I had this '84 CR-X that I bought in 1995 for $150 (yes - less than $200).
It had 115K miles on it and no interior behind the driver.

It was a beater I left sitting on the pier while I was in the Navy. It was
nice b/c I did not have to worry about it.

One night I was awoken on the ship by the fellow on duty who said the SP's
were on deck and somebody had broken into my car "or something". Then I
remembered the fancy Type IV engine with 911 cooling I had sitting in the
back under a blanket. @%^&#@*@(!

Went running out there to find the engine fine but collision damage to the
rear of the car. Seems there was a van near it that was rockin' (as in
don't come knockin') and the SP on patrol got distracted and hit my car. He
was so scared that I would be pissed. I laughed my head off and told him
all was okay, no hard feelings. (While we talked the van got busy again...).

I told him to file a report (I was a former SP so I knew the routine) and I
would just get the Navy to fix it.

Remember - purchase price was $150. I went around town per Navy
instructions to get estimates. They ranged from $750 to $1750. I heard that
these panels would have to be replaced and I heard the frame was bent.
These were folks that crawled under the car and put it on an inspection rack.

The Navy paid me $1250 I think. I spent the day looking at the car and
noticed that the bumper was popped loose from it's bracket - 30 second fix,
a trim panel needed some hammer persuasion, and the tail light needed
replacement for $20.

An hour plus travel time and I fixed it...

Insurance repairs are weird...

>  That is an exact description of the van as I bought it.  Including the
> > missing fridge.  Mine has clock and not tach.  Here's a link to photos of
> > the damage.  Estimates came in about $2000-2500.  Insurance is claiming a
> > value of $1200-1475.  I have discussed this previously on the list in the
> > thread:  "Battering Ram vs. Ford Escort"
> >
> > Tim Hannink asked the question that tweaked my brain into realizing
> > something here:  Aha!  That is the key!  There are no chrome window
> > moldings, except on the rear hatch, where the GL badge is.  The rear hatch
> > was replaced by a PO.  So it is probably not a GL, just the hatch came from
> > a GL.
> >
> > Edward
> >
> > http://buncombe.main.nc.us/~emaglott/pp010/index.htm
> >
>
>i saw the pics...is that the extent of the damage?? that's it?????and theyre
>totalling it for that????   INSANE!!!!!   thats like a hour in your driveway
>with a block of wood and a hammer and maybe a pry bar..to straighten it all
>out YOURSELF..    that is NOTHING!    $2500 estimate???  what the f**k????
>that is friggin INSANE.    and they say your westy weekender is only worth
>$1200?   what ripoff ins co do you have??  this aint right..    you need to
>fight this....
>good luck man, youll need it
>chris

Ciao!

Chris Mills
Cookeville, Tennessee
ICQ# 5944649