[Robert Adams]

What should happen and what actually happens are largely two different things. I've unfortunately had a little experience lately in working with insurance companies and body repairs.
The general experience I have found is the insurance company does a quote based upon used parts available at the time and then the labor. The parts are listed on an internet date base and are categorized by condition. They sometimes don't get the years correct and/or as it turns out the 'condition' can be highly subjective. The insurance company did there appraisal, but I took each situation to a body shop I was referred to from some PCA buddies and wasn't disappointed with the final outcome. However, in my experience of (3) different repairs in 2 years on 2 different cars was they low ball the estimate for parts and therefore labor and the body shop ends up negotiating for the right parts and the correct labor. In my case all three accident repair quotes ended up being off by between 50% and 100%! In the end the repairs worked for me because I maintain my vehicles to an anal degree and would surely have lost a lot of money in the deal if I had to total the car and start all over again with another 'or equal' used car which I know would not have been even close to equal mechanically.
If this car hasn't been taken to a trusted shop for an evaluation I would do so immediately or pay the shop person for his time to got to the car if getting it there is impossible.
Definitely push for a new car and not a used one; even consider paying the difference if they will only provide enough funds for a used replacement.
My 2 cents
Good luck, what a what a pain in the xxx!