Well, things happen for a reason I guess. This Thursday evening I was heading back home from a bookstore a mile from my house just long enough to grab a bite and make an appointment in an hour. There was bumper to bumper rush hour traffic even on this single lane thoroughfare and I decided to turn a couple of streets early to avoid it.
Everyone is stopped (including me) and I am half a block from my turn when some kid in a Mazda3 rear ends me going at least 25mph. POW. I got out with mild whiplash and nothing else thankfully. The car struck no one else in front of me. Now the Prelude looks like this:
Amazingly it still drives and is fairly stable up to 50mph (as fast as I had taken it since the crash before dropping it off at the body shop).
It looks pretty bad but what you can't see is how much damage occurred to the rear frame. The suspension in the driver's side rear has way more negative camber than the right and though I'm told a rear impact like this shouldn't affect the front of the monocoque frame I am seeing a difference in the bumper alignment to the front quarter on the passenger side. There is rear quarter damage on the driver's side and basically everything past the rear window is KO'd. The body man I took my car to said to me that it may be a total loss. I believe his guess. This is easily $6000 of work to repair. The kid was insured. He seemed bewildered at the time but I'm also wondering if he understood just how close he came to maiming me. When I was sixteen I rear ended an SUV. I lost a tooth and had to get an implant from that experience. I was both scared for how I'd injured myself and if I'd injured the couple in the vehicle ahead of me. It was a big deal and I'd never been in an accident. I'm just not sure I felt that emotional weight from this kid.
Not to mention he's probably totaled my car of ten years.
The freely kid admitted fault to my insurance, so that part is open and shut but seriously, this could have been far worse. We're all guilty of distractions getting in the way of our driving but this asshole could have seriously injured me! I'll get first appointment with an orthopedic man this week to straighten out my whiplash strain.
It's upsetting. I had a whole new suspension installed last year and I'd just done a bunch of maintenance and cosmetic interior fixes, changed the particulate cabin filters, put a brand new Optima battery in and I was looking at putting new tires on all in hopes of selling it. Other than some flaky paint in the rear it was excellent physical and mechanical condition. I've wanted to sell the car for a couple of years now but I never wanted it to become scrap metal.
Yep, ten years. Had it since new. Other than not getting a full repaint in recent years (always couldn't afford it because of school, camera gear, putting money into short films, etc.), I kept up with replacing any cosmetic parts that were getting worn (headlights, shifter, random interior bits, etc.) and I finally got the suspension finished last year. The car has 136,300 miles roughly, all on the original engine which has never been opened up. There were no mechanical issues.
I've been wanting to sell it anyway but if my insurance company decides to repair it I doubt that the frame will ever be truly straight again. And now there is no way I'll get anywhere near a normal KBB value for it. Not with this crash on its record. I really wanted to sell it to an owner who would enjoy it.
Getting another car is inevitable at this point. Putting some money into a repaint was one thing but this is just too much.
thats messed up ive had a couple of close calls recently with some idiots hope its not the return of the curse, i dont want to jinx it (knocks on wood). i also hope it doesnt become a part out car
That is totaled. Seeing the crimped quarter panel behind your door and other apparent frame damage etc, there is no way an Insurance company will want to open that can of worms. Even if initial inspection doesn't show as much, that's sure to turn up all kinds of unforeseen damage. YUCK.
Asshole kid.
If you have paperwork showing recent big expenses in repairs/maintenance, check with your insurance. Some insurance's will cover recent expenses on a car if the car is totaled. Especially since the kid's insurance will be paying it.
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95 Integra LS <<<>>> 99 CBM Prelude SH
That is totaled. Seeing the crimped quarter panel behind your door and other apparent frame damage etc, there is no way an Insurance company will want to open that can of worms. Even if initial inspection doesn't show as much, that's sure to turn up all kinds of unforeseen damage. YUCK.
Asshole kid.
If you have paperwork showing recent big expenses in repairs/maintenance, check with your insurance. Some insurance's will cover recent expenses on a car if the car is totaled. Especially since the kid's insurance will be paying it.
That's pretty much what I figured. I'm checking with the shop tomorrow morning.
I have records for all maintenance, repairs and upgrades ever performed to the vehicle. I am sure that the upgraded suspension will not be reflected in the insured value. You're saying I can argue that the last few things I had done to the car can be reimbursed on top of the insured value?
pIERCE, yeah, it makes me sad. The car is sitting in a bodyshop lot a couple of miles up the road awaiting the inevitable. I at least want to sit in it or drive it around a block one more time before it's taken away. I have been through so much with it, including a cross-country move across the lower USA.
It's funny, I've been kicking myself since the day I sold my '69 Mustang and wishing I still had it. Now I'll probably feel similarly about this one because I had far more experiences in more places with it.
pIERCE, yeah, it makes me sad. The car is sitting in a bodyshop lot a couple of miles up the road awaiting the inevitable. I at least want to sit in it or drive it around a block one more time before it's taken away. I have been through so much with it, including a cross-country move across the lower USA.
It's funny, I've been kicking myself since the day I sold my '69 Mustang and wishing I still had it. Now I'll probably feel similarly about this one because I had far more experiences in more places with it.
Call the body shop, they might not have a problem with it. When my moms old volvo wagon was rolled, we were allowed by the body shop to go see it.
If you just dumped like a grand in repairs etc in the car within the past month or so, Ive heard some insurances covering that after an accident. Not sure they will, but never hurts to try. They're certainly more willing in this case because its not your fault. Just be like, hey, Im out (wasted 500 bucks or whatever) because the car has been totaled now. Money you wont get back in the cars value reimbursement.
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95 Integra LS <<<>>> 99 CBM Prelude SH
At least you're alive, thats all that matters. As for the car, thats definitely totalled. Plus for a performance handling car, any frame damage is vital and north worth repairing. It will never be the same again after a hit like that.
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They don't want you removing anything or making any other 'adjustments' that might affect the value of the car.
That makes sense. Well, I did leave a gas can, sun visors and some other minor stuff in there. I will be getting those from the car. Now I'm really glad I installed a brand new leather SH shift knob. I have my old one sitting in my dining room in a box. Some part of the car to remember it by
lude4lifeh22, I'm going to have conversations with the shop and my insurance in an hour or so. I'll see what they say about reimbursing recent expenses. If they value the car well below KBB I am going to point out what I have spent on it in my records to keep it in good shape before the accident.
And pIERCE, I could buy it back once the insurance process is over with but as thegamett has said, as much as I love the car that frame will never be the same. If it were a body on frame vehicle like an old 70's car, SUV, truck or Crown Vic it would be another story.
Initially the body shop only pegged enough work to get within the limit before the car is called a loss. I had them explain what was going to be replaced and it didn't seem like it was thorough enough. The frame rails on the driver's rear needed to be replaced farther forward into the cabin and once that and some other things were added on the repair cost was pretty much at the value of the vehicle.
I got my things and sat in the car for a bit before leaving. I will miss it.
I have a couple cars in mind. Because I haul video/sound gear a lot I still need a car with a rear seat and a hatch/trunk. I like anything with a turbo or V8. I'm not considering anything FWD. Prefer RWD. I can't outright buy a new car and it seems like the best cars in my price range that were all built prior to 1993.
1990-92 Mustang 5.0 LX hatch
Ugly, but there is a cure: Maier Racing 3" fenders and a better wheel/tire combo. I love well set up Foxes and I'd be pretty happy with a mild 300-320HP build and a suspension with a Griggs K-member. 93's didn't have forged pistons and 94-04 cars just aren't my thing, despite being within reach and being much newer/safer. Fox aftermarket support is enormous and it's easy to get some more power and be CARB legal.
2002+ WRX
I'd only do it with an STI 6-speed transmission swap because of the glass 5-speed. It seems pretty easy to get to 300 flywheel horsepower with the 2.0 engine and still pass smog. That's all I'd want from it.
89-92 Supra Turbo hardtop 5-speed. I love the look of these cars and I know you can get a good 350HP out of them to offset the curb weight but I'm concerned about passing smog and how I'd hide things like boost controllers and hardpipes while trying to pass an inspection.
86-87 Grand National/T-Type, my one exception to wanting handling and another manual transmission car
I've looked around at 1969 Mustang coupes just to see what's out there but that's a pipe dream for now just based on all the work needed, even with a coupe
Realistically... I see the Fox 5.0 or WRX being the most practical ones to go with.
What do you guys think? Anyone have some other ideas for a max purchase ceiling of, say... $6,000-$8,000? I'm not really turned on with the idea of financing or leasing a car, especially right now. I'd rather just buy a used one outright.
Fox body mustang--Hate their look, but just as you said, their aftermarket support is gigantic. And they can be nice fast cars.
WRX STI--I'd only go with the '04+...or maybe the '00-01's with the round headlights. But STI's are typically expensive, no matter what year.
88-92 supra--A lot of people like 'em, but I don't know **** about them. Look a little to ricey-16-y/o-kid-in-high school-with-no-money-but-wants-to-go-fast-or-die-trying for me......
Grand national--Once again, don't know a lot about them or their reliability/longevity.
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Glad you are ok though.
I'm sorry for your loss.
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