Get it all done at once. Find a good and honest mechanic/body shop. You’ll be driving your Subie another 10 years.

I really miss our old cars. 😭

I think the folks posting these types of comments need to re-read the OP.

It seems to me OP is very smart with their money and was asking for advice on what to do.

They had an auto accident. They gave the options they were provided, and asked advice on each one.

That’s smart. Not unstable.

Unstable would be “I got in an accident and I know my premiums insurance are going to go up but should I buy a Range Rover or the new Tahoe? And will they take $500 down so I can use the rest of the payout from my totaled car to get my partner a ring?” OP was total opposite of that analogy.

Smart people wouldn’t go out and buy a brand new car right now. Unless maybe you’re raking in the type of money where you can live in this economy and save up $50k for a basic new SUV or crossover vehicle. Paying cash, of course.

I’m not getting the feeling OP wasn’t prepared for an emergency…

This. Never go to the dealer for anything other than warranty work.

That is a great option. But that also depends on what has to be repaired. The parts can be hard to get right now.

No problem.

One more bit of advice: Don’t even go out and look at new cars. They are not an investment, they’re a major money suck. Plus those salespeople. They’ll tell you one thing and you leave the finance office with a payment $200/mo higher than you were aiming for.

Found one already…Idk what part of upstate NY you’re from but I chose a zip code and found this on Autotrader. https://www.brattautomall.com/used/Honda/2005-Honda-CR-V-for-sale-Brattleboro-VT-aafe6f1b0a0e081d1f8c169e355e8fc2.htm

That’s a great price imho. They go for about $5k and up out here. 😒

Get the pay out from the insurance co. Buy a car, WITH CASH. Post on socials, let your friends know, etc and so on what you’re looking for.

It might not be new, it might have a ding or two but it’ll be yours, not the bank’s. Also your insurance premiums will be much lower than they would be on a new car. Especially with these interest rates. And the super inflated prices.

Look for an older used CRV, RAV 4, Tacoma or 4-Runner, even another Subaru. You really cannot go wrong with any of them. They’re all AWD/4WD. Just find one that’s been maintained.

If you need the “tech” parts of a newer car, just buy a new head unit. 😉

Think Granpa’s old RAV 4 or Outback that No one is using since he passed. Ask around. You’ll find something!

I’m in Colorado, so I get it. Those “needs” during blinding snow storms…🥴

We have a newer CRV now but before we had Crystal we had a ‘98 CRV we called The Beast. Bought it used, for $3000 cash and we drove Beastie all over Colorado, Utah, etc.

It was still going strong with over 300k miles when we sold it.

Anyways, we would put snow tires on the old CRV in the winter and we could get to almost anywhere, no problem.

My hubby even picked me up during a massive blizzard that shut everything down because I was stuck at work with the Camry, but “needed” to get home. It’s seriously bad out when they shut major roadways (and even side roads) down in Colorado bc of snow.

So he drove down a “closed” I-25 at 4:30 a.m. and rescued me from an uncomfortable stay at a coworker’s condo. He didn’t slide, get stuck, nothing.

In fact, we’re on the hunt for another older CRV now because it was fun to drive, cheap on gas, easy to fix and would go over these Colorado mountain passes in the winter/spring with no problem.

Get her the ring, not a new ride. Good luck. 🍀