Well, the good news is that no one was injured.
The bad news is that my baby volvo wagon is probably totaled... Heavy traffic on the Interstate today and I has to slow quickly from ~70mph to ~10mph while the car behind didn't. I noticed the quick approach in the rear view mirror and had started evasive action to the left when we got hit. The impact pushed us out into the median but luckily I did not impact the car in front of me!!
The impact compressed the bumper, pushed the tailgate up and jammed it. Closer inspection showed that the right side of the body is deformed. There is a "wave" in front of the rear passenger wheel well and that dore barely shuts. There is also a slight deformation of the roof. It appears to show a structural piece under the sheet metal... No broken glass and I was able to drive home (~80 miles).
I'll get estimates tomorrow or Monday but I'm thinking that repair will exceed Kelly Blue Book (Trade-In (good condition) $2275, private Party sell (good condition) $4205) and that I'm looking at a new V70.
Any advice from anyone? I haven't dealt w/insurance companies for a long time...
Any suggestions or '04 vs '05 V70s?
Milt

My eldest son shortened the front of one of my '96s on Wednesday. Want to sell?

Update,
Its been about 36 hours and no one is sore so I'm hoping we are past the point where serious injury would show up. Estimates for repair are ~$8000 and since this exceeds blue book we have struck a deal with the other party to sell them the 850 for $5000. I think this is about what I'd get from the insurance co for totaled payout and it's much quicker resolution...

Do hold out for as near top dollar as you have time to wait for, but do not include any settlement for personal injuries in the property damage settlement. Don't go for the "gimme a few bucks more for the car because my neck hurts": 1. It's fraud if your neck doesn't really hurt, and 2. you'll have settled the injury portion for a nickel and a sack of corn if it turns out later that you really do have a related injury. Rearend collision injuries,when present, often take several days to several weeks to manifest themselves. If you start getting stiffness, or pain on movement, or limited range of motion, see an MD for recommendations for treatment. While competent chiropractic care can be effective where there is no surgical injury, the insurance companies tend to be unreasonably picky about chiropractors as the primary source of treatment.
If it turns out that you really aren't hurt, be thankful--no amount of cash makes you better if you are really injured.
--
We have met the enemy and they is us. [Pogo] S70 T5 cop car : Rough Rider suspension, Walmart fog lights, eBay speakers, ambiance by Pall Mall, trim by Le Duc d'Tape, 8-channel THD by OEM amps

Glad nobody was injured! From your description it sounds like the Volvo did exactly what it was designed to do, sacrifice itself to protect it's occupants.

Would try to hold out for a settlement closer to retail rather than the wholesale value, because if you wanted another one, that's what you would need to pay for one. If you can document the excellent condition of the car with photos and service records that would be good, too. (If the other driver's insurance company balks, you can always mention how your neck just might feel a little sore!)

Since you seem to keep cars for a while, you might just order an '05 V70 in exactly the color and with exactly the equipment you want. I'm still partial to the T5, and I'd suggest staying away from the AWD models.

Most model Volvos (except the SUV) are going for well below the invoice price these days. Carsdirect.com http://www.carsdirect.com/home gives pricing by zip code, you can usually beat that price by about $500 by doing some phonework. If you belong to VCOA there is another $500 discount.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5M, 151k mi, IPD stabilizer bars, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

Well, 'ole blue is gone now...
I picked up the new '04 V70 2.4 Monday night. It's black w/black leather and various packages. I commute ~100 miles a day and we are at ~400 right now..
Wish me luck!