I had an E36 that I loved [just sold after 10 years] - I "totaled" her per my insurance companies decision.. I took that check [5K] and bought her back [1500], replaced the clutch along with the cat/exhaust that = the total loss part and drove her for another 80K miles..
Best car ever.. drove her like I stole her every time
Never failed to start
Never gave me any shit..
In/out of it for 4K total [minus tires/wear/tear] over 10 years!
Best decision ever and when I sold her [knew she would be OLD & would be worth very little anyway @ 184K] since there was no frame damage involved in the total - it wasn't really an issue [think she is bound for strip/track..]..
Sometimes buying the salvage back is worth the time and effort..
I too tend to get super attached to my cars
