Here is another part of this whole deal where I might make out good. Earlier this week I got rear ended. The only damage was my rear bumper got bent down slightly. I used a 20 ton hydraulic jack to bend it back into position. It doesn't look bad at all.
Believe it or not the body shop estimated the damage at $1,918.00! I just called Farmers, (the insurance company that's handling everyone's claim), and the girl told me as soon as she gets the estimate and photo's from the body shop, she'll cut the check to me, and I can pay the body shop for the repairs.
No way I'm going to put almost $2K into the thing. I'll wash it and doll it up and put a sign on it in front of my house for $1,800.00. That plus the $1,918.00 check from Farmers brings the total to just a tad over $3,700.00.
That's $3,700.00 less I have to shell out for whatever new car I buy. If someone offered me $1,500.00 for it, I would probably take it. I doubt a dealer would give me anything for it in trade. Maybe a few hundred, if that. So this rear end job may all work out to my advantage. It was as if the hand of God smacked the ass of my truck!