SVX got hit!

Shadow248 · #1 06-30-2003, 11:45 PM

Mandi was following me to my house yesterday when a minivan pulled out from a side street and hit her, right behind the front right wheel. The impact SEEMED light, the van couldn't have been doing more than 5-8mph, and I witnessed the whole thing through my rearview mirror. So thinking it was no big deal, I pulled over to the side, and walked over to the scene. I told Mandi to get her car to the side of the road (very busy street), then when she moved it, I realized something was really not right. HUGE puddle of some sort of fluid underneath the car, right at the impact point. My first thought, of course, was oil...seeing as the car also began smoking at about the same time. But then upon smelling it, I realized it was power steering fluid. I then got in the car to move it further off the road, and sure enough, the power steering was completely gone. It was at this point that I realized what had actually happened, and upon inspection of the wheel and the impact point, it confirmed my worst fear. He had hit the FRONT WHEEL head on! Apparently, the dent at the door jamb was made AFTER his bumper deflected off the tire. Most of you know what this means...BIG MONEY. The right front suspension is a mess. The A-arms are bent in half, the tie rod bushings are broken, and the steering rack has a nice big crack in it (which explains the puddle and the power steering fluid ALL OVER the engine compartment). The good news is that this accident was determined to be in no way her fault. So she won't have to pay for it at all, but seeing as this is a 92, and though the blue book still rates it at just under $6000, the banks are always well below that number. I can't help but wonder if all that suspension damage could add up to more than what they determine the car to be worth. That would be a shame. I would very much like to just get it fixed and repainted. We were intending to get new paint this summer anyway, this would be a great opportunity, cause she could use part of the insurance money to help with the cost of new paint.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, i'm listening. The adjuster is coming tomorrow to check it out. For now it just sits in front of my house.

ensteele · #2 07-01-2003, 01:26 AM

If they total it, you may be able to buy it back for a very low price and use the money to fix it up. I am sorry to hear what happened, but no one got hurt. Good luck.

lhopp77 · #3 07-01-2003, 01:44 AM

Talk to Noir in Atlanta. He just had recent insurance company experience. Of course think his was worse than yours, but yours still might total out.

Lee

SVXx4

SHISVX · #4 07-01-2003, 09:45 AM

ouch

i am really sorry to hear about it Kevin. tell Mandi, if she needs anything, you guys still got my phone number right?

Kelli

on a lighter side, do you two still work at Dorney?

Noir · #5 07-01-2003, 12:03 PM

sorry to hear about that bud. depending on the insurance company, most will allow you to buy it back at 15% of the car's worth that they pay to you. that is if they deem it totalled. good luck. i'd buy it back, although i hope you have a place to put it. i just got a complaint from the damn police department because i am violating a ordinance by having a 'junked' car in my car port. did that ever piss me off. now i'm reviewing all the ordinances in my county and i'm going to file multiple complaints against my neighbor for every last thing they've broken while building 4 walls around my carport ;D. any way good luck.

Subafreak · #6 07-02-2003, 04:50 AM

That suck man, every time i,v almost been in an accident (read: close call) it's been with a mini van. About 5 times the damn things have tried to get me. Good luck with getting it back on the road and watch out for soccer mom's to busy yelling at their kids to pay attention to driving.