over here if it gets warped or rusted beyond repair.

Lol.
Land Rover Defenders have the EVERYTHING bolted on... They were made so they could be totally dismantled down to the chassis. Amazing how easy it is. You can just get another kit, or use an existing kit on a different chassis. Freaks me out.

Lol.
Land Rover Defenders have the EVERYTHING bolted on... They were made so they could be totally dismantled down to the chassis. Amazing how easy it is. You can just get another kit, or use an existing kit on a different chassis. Freaks me out.
Yeah, you can buy any part for it. New half/quarter chassis, crossmembers, everything.

All of the utility series (Series I through to the Defender) had the same kind of bolt-together design. On my dad's S III, you can have the whole floor out in about 15 minutes. Handy for gearbox changes...