I am sorry to see that. I ride a motorcycle and in the back of my mind, I tell myself: Downhill right-hand turn is a widow maker. Gravity is against you, and you can't see what is coming in your lane. I never go fast down hill right hand sider, car or motorcycle.

Paul,
I think you have been given good advice here. Check the price of M491 cars and compare actual prices. Can you buy a 491 as good as yours for 38K? Maybe not. Could help you get into another one without losing money on the deal. Good luck. I had an 85 M491 and it was the best car I have ever owned or driven. It was fantastic. I wish I still had it. The new owner had it only a few months when it was totalled by his wife who had a drinking and driving problem. I was sorry to hear that. Gone but never forgotten....

I haven't seen a $40k M491 in some time. I would also not balk at the salvage title—the car has been hit, hard, and all of the M491 Internet buyers will know it, regardless of the title. The important bit in that regard is a piece of paper from the best shop showing every piece of quality work performed.

If you're wondering "should I or shouldn't I," I would spend a bit of time looking around for what you can get for $38k.

That said...could sure use some of those parts ;)

Sorry to hear about your incident & good to hear everybody involved is OK.

I think $15,500 buy back is quite high. I'm with Gary on this one. Counter with a much lower price and see what they say. By comparison, I recently was involved with selling a clean 200K '78 SC Targa with a 3.2 Motronic (solid engine history) and other nice modifications like bumpers, 1-piece Targa top, RS America seats. We got $17K for it.

Point being is I don't see how a totaled Turbo Look can equate to a complete running '78 SC Targa 3.2. Although the prices on these cars are getting into stupid high territory.

This stuff wouldn't bother me if well-done, but a point worth making (either to yourself or the insurance company) is that we're not talking about a pristine, all-original G50, we're talking about a modified, repainted-a-different-color example with a lot of miles.

I think the buy back is a flat % of the price they will buy the car for. No crime to ask.

M491 asking prices are well over 50 and into the 60's from a quick search.

I think Paul stands a better chance of arguing the total value is higher. If he gets relief, the buy back will probably increase.

I do agree with this. The few M491s on cars.com I looked up were very spiffy.

No M491's seem to be selling in high $50's, and anyone asking in the $60's are dreamers. The cars we've seen trading here and on Rennlist with a 5 in front of it have been low mileage collector cars, but these things are so rare (especially with a G50) that pricing is tough. The only M491 with high mileage I know of that has sold in the past year had a tough life....and trust me, based on where it sold you don't want it as a comp. $38k is too low....I'd think low to mid $40's is reasonable, but I doubt you'll find a direct comp with those kinds of miles. At that level you pass the 75% test and get to keep your car with no money out of pocket!

It's telling that the insurance company landed JUST below the threshold ($40k) on their valuation; they are out of pocket $22.5k on a salvage ($38k payoff less $15.5k buyback) or $30k on a fix. Fight it.

Fair enough. The 60+ cars I saw were at dealers. Again, just a quick search by me.

this is why God made Celette benches.

Have it repaired and drive it.

Based on pics of it in action, the celette doesn't address the top door frame, window frame, front fire wall, sub structure, etc, etc...

Don't get me wrong. It can be fixed... for a price.

If it doesn't have to be "perfcet," then anything can be fixed. And, in most cases, "pretty close" is good enough.

But from a purely cost based approach, its cheaper to buy another car...

If you can buy that care back for $5000. Go at it! Fix it.

$15,000 isn't going to fix that car. I doubt $30,000 will either. (Assuming a full repaint is $15,000 in itself!) I may be wrong...

It would help to have additional pics.

Get it on a Celette, pull it, if doors don't line up, cut the roof off, straighten it, roof goes back on, paint. I can see $30K and 9 months to get it right.

But more pics would help.

Not a whole lot of shorthoods being made by Porsche today.

The car can be enjoyed again.

Wheel sizes
 

Fronts - 16x8
Rears - 16x9

If you want to view herman first hand, up close and personal and see exactly what I'm up against, Brewster Industries in San Clemente is having a Car's n Coffee type Porsche Car Show tomorrow. I'm hope you'll take the time to drop by. It would be great to meet you! SmileWavy

Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/BillBrewsterAutomotive

Porsche Car Show
Saturday Feb. 21, 2015
11-2pm

Brewster Industries
130 Calle Iglesia Unit B
San Clemente, California

I'm sure that Paul will make the best choice based on the outcome with the insurance company, on the one hand with prices going up the way they have in the last year or so it makes it easier to get the money to repair the car, on the other hand it makes it more difficult to find a car that he can replace it with for that kind of money, 12 years ago when I crashed my 84 turbo look into a canyon wall it wasn't hard to find a replacement at a very reasonable price, its funny none of us knew quite how good we had it here in Southern California when the cars were cheap and there were lots of them, I think Paul is very lucky that he and his wife walked away with no serious injuries I also think it's lucky that he lives fairly close to a shop that can repair the car, we'll just have to wait and see how this unfolds.

I'll see if I can get a few more pictures of herman today at Brewster's to give you guys a better idea of his condition. Hopefully, there is a glimmer of hope...

Can it be fixed?

I am reminded of exhibit "A"

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/628469-rebuilding-porsche-959-a.html
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...n/244c8538.jpg

Sam's crunch 12 years back is why I quit "fun runs". I was right behind him. I see nothing has changed.

Sorry about Herman but nothing good happen at these events. It's either that or groupm ticket pull overs. I ride bikes and drive solo.

Sorry to hear this hope it all works out well for you.

d. It was a small run, about twelve Porsches strong. All were having a great time flying through the canyons in North San Diego County. I was breaking hard downhill, swiftly approaching a blind right hander when an on coming truck suddenly appeared coming head on. No where to go, added more breaking, then the terminal slide on the narrow frosty black top... No time to react. BOOOM! then silence...

I tend to agree with Winders. Lucky no one was hurt. I have two race cars. They drive on the race track. Id be happy with the $38 and hopefully lesson learned