that is what I would be afraid of with my van.. it is not too valuable but would cost a LOT to replace it!
Well, I picked up my van about a year ago from the transmission shop--paid $400 to have the tranny rebuilt. (Apparently, not an uncommon thing for early 1990's Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth vehicles to require an occasional rebuild after 100k miles).
Keep in mind it was a snowstorm. In Wisconsin. Where snowstorm really does mean snowstorm.
I pulled out of the place and my dad followed behind--about 600 feet behind. As I headed down a county highway toward the city--about five miles into the trip, I lost control of my van, skidded down an icy hill, hit a tree head-on, bounced BACK into the road, where I ended up hitting my dad's van along the passenger side.
Was doing 25 in a posted 45 zone. My front end was completely smashed up, and my dad's right front axle was bent crookedly outward, not to mention the body damage along the whole right side.
Sheriff's deputy came, wrote me a ticket for failure to control (IIRC, $200 and three points--12 points in WI gets your license taken away). Cars towed away. My van was only worth $600 and sustained over $1500 in damage--obviously totaled)
Dad's van was worth about $3500 and sustained about $3800 in damage (mostly along the axle).
Ended up spending $10k on two new vans.
Went to court to fight my ticket--the assistant DA waived the ticket on account of the conditions, the fact that I just paid $400 for a new transmission literally fifteen minutes before the accident, and my dad and I had to spend ten grand on two new vans...