Your 4runner can easily be totaled at this point if damages are already $8500. AFAIK, if the value of damages are over 50% of the cars value, then it will be totaled. From looking at the picture, it makes sense why it's added up so much. It's all the little pieces like the headlights, bumper, body work and paint that really drove up the cost. My 4runner was rear ended not long ago, and one shop said that his estimate would've totaled my car(his computer said my car was worth $10k), even though the damage were very minimal.
Here are pictures of my damages.
That said, the others are correct. It's your vehicle so you NEED to get it back from the shop, otherwise they might try charge you storage fees, and all these little fees they want to charge you. The adjuster can look at your car no matter where it is, so you can ask them to come to your driveway.
When dealing with my accident, the other drivers insurance constantly called me to ask me to bring the vehicle into their certified shop, so that way they can have the work done, and a have an adjuster come out to said shop. I said nope, and told them they can call me back once they want to send someone to my house. It got to the point where they gave in, and sent someone to my house.
To answer your question, i'd buy back the 4runner to fix/build up, and purchase another NA miata in the mean time while fixing up the 4runner. Amazing DD, and a fun DD.
