I was rear-ended in my third Volvo, a 740 Turbo Intercooler wagon I had for seven years. Although it doesn't really look that damaged at all, estimates came to $4200 because they said the frame buckled. The insurance company just made an offer of $2600 for settlement. It's fair considering the car needs a lot of TLC to get it presentable again (although really it's a nice looking car) and I'm already driving a new car. Anyway, I'm in San Diego, we have a place here called R-C Autowrecking that specializes in Volvos. It's one of the few Volvo yards in southern California other than a huge one up in Los Angeles. Do you think these guys will give me top dollar? I'm not so hot on fixing it to resell and the insurance company doesn't want to deal with taking it off my hands, should I try to sell it damaged? It still drives great, a shame to have it junked for a mere $160 dollars. Anybody have any ideas?
As an aside. This car really started deteriorating at 165,000 mi. Mostly, it was all the plastic parts on the car, the upholstry, carpeting, and headliner. That is the most annoying thing. Because the body and engine was great, but the plastic parts under the hood and throughout the car just nickle and dimed me to death. I had a marigold/sunflower yellow 1982 240 wagon that I just loved to death. That car went 210,000 with ease and the interior still looked just great. I thought by giving that car to my niece, and buying this 740, it was a step up. But really the 240 still looks way better than the 740, both on the inside and out. What an embarrassment considering the 740 costed twice as much, was five years younger, and I babied it more. I feel sorry that some of these newer S70, Cross Country, and V70 owners are thinking they're buying into the same "Rolling Strength" legacy, when today's Volvos are very different than the good ol' 240's and
144's. My next Volvo will be another 1982 (super fat tugboat bumpers!) 240 wagon. Dang that car was comfy to drive.