HomerJay said:If I'm not mistaken, I can still keep a "totaled" car and they'd pay me less what "they'd get" at an auction (no doubt, inflated!). I just wouldn't be able to insure the vehicle anymore.
no, you can have the car totalled, get ur money, and "buy" the car back (like you explained)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvage_title
i think you can then repair it and it's all legal again (but i could be wrong).
if you do this and then perform a lot of the labor yourself i could see you ending up with a "free" carbon fiber hood.
start checking the local junkyards! if you can find a oem black bumper cover and a new headlight, your pretty much set (and then buy your cf hood).