Thanks everyone for the hearty feedback - a few replies to your queries:

First, allow me to defend my mechanic instead of assaulting him - I believe his exact words were, "the great thing about Volvos is that they take a lot of the crash impact internally, which keeps you safe, but results in a lot of damage that can be hard to detect until you take it apart and get inside."

As for airbags - they did not deploy, but we were hit hard enough to really appreciate the seat belts. I've never for a second doubted their worth, and I never drive or ride without one on, but its truly amazing how little speed it takes to really throw you.

This accident was clearly the other driver's fault and that insurance company will be picking up the repairs if I decide to go that route. My mechanic says he can do it for $2685 and it will be as good as new. That being said, this is an 11 year old car with about 150,000 miles on it. Now I know in Volvo years, it's still a pup, but there is frame damage and I'm worried that it won't ever be quite the same again. I'll be interested to see what the insurance folks decide the value of the car is - if I get offered enough to make it worth my while to shop for a slightly newer 850 with a clean history, then I'll be tempted to go for it.

go and punch your mechanic in the mouth....ok thats a bit strong but he should know better than to say crap like that...

the fact that the car deformed is it fairing WELL its saved YOU getting deformed...all the deformation absorbs the impact and saves the forces being transfered to YOU...seriously he should know better....

now if you took that much damage we are not talking about a little nudge here get the car checked by a GOOD body shop (and by this i mean stuck on a jig and MEASURED (not some spotty youth opening the bonnet and saying it looks ok). The car MAY be fine, but it could also have a twisted shell (if so its basically a death trap waitin for you to put your foot on the brakes hard...)

this is the sort of thing you want done right.....

Just curious, did your air bag deploy? Insurance companies have been known to use that as a threshold to right off a car.
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'82 240DL Stock / Masters Class, '94 850 Fully Loaded / Daily Driver, CVC / VCOA Member http://www.capcan.com/tonyg.htm

Amanda,

My front end was clipped in a parking lot a few months back which required the front bumper to be replaced and the entire front end repainted. Total cost was $1600 and since I was not at fault it did not cost a dime. If the damage is in the bumpers and grill only, then the car sounds repairable. I would take the car to two or three reputable repair shops and get estimates from them. You just might save your Volvo from the junkyard.

If you were not at fault, then the individual responsible for the pile up should have insurance. His/her insurance company should pay for your repairs. Since you live Texas, I am pretty sure that all parties had insurance. Did you get a police report? If not you will have a hard time getting the individual responsible to pay up.

Good luck with the estimates.

Oliver

I took a hit this spring, NYC, in my '95 850. Damage to the rear bumper also the left rear panel. The repair bill was $3200, which my insurance paid. My deductable was $1000. Since then, my premiums have gone up and I've had to drop collision and comprehensive, because it's just too expensive. At least my car is in one piece and looks great. Get an estimate. The insurance companies take the easy way out. Even if it wasn't your fault...everyone pays. Damage to your car could very well be 5-6,000...more than what your car is worth. Some cars, it doesn't matter much what they look like you just drive them...but not the 850. That car has to look good.

How many miles on the car and did you get any estimate for possible repair -usually cost S20-25