Our 2005 Vibe with 143,000 miles took a hit on the driver rear door/quarter panel. The accident was on 25 mph streets. The Vibe took the hit on the driver's side then spun around and hit the curb with the passenger side rear wheel. I had a mechanic take a look at it and he said the alignment is still straight, and driver side wheel bearing seems good. It has not been driven much since it got hit, just a couple of short trips on city streets, but it seems to drive OK. One problem is the wheel well needs to be pushed out so that it does not rub on the tire when the car goes over bumps. And the driver side rear door is jammed shut. The other driver's insurance (they ran a stop sign) is going to pay us $4700 if they take the car; $3500 if we keep the car.
For the $4700 I think I can get comparable Vibe in year and mileage out the door with taxes etc, but it won't have is the parts I've changed or had changed over the past two years: fluids, battery, hvac recirculation door actuator, spark plugs, motor mount and a brace, front rotors and pads. The Vibe has been reliable. A replacement is always somewhat of a gamble.
If anyone has had a Vibe with similar body damage that you drove without repairing, how did it go for you? Were there any unintended consequences of leaving the car unrepaired?