w00t chris!
Got the insurance co accepting liability, valuation on my Subaru... $4045 * 1.0625 for sales tax - $475 salvage value, they mailed me a check for $3822. That's a great valuation, though I'm going to see if I can reduce the salvage value reduced, since I actually got $325 for the car. I guess it's not too bad, buy a car for $1500, total it and get $3800.
I think I've decided: southern, rust-free Laser Blue Protege5 (yellow is an OK fallback), with moonroof preferably, with leather if possible. Shooting for around 100K miles, limit of about 130K. If anyone comes across one, holla! Will pay remote southern peoples to inspect car. I will start the search in earnest once all the money is in the bank.