Hi all,

My 2008 TL-S, formerly in excellent condition with 108k miles, is now at the body shop after we were sideswiped by a truck and run off the interstate in East Texas. Fortunately I was quick enough to be able to make it to the exit ramp just ahead; unfortunately I didn't make it to the pavement but hit the exit sign. The front left bumper area of the car was pretty much destroyed although the engine didn't quit and the airbags didn't go off. Our insurance has offered $9000 if we let them send it to the salvage yard or $6000 if we want to keep it. The repair estimate was $7500 but that's without stripping away the obviously broken pieces to go underneath and see what other damage may be there.

So the best possible scenario is that instead of getting $9000, we have to pay out $1500 plus the insurance payout if we want to keep it and have it repaired, after which we will have a salvage title that means it is worth considerably less than $9000.

My wife is sad about letting it go, as am I, but I don't think it makes sense to repair it under these circumstances.

What do you all think?