Not yet - still in insurance negotiations. They came back with a settlement, I submitted receipts, they increased the settlement amount - now I'm getting an independent outside appraisal done to try to increase the settlement further.
The way the policy is structured, they are discouraging me from buying back the car. If I buy back the car, the settlement amount is almost nothing. If I negotiate up the settlement amount a little more, I'll be able to get into another FX (probably used) clear - which is my goal. Unfortunately I might have to say goodbye to all those yummy parts with less than 12,000 miles on them. I've been getting used to the idea over these past five weeks but I haven't given up yet. I'm going to do my best to set myself up for success but I know these things rarely go the way of the policy holder.
I did some preliminary looking for 350Z transplant options - they can be found for around 7K. Then again, I could also buy a fully built turbocharged Z for under 20K.
I need to try to remember my priority is being able to drive my kids around. This car I get needs to be a family car, not another project. At least that's my approach in buying it. After owning it, I might make some minor aesthetic or NA performance "upgrades".
More to come, nothing set in stone yet...
---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------
Damn Brad, I am so sorry to hear this. I'm glad everyone is ok though. I had no idea until Stu mentioned it to me when I met him up over the christmas holidays.
Seeing the pictures and knowing everyone came out almost unscathed makes me feel that much more comfortable about the FX being our "family car".
Good luck with insurance and your search for a 50S!
You're right about that, Kim - I was honestly impressed with the airbags. If there ever was a pleasant impact experience, I had it. I only remember hitting the side curtain airbag and it felt soft. No visible marks on me at all. My passengers had a couple red marks from the seatbelts - but both of them are really big dudes. The car sacrificed itself to save the passengers and in the end that's all we need it to do in an accident.