Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Wrecked!

So, I wrecked my Contour.

I was taking a stupid detour and got on the wrong freeway ramp. When I realized that, I still had time to get off the immediate exit (stupid combo ramps) well my brakes locked and I slid right into the first post of a guard rail. I was probably going 30 MPH or around that when I hit the post. The post did not budge, at all. I was not in pain so I shut off the engine and jumped out (later I realized this was a dumb move) and ran circles around the car looking at the damage. It doesn't look bad, but similar looking damage on my mom's van was totalled as far as the insurance company was concerned.

My brother picked me up and took me home. It occured to me that I probably had about 8 close calls with being nailed by traffic while checking out my car. Rather than think about that, though, I was wondering why my airbags didn't go off. I was told I was lucky, though, because it costs mucho dinero to get airbags reset or something.

Anyways, now I am badly bruised and my neck hurts like a mofo, and the collision shop wants $7k to fix it. Less than $2k is labor, I find it hard to believe the parts really cost $5k. On the itemised list they show the bumper cover (plastic!) costing $685! I only paid $3k for the car in the first place... (Note: I don't have collision coverage for my insurance, so it's all out of my pocket at this point)

So I am wondering, do any of you know any reputable collision shops in southern California, Orange County area, that won't charge me an arm and a leg? Or am I better off buying another car?

And now the car itself:
1999 Contour SE
2.5L V6
25k miles or so

Here are some lousy pictures:


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Buy another car. BTW, how did you manage to get one for $3K (99 V6 with 25k miles)?

Inspect for frame damage. If it is, buy a new car, if not the parts come by dirt cheap at a junk yard.

It could be decieving, but it does not look to bad to me...If your handy at doing the work yourself. The bumper cover will straighten out with some heat and maybe a new backing bar ect. Big question is the front end...the engine cradle and its alignment ect. Alot of parts can be had used pretty cheap from a bone yard...but yeh pricing it for new parts would easily run the bill up, and thats why its where its at. Being its low mileage, and if its been taken care of ...you do have the option of fixing it up yourself with used parts. I would have it looked at closely by a front end shop even if it cost you an inspection fee. If all else fails...you could part it out for parts and maybe make a few bucks. Im sure someone would take the motor and other parts..ect.

Man, I really liked that car. Only had it for 10 months!

A friend of mine knows the owner of an auto shop (not sure if its a body shop or what) and he owes my friend some favors, so supposedly I can get a better deal there. I will check that out. It looks like the place I got the estimate from tacked on a buttload of unnecessary crap. They want to replace just about anything body-related on the front half of the car. I am 99% positive that there is no damage beyond on the front fenders, though I could be wrong. At least the driver's side is fine, including the fender. $50 each for the door guard strips....WTF! They are in perfect condition... I want my old busted 1988 Ranger back.

maybe consider SVT plastics?

Sucks, low mileage for a 7 year old car, I'd fix it up, that is if the underbody isn't screwed up to hell. Good luck. Also that ain't no 7K to fix more like 4-5K maybe(?)
I'd say 3K without labor. Who ever you are goin for, for an estimate is ripping you off dude.