Should I buy my totaled car back?

**IanVr6** · 02-23-2015 09:36 AM

As some of you know, I totaled my car last month.

Most of the damage was cosmetic on the entire left side including the front and rear bumper. I lost control and the car hit a small ditch and sat on its left side.

The car actually starts, runs and doesn't have a check engine light. No airbags were deployed either. No glass broke either.

So... would you buy the car back and keep it as a track car? Obviously it depends on how much it goes to auction for, but for a year I had been debating having a dedicated track car. I have a friend who works at a body shop and can help me out. The car doesn't need to be fixed perfectly! I can put soem Audi decals over some scratches and stuff like that.

Before people start going nuts here, I know the S4 is not a true sports car and I could buy a used WRX or honda and just race the hell out of it. But I would still have to buy the car and prep it. I had so much stuff done to it that it would make for a fun adn unique car. I'm not planning to win races just have fun.

What do you guys think? I'll post some pics soon.

**Frinkferta** · 02-23-2015 09:37 AM

buy it back!

**stumpjumper** · 02-23-2015 09:54 AM

buy it

strip and sell interior to somebody with an A4

install cage, buckets, and harness

fun!

**Ryan_qttro** · 02-23-2015 10:12 AM

I know a guy who could be on your Pit Crew

**jayts** · 02-23-2015 10:28 AM

Depending on the budget you have to buy it back see what happens at auction, if you have the time to wrench the car yourself then maybe do this

**eurotic** · 02-23-2015 10:35 AM

I agree with the rest, if you can swing the cash you should buy it back. Making it a track car you can probably strip hundreds of pounds out of the car very easily. You're right it's not going to be a track weapon but I bet you could surprise a lot of people if what a track prepped 4 door sedan can do. And there is a certain amount of pleasure to be had knowing that you can go toe to toe with much more competitive cars.

**mpv314** · 02-23-2015 10:37 AM

If you have the budget, I'd do it

**chaos2984** · 02-23-2015 10:45 AM

Well I guess question is. Do you owe anything on the car or is it free and clear. Also I have no idea what people are talking about buying it at auction. You get first crack at buying it back. Just call your insurance company and ask them you would like to buy it back and they will tell you how much it will cost to buy it back. Usually they will just minus the buy back cost from the total cost is and give you a check for the difference. Ive done this before with a car that I totaled but wasn't my fault. I would just call your insurance company and they will tell you how much its going to cost.

**MYFASTA4** · 02-23-2015 10:49 AM

if you can afford to keep it, strip it and lets race it. its almost impossible to have comp and coll coverage on a car with that was totaled.

**Dasquade** · 02-23-2015 10:56 AM

Not sure how much or if you did any 'performance' mods on the car. As we know, that is often 'lost' money you don't recoupe or add much value if sold.
Personally, hearing you, you really want. Guess just set a budget in your mind before going to the auction and see you make it. If it had indeed only cosmetic damage, it should be prefect as track car!
Like others said, strip the car to it minumum (seats, headliner, trunk, rear door panels and rear airbags?, speakers....etc)...maybe reinvest in some additional preformance pieces (brakes, struts, cage, engine parts...) and give your car a second life ;).

**A4 Centaur** · 02-23-2015 11:02 AM

Buy it back!

**Docwyte** · 02-23-2015 11:15 AM

I'll be the Devil's Advocate here...

The S4 makes an awful (!!, really, really bad) track car. In addition to the buy back amount (assuming you own it free and clear), you still have to get it fixed, then do all the typical track mods (suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, safety equipment , etc, etc) A proper welded rollbar/cage, 6 point harnesses and two fixed back seats can easily cost $6,000+ alone.

Yes, you'll make some money back selling off the interior, etc, but then you get to deal with the joy of selling/shipping that stuff.

In the end, you'll still be out thousands of dollars on a car that's just not that great of a track platform. You can easily buy an E36 M3 and completely track prep it for far less that doing the same to your S4 will cost...

**whts4** · 02-23-2015 11:28 AM

Key point: financial - do you own it outright? you should be able to buy it back from insurance company....and it is usually negotiable to some degree. Extent of repairs needed to be a track car...remember these are $$ expensive for parts and labor. Value of parts.

I totalled a car valued at $30k by insurance company, bought it back for $2.6k. I didn't try to rebuild it but sold the car as is to an enthusiast that was building a car after stripping off and selling aftermarket parts...netted $11k and it was painless. It all boils down to the "deal" you can make with insurance company and the ability/willingness to either rebuild or part out.

**smohr33** · 02-23-2015 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by whts4

Key point: financial - do you own it outright? you should be able to buy it back from insurance company....and it is usually negotiable to some degree. Extent of repairs needed to be a track car...remember these are $$ expensive for parts and labor. Value of parts.

I totalled a car valued at $30k by insurance company, bought it back for $2.6k. I didn't try to rebuild it but sold the car as is to an enthusiast that was building a car after stripping off and selling aftermarket parts...netted $11k and it was painless. It all boils down to the "deal" you can make with insurance company and the ability/willingness to either rebuild or part out.

Exactly - opportunity for profit.

I did the same thing with a WRX years ago. Bought it back for $3k if I recall correctly. Chassis and body were garbage but the drivetrain was perfect. Sold it to a guy who was wanted the engine/trans for a swap for something like $9k.

**IanVr6** · 02-23-2015 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Docwyte

I'll be the Devil's Advocate here...

The S4 makes an awful (!!, really, really bad) track car. In addition to the buy back amount (assuming you own it free and clear), you still have to get it fixed, then do all the typical track mods (suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, safety equipment , etc, etc) A proper welded rollbar/cage, 6 point harnesses and two fixed back seats can easily cost $6,000+ alone.

Yes, you'll make some money back selling off the interior, etc, but then you get to deal with the joy of selling/shipping that stuff.

In the end, you'll still be out thousands of dollars on a car that's just not that great of a track platform. You can easily buy an E36 M3 and completely track prep it for far less that doing the same to your S4 will cost...

I already have suspension, brakes, sway bars, etc. I would need roll cage and stuff like that, but I don't need to do that immediately. I can do HPDE for some time and upgrade as I go.

Thanks for the pointers. I guess it all boils down to how much will they want for the car.

**IanVr6** · 02-23-2015 02:44 PM

**Docwyte** · 02-23-2015 02:51 PM

That's a lot of damage. I wouldn't be surprised to see a body shop bill north of $15k to fix that. You can buy a track prepped E36 M3 for less than what it'll cost to fix that.

Depending on what the buy back is you might be able to make money parting it out, especially since you have the brakes, etc, etc. I've parted out several cars, bear in mind, it's a lot of work and shipping parts is a major PITA.

**LINDW4LL** · 02-23-2015 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by IanVr6

I already have suspension, brakes, sway bars, etc. I would need roll cage and stuff like that, but I don't need to do that immediately. I can do HPDE for some time and upgrade as I go.

Thanks for the pointers. I guess it all boils down to how much will they want for the car.

Doesn't look like a ton of damage; I'm surprised they totaled it. Unless there is quarter panel damage that I'm not seeing.

How much $$ worth of aftermarket parts are on the car?

**IanVr6** · 02-23-2015 02:54 PM

It's way north of 15K for repairs. Well, thanks for your advice.

**IanVr6** · 02-23-2015 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

Doesn't look like a ton of damage; I'm surprised they totaled it. Unless there is quarter damage that I'm not seeing.

Quarter panel is bent up top over rear window, both doors bent, fender and bumpers. Headlight and oil cooler on left side damaged.

Its mostly cosmetic. I could drive the car if it weren't for the front tire.

**LINDW4LL** · 02-23-2015 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by IanVr6

Quarter damage is bent up top, both doors, fender and bumpers. Headlight and oil cooler on left side. Its mostly cosmetic.

Ahh. Regardless, I assume the $15,000 was all OE Audi prices and with expensive paint work.

Should be able to fix it up for SIGNIFICANTLY less especially if you source used door skins etc...

**kevinnijjar23** · 02-23-2015 03:34 PM

Send it to liberty walk for a widebody ;)

**MerkurRS** · 02-23-2015 03:56 PM

If you can...buy it back and go find a used B8 Avant and swap all parts.....

**blackfunk** · 02-23-2015 03:59 PM

The damage appears to be mostly cosmetic but agreed its well north of 75% of the value of a 2012. Depending on how far you're intending to go it and what you get it for it may be a decent option. Being that you have a friend in the business rebuilding should be less than typical shop rates which are ridiculous. I once had the insurance company total my car and quite literally they gave it back to me for a $1 I then proceed to sell it over the years for quite a decent profit.

**Skyler@Achtuning** · 02-23-2015 04:04 PM

Just a quick note from years back during a discussion with some of the guys at APR, during their B8 S4 track car builds they were remarking that stripping the car presented difficulties as the ECU was so tied in to the rest of the components. After certain seemingly nonessential components were deleted the car did not want to start.

**Thumper3** · 02-23-2015 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by chaos2984

Also I have no idea what people are talking about buying it at auction. You get first crack at buying it back. Just call your insurance company and ask them you would like to buy it back and they will tell you how much it will cost to buy it back. .

This.

There's no auction, they will just take a deduction from the settlement and you keep the car. Get the figures from the insurance company and make a decision based on some real numbers.

**unit** · 02-23-2015 04:07 PM

Not worth it, and you have an M4 now which will always be a better track car than an s4

**AudiA4Style** · 02-23-2015 04:14 PM

Oh man, so sad to see a car like that. How much do you estimate or is willing to pony up for the car at auction plus repair? In my opinion, it all comes down to budget and preference. I want to get a dedicated track car in a near future but have narrowed down my choices to RWD cars only.

**jdmnomore** · 02-23-2015 04:17 PM

Buy back. Part out. Track M4 or buy proper track car. My .2

**Li ls4** · 02-23-2015 04:21 PM

if you do buy it back and with that must cost for body work you should deff go wide body like a few people have said. i would love to do a rs4 inspired wide body s4 like was done by tag motorsports

**chaos2984** · 02-23-2015 05:29 PM

Hell for that kind of damage. Just buy the parts and do all the work yourself and fix it. The only work that needs to be done at the body shop are quarter panel work and paint. The rest just looks like removing and replacing parts. Find a budy that works at any dealer in your area to get the hook up for wholesale audi prices. Dealers always take care of each other and sell at heavy discounts.

**GeoJoe** · 02-23-2015 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Skyler@Achtuning

Just a quick note from years back during a discussion with some of the guys at APR, during their B8 S4 track car builds they were remarking that stripping the car presented difficulties as the ECU was so tied in to the rest of the components. After certain seemingly nonessential components were deleted the car did not want to start.

This is really interesting. There are so many sensors in the S4 that it seems you'll need to have dealer tech type access to clear code after code.

**emnahum** · 02-23-2015 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by MerkurRS

If you can...buy it back and go find a used B8 Avant and swap all parts.....

+1!

**S4 00 2.7** · 02-23-2015 08:15 PM

Buy it back if it makes sense numbers-wise. Keep is posted.

**RAD69** · 02-23-2015 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Docwyte

That's a lot of damage. I wouldn't be surprised to see a body shop bill north of $15k to fix that. You can buy a track prepped E36 M3 for less than what it'll cost to fix that.

That is so true, my 99 e36 can run circles around my S4. It has $30k worth of mods and im sellin it for only $8k. You are much better off getting a proper track rat. FWIW - Tracking my B5 s4 is what made me get the e36, these just are not track cars. unless you need voice commands to change your sirius station on the track go get an E36, 951, etc...

**Chandler** · 02-23-2015 08:41 PM

ANY stock suspension or the DIFFs.. it will be expensive!

**s4buckeye** · 02-23-2015 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Docwyte

I'll be the Devil's Advocate here...

The S4 makes an awful (!!, really, really bad) track car. In addition to the buy back amount (assuming you own it free and clear), you still have to get it fixed, then do all the typical track mods (suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, safety equipment , etc, etc) A proper welded rollbar/cage, 6 point harnesses and two fixed back seats can easily cost $6,000+ alone.

Yes, you'll make some money back selling off the interior, etc, but then you get to deal with the joy of selling/shipping that stuff.

In the end, you'll still be out thousands of dollars on a car that's just not that great of a track platform. You can easily buy an E36 M3 and completely track prep it for far less that doing the same to your S4 will cost...

Originally Posted by RAD69

That is so true, my 99 e36 can run circles around my S4. It has $30k worth of mods and im sellin it for only $8k. You are much better off getting a proper track rat. FWIW - Tracking my B5 s4 is what made me get the e36, these just are not track cars. unless you need voice commands to change your sirius station on the track go get an E36, 951, etc...

lol bros, don't tell West any of this.

**RAD69** · 02-24-2015 03:17 AM

Originally Posted by s4buckeye

lol bros, don't tell West any of this.

In fairness, i will say that i will prolly track my S4 since im selling my e36. I will drop down to a lower run group and have a some fun. I just think that if you want a fast dedicated track car that is cost effective, the S4 is not the best place to start.