In a message dated 97-10-22 07:06:15 EDT, alangondry@JUNO.COM (Alan S Gondry)
writes:

<< I had the misfortune of being rear ended by a Ford F-150 pickup a week
 ago last Saturday.  I drove away, but, the van has a coolant leak now.
 The insurance company wants to total it.

 Basically to recap:  smashed bumper, rear hatch, and everything in the
 rear up to the engine.  $3200 of damage.

 My request is for advice.  Do I take them up on the offer?  Take a cash
 settlement and fix it?  Scrap it myself?  None of the above?

 Has anyone had the same problem?  Advice would be nice. >>

if the van is a good runner, and has no other big $ problems before the
accident, and if the coolant leak is not a cracked block, and is something
that can easily be fixed, then buy it back from the ins co. (for a couple
hundred bucks) and put on another hatch, bumper, pull out the damage yourself
as best as you can, put on another used bumper, and just drive it.  all of
the preceeding, you can do yourself....

chris