That *****!
Project car? If you have lots of time and space, but meanwhile, get going on the new one. I wouldn't be happy unless I was in a new one ASAP.
I never understood something. If Insurance totals the car, and pays you off, why do they get to keep the car? Seems to me that if you are paying insurance premiums, then you are intitled to the money. Then, it is up to you what you do with the money. You can elect to 1. Keep the money, not fix the car and take a bus, or 2. Fix the car with the money. or 3. Buy a new car (any car) and fix the damaged car with whatever funds. Whose business is it of the insurance company what you do with your insurance money?
I had a similar problem with a claim against UPS. After my 5K package was damaged, they wanted to pay me for my insurance claim of 5K (which we later settled on 3,500 just in order to expidite) but then they wanted to keep the damaged package. They had no logical right to do so. So I got my money, and my package, and did what I wanted to do.
Good luck,
Andrew