Vehicle vs. Repair Cost

When you do buy that new car, what is it really going to cost you?

Whenever you get a new car, the very last thing you're thinking about is what you're going to have to pay to get the thing repaired. Still, you're going to want to know the price of repairing the bumpers, door panels and hoods, which can vary widely by automobile model. Despite what you may think, the cost of the repair doesn’t always correspond to the value of the vehicle itself.

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center carefully tracks the price of vehicle repairs on every make and model. Keep in mind, these costs don't just contribute to the repair bill, they also drive up the cost to get your vehicle insured.

A couple of alarming numbers to start thinking about when you replace damaged parts with OEM equipment are:

•   The running board on a Lincoln Navigator costs $2200
•   The fender on a Chrysler 300 is less than $100 but the molding costs $90
•   The rear door lock on a 2008 Lexus 460 is over $900, the door trim panel costs more than $2,000 and the rear door belt molding costs more than $1,000.
•   The quarter panel on 2000-2007 Ford Taurus costs $1,397.45

With that being said, which four door passenger type automobiles are the most and least expensive to fix when it comes to the “collision” coverage loss experience, the overall cost paid out to repair or replace the damages sustained to the car?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety loss data says that the Honda Accord is the top performer, and the Mitsubishi Galant is the very bottom of the list when considering four door passenger type cars. On a scale where one hundred is standard and lesser scores express less expensive repair works, the final results are listed below.

The Honda Accord has a relative loss experience rating of 78.The other nine of the top ten performers and their comparative scores were:

•   Saturn Aura (83)
•   Chevrolet Malibu (new model) (84)
•   Mercury Milan 4WD (90)
•   Hyundai Sonata (92)
•   Chrysler Sebring (93)
•   Ford Fusion (98)
•   Mercury Milan (100)
•   Toyota Camry Hybrid (101)
•   Subaru Legacy 4WD (102)

The worst vehicle was the Mitsubishi Galant at 132. The other nine of the bottom ten and their relative scores were:

•   Nissan Maxima (131)
•   Pontiac G6 (124)
•   Nissan Altima Hybrid (123)
•   Nissan Altima (123)
•   Volvo S40 (122)
•   Acura TSX (122)
•   Mazda 6 Hatchback (121)
•   Mazda 6 (119)
•   Chevrolet Malibu (old model) (117)

If an unpleasant auto accident does occur, we suggest having a collision plan set up so that you're not out on the side of the road just waiting around for assistance. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center offers the people of  Edwardsville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Highland, and Maryville, Illinois high-quality, reliable repair service. For information visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com.