Another Accident!

[bigdave269]

My baby got bruised again! This time it was a driver that turned in front of me. I had no time to stop. I slammed her pretty hard, and she bent up my grill guard good shooting across my bow.

The accident was with a 2002 Civic, and she lost her entire rear plastic bumper, as well as gained a whole new side entrance into her trunk. I didn't bend the rear wheel, though, and she was able to drive away, as was I. No airbag deployment, I was going too slow. We both walked away with no injuries, a testament to Honda's safety in loow-speed crashed.

I think the grill guard saved me from more extensive damage to the front faqscia, but the body shop guy worried me. He says he has seen grill guards bend the frame. We'll have to see what they say. Initial estimate was $4000.00, and I will hear today what the final numbers are.

My rental car is a Kia Sportage. It's the low-buck four-banger version, no AWD. Not as nice as the Tuscon I rented last year, for sure. I may write a review on it after driving it a bit in another part of the board.

[bigdave269]

**UPDATE**

Damage is going to cost $4800 and will take a couple weeks to fix. That includes a new Aries brush guard, which I am now swearing by. I really think the damage would have been worse without it.

As for the Kia, don't bother. I turned it in the next day. After a brief run in a Maxima, I am now in an Avalon, and insurance is picking up the tab. Talk about a sweet ride. I just might buy one of these when it's time to replace the Camry....

I'll review the shop when I get my truck back. It is in Valencia Auto Body. I have dealt with them before, and they have done a good job for me. We'll see how they do on this job, but I am not expecting any problems.

[tomcat]

Bummer! Those fender benders sure are expensive on the RL. Oh well it could have been much worse.

[Zcuda]

OOOUCH sorry to hear about that Big Dave. I have been fortunate to only have my windshield get cracked & too many scratches. Though Sunday night A lady "T" boned a guy right in front of me & he just missed my front end by about a foot!! :shock: :shock: I thought I was gonna cry!! Anyway, hope all goes well with the truck. Jason

[bigdave269]

I did get the truck back, it ended up being over $5200 in damage. Fortunately, it was all cosmetic. I got it back sans brush guard, it is on order, and they should have it in by the third week of July.

With gas priced being what they are, I'm suddenly driving my Camry a whole lot more. 26 MPG around town vs. 16 MPG, and you can see why. I still use it, just not as often. But that's another topic.

A side note: After switching a couple times, we fianlly settled on a comfortable car for the family. It was an '08 Avalon. Talk about a luxury ride! And I averaged 26 MPG to boot. I might have an Avalon in my future....

[Waterbug]

I came real close to having a fender bender in Traverse City about a month ago. An old man in a van made a left turn right in front of me, while I was traveling at about 45 mph. If it weren't for the exceptional braking and handling of the Ridge', he would have been toast. My wife still can't believe that we missed him.