I'd return it to stock, sell off *some* of its goodies and get something similar.

Today I towed in a `01 Cougar V6/MTX, 69K. Yellow with black leather, no sunroof. Its already sitting on 17's, they look factory. Its been lowered, had a half-assed repaint. The PO molded in all of the body kit, which of course shattered in the accident (`glass).



I didnt have it tied down too terribly tight in this pic, the stance is almost at unsecured height.

The car needs a header panel, the grille is in the car (didnt check for damage), headlights, crash bar, bumper cover, hood, possibly left fender, minor radiator support work and lots of glass work if I keep the kit on it then it would be off to paint. Id keep the yellow, but the new stuff would need to be squirted.

I have more pics, all are the same cameraphone quality, but I will upload them later.

Thoughts?

How much you gonna sell the 96 for? With the manual I presume? I may be looking for one in the near future.

In stock form, with me keeping the headlamps, bodykit, etc, probably around $2000. If I sold it with the bodykit and the lamps.....Id have to think about that.

EDIT: Yes it would be with the manual, and it would be driveable once again. The new trans will be in sometime this month. Id probably put my 16" Mystique wheels on the Contour and keep the E0s for the Cougar.

More pics:







The radiator support damage can be seen in the lower right portion of the pic:




The remainder show close-ups of the damage I am assuming came from the accident:



Heavy scrapes on the lower part of the bumper cover, cracking on the bumper cover/body seam. Cracking on both sides.







Thats duct tape holding the socket to the sidemarker:


17s!



The Motorola Razr is cool, but good pictures it cannot do.

ill deferre to dave on this one:


(me - not so likey . . .)

There doesn't seem to be too much work to rebuild 'er. If you get into contact with the DMV during the build up(before, during and after), you can sucsesfully rebuild the title to a normal state.

It'd all depend on the price really. If it's somewhat resonable, I'd just repair as much as you could, replace what had to be and respray it.
If it's a steal, I'd put a different body kit (maybe just side skirts...) and replace what had to be and respray it.

An '01+ Escape 3L would drop right in (with your 2.5's 'tin' and what not) if you kept the plastic U/LIM.

if you do take it, ditch the body kit and spoiler. The rear bumper cover will have to be replaced, 'cause it's all one piece. I'd put the newer front bumper cover on. Not like the one I had, but I think they changed it for the '01's. If you really want a body kit, go for the Wings West. It's subtle, and looks good.
Ya, those are factory 17's.
You say it's lowered, still on the stock struts? I remember that the stock struts didn't like to be lowered for too much and would blow out.

It will be mine by three pm.

going for it eh?

I went.

if your staying yellow
get MSP Blazing yellow mica!

Talked to the PO tonight. He said that they car was already modded when he bought it. Didnt say why they totalled it for such minor structural damage, but he did say that he is still paying for it. His insurance company gave him ~$9700 for the car. I havent had a chance to really go over the car, but it seems to drive ok (only went to 20, was afraid the hood was going to fly up).

Anyway, he claims that the engine burns oil and that a couple of synchros in the trans are getting a bit old. All the better reason to locate a Duratec 5-speed, a LSD and build that 3L that I have waiting in the warehouse at work. Im going to get an oil sample of both the engine and trans and send them away too check for any unusual wear metals.

Sadly, he did say "Oh, I raced the [censored] out of that car!" At least he enjoyed it.

Originally posted by Horse:

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if your staying yellow
get MSP Blazing yellow mica!

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It will stay yellow. Im a bit torn on the color. Find the brightest color possible, wrap it around a sporty car and then let someone with a lead foot drive it. Thats where the Volvo comes in quite nice.

On the plus side, there is a woman coming to look at the Contour (the `98) in the afternoon. If she buys it, the Cougar is paid off.