I don't think this one will buff out . . .

[ltoman]

my guess is you may have some damage to the steering wheel pulley - if it is were it used to be - and the radiator support, if not the frame. hope you got the jerk's info.
you must have a guardian angel, nora!

 

[Suprchargd]

I haven't been in an accident yet and hopefully won't be, but I know if I do I'm getting checked out right away. I hear stories all the time about people developing really serious problems with their spine/neck months after an accident and by then its too late.

Just yesterday I was driving along and a nun drifted halfway into my lane when our cars were side by side, forcing me into oncoming traffic so I had to gun it and pull out front. At the red light after a little while she pulls up and gives me a dirty look waving her hands up as if I flew by her being a young punk.

All I can say is everyone should be thankful I'm not the Secretary of State because I'd institute the driving course requirements from my native country and as a result I'm sure 90% of the current driving population would fail. Anyone else read the results of the Montana no-speed-limit experiment? Accidents went down and seat-belt usage both went up, everyone learned to stay out of the left lane, and despite no speed limit most drivers tended to drive at around 70-75. And they claim the 55 limit is there for our safety.

Of course I'd add some much-needed laws that currently don't exist; like backing into someones car while parallel parking, yea that'll be a $500 fine. Swinging your door into a persons car when parked, $100 plus paying to fix the dent you caused. Taking up two parking spaces, towed car and a month suspension. Red-light running accident, two year suspension and pay for all damage caused.

Sorry to get off track, I get heated when this sort of topic comes up, glad you're okay and make sure you get checked out.

 

[NorahCRV]

Tuesday Night Update . . .

Thank you all for your good wishes & support

I feel like I spent the day on the phone today with Enterprise Rent a Car, my Honda dealer, the bodyshop, & the insurance company (each one several times!!).

I'm feeling more & more "twinges" today, so I think I'll take all your advice & try to get in with my doctor later this week for a checkover. As you say, it's probably better to play it safe now, rather than be sorry about it later

As for the other vehicle, there is some "confusion" there . . . some of the witnesses saw a fellow exit the driver's door & run away. By the time the police arrived, he was long gone & another occupant was claiming to be the driver. On the paperwork the police had him complete for me, he did not give an AZ Drivers License, but said he had one issued from Mexico. Nor was any information provided on their insurance And none of the occupants of the car spoke English. All of this has been turned over to my insurance company to handle.

I did get a rental car this morning & I can't say enough nice things about the fellow at Enterprise Rent A Car. When I told him of my situation, (needing the size/space/configuration of the V), he searched all about the valley & located a 2006 CR-V for me to drive. Unfortunately, it is dark blue & swirled & water-spotted horribly!! I hope I feel well enough while it's still in my garage to make some improvements & get pictures!!

Anyhow, thanks again everybody & please be really, really careful out there!!!

 

[NorahCRV]

Update: I don't think this one will buff out . . .

. . . I got the call from the insurance adjuster today & after the initial estimate of about $8,000 to repair my '04 CR-V, they started removing parts & looking "inside" to find the "hidden damage". It included the left frame rail & the engine cradle & I don't know what else & it has bumped the repair costs high enough for them to consider the car "unrepairable".

So, I'll be cleaning the mats etc. out tomorrow morning & signing it over to my insurance company. Then their "Total Loss" department will be calling me later this week to discuss what they'll give me towards a replacement. I've never been down this road before, so if any of you have & can give some pointers, I'd certainly appreciate it.

The car is a 2004 Honda CR-V EX with just under 30,000 miles & I think you all know the condition it was in prior to the accident. I've looked up the value on KBB, & it ranges from $17,975 (TradeIn), $20,070 (Private Party Sale) to $22,255 (Dealer Sale). Also I need to look into getting compensated for the Extended Warranty I purchased from the United Auto Group when I bought the car - not sure if they will just refund it or I have to fight the insurance company for it? I had also just put new Yokohama tires on this summer.

Then I'll be shopping about looking for a new 2006 Honda CR-V as I'm not crazy about the redesign that Honda has done for 2007. Any pointers for car shopping after the end of the model year?

I did go to the doctor & he checked me out & sent me for a head CT due to the continuing headaches, but apparently they did not find anything alarming there. I'm still stiff & sore & Christmas shopping is definitely out right now

This certainly is turning out to be a "December to Remember"

Norah

 

[Surfer]

I don't really care for the smaller unibody suv's, but if your looking at another CRV I would check out the new Rav4, that would be my choice were I looking for something in that range (me likey my suv's with powerful V8's lol). The V6 Rav4 is pretty damn quick (about as fast as the V8 crossover utes), much more powerful then the CRV and drives nice, little larger then the CRV I think as well. As far as the 3rd party extended warrenty not sure, they can be quite touchy.

 

[Nica]

Wow, sorry to hear about your loss. I have never had a serious accident like yours and well the only thing is be careful and look at every possibility because insurances are very sneaky.

Hope you have a great Christmas and keep us posted as to what happens with the insurance.

 

[dengood1]

I don't really care for the smaller unibody suv's, but if your looking at another CRV I would check out the new Rav4, that would be my choice were I looking for something in that range (me likey my suv's with powerful V8's lol). The V6 Rav4 is pretty damn quick (about as fast as the V8 crossover utes), much more powerful then the CRV and drives nice, little larger then the CRV I think as well. As far as the 3rd party extended warrenty not sure, they can be quite touchy.

A coworker of mine just got a RAV4 Sport-----made me consider looking at them. It's actually a sharp looking vehicle. I talked him into getting some Natty's Blue for it, now I'm working on him letting me polish it for him

 

[Sn95nik]

I've never been down this road before, so if any of you have & can give some pointers, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Norah

Norah, sorry to hear of your situation. I have had a car totaled before (also by a redlight-runner with no insurance) and though I might give a few pointers.

1) Make sure the insurance company is aware of all the additions/improvements you had made to the vehicle, i.e. tell them about the new tires, extended warranty, and the countless hours of your priceless time spent detailing it. (seriously, tell them it had been detailed religously and that the paint work was in excellent shape).

2) Remember that your insurance company is in this to make money, not just hand it out. With that in mind, don't be surprised if the offer seems like a lowball number. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FIRST NUMBER THEY GIVE YOU. This is important to remember.

3) When you do get that first offer, kindly remind them of the additional value you had added through accesories and the extended warranty, proper maintanence and care. Also, it helps to have looked at local prices on similar vehicles. This way, you can tell them how much money you would need to be able to afford one similar to what they are writing off.

4) Lastly, here is a rule of thumb that I was given by a couple of friends in the insurance business: The third offer is usually the one to take.

I had a 1999 Ford Mustang totaled in 2002. It was worth about $12,000 at the time. The first offer the insur. company sent was like $8000. By the third time they called, they were up to about $14,000, which allowed me to buy a brand new 2002 mustang with only minimal additional cost.

 

[FloridaNative]

I have a Rav4 and I love mine. We test drove the CRV too when we were looking and the Rav4 is about the same size if not a tad bigger. It has a more powerful engine and it gets great gas mileage too. It has tons of storage space and the inside is very nice and comforable.

I hope that this all works out in your favor Norah. I'm sorry that your CRV will be totalled, but I think it's for the best. Your baby never would have been the same had she been put back together. I think you will appreciate having the peace of mind of having a new car and once you've bonded with it I'm sure you'll love it just as much as your old one. Ay your poor CRV. I wish I lived closer so that I could give you a big hug. I can just imagine how you are feeling. I know when my car got hit I was sick to my stomach and the whole time it was in the shop I was so depressed. I hope that in spite of all your troubles that you will still be able to enjoy Christmas. I hope that those aches and pains and twinges will go away and that you will feel better soon. This too shall pass and it will all be behind you soon enough. I just thank God that you were not hurt. I hope that the "driver" whoever he was will get what's coming to him. Feel better soon sweetie and try to keep that chin up!! Maybe you should take a vacation to Florida and Meghan can make you some mango margaritas and I'll cook you some nice cuban food. :grouphug: Feel better darling.

 

[Russecu]

I hope that this all works out in your favor Norah. I'm sorry that your CRV will be totalled, but I think it's for the best. Your baby never would have been the same had she been put back together. I think you will appreciate having the peace of mind of having a new car and once you've bonded with it I'm sure you'll love it just as much as your old one. Maybe you should take a vacation to Florida and Meghan can make you some mango margaritas and I'll cook you some nice cuban food.

I agree that it probrably would be as good as new especially after an accident like that. Year end models you can usually get for a great price b/c they are trying to move them to make room for the new ones. Look around and see what you find. Good luck with the outcome and I hope you can get something out of the driver of the other car. I would take up that offer of Mango Margaritas and cuban food. That sounds really good. Is it lunch time yet?

 

[JeffW]

Norah,

WOW! Thank goodness you are OK, and had the good sense to double check before going into the intersection.

JeffW

 

[dengood1]

Norah, sorry to hear of your situation. I have had a car totaled before (also by a redlight-runner with no insurance) and though I might give a few pointers.

1) Make sure the insurance company is aware of all the additions/improvements you had made to the vehicle, i.e. tell them about the new tires, extended warranty, and the countless hours of your priceless time spent detailing it. (seriously, tell them it had been detailed religously and that the paint work was in excellent shape).

2) Remember that your insurance company is in this to make money, not just hand it out. With that in mind, don't be surprised if the offer seems like a lowball number. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FIRST NUMBER THEY GIVE YOU. This is important to remember.

3) When you do get that first offer, kindly remind them of the additional value you had added through accesories and the extended warranty, proper maintanence and care. Also, it helps to have looked at local prices on similar vehicles. This way, you can tell them how much money you would need to be able to afford one similar to what they are writing off.

4) Lastly, here is a rule of thumb that I was given by a couple of friends in the insurance business: The third offer is usually the one to take.

I had a 1999 Ford Mustang totaled in 2002. It was worth about $12,000 at the time. The first offer the insur. company sent was like $8000. By the third time they called, they were up to about $14,000, which allowed me to buy a brand new 2002 mustang with only minimal additional cost.

great advice here:applause: Don't forget to post pics of what you get for a new vehicle (woohoo!) and how it turns out. Good luck and have a very Merry Christmas!:cheers:

 

[NorahCRV]

For those of you who have been asking . . .

. . . it's been six weeks & I am still fighting with my insurance company over the value of my 04 CR-V, going to physical therapy for my knee, foot, shoulder & neck strains & pains & it's still unclear on the status of the other driver's insurance

But on the brighter side, after four weeks of some really "interesting" dealings with local Honda dealers, I took delivery of a 2007 CR-V EX-L in Glacier Blue Metallic on Tuesday night last week. In spite of my explicit instructions that all plastic was to be left on, the lot boys were a little too anxious & had it all "detailed" by the time my salesman returned to work on Tuesday morning, but it does not look like they "took a buffer to it".

This weekend, I was only able to do a quickie clean up & topped with DG AquaWax due to the cold weather & continuing problems with my knee, but I think she's looking pretty good

Now I can't wait to get those wheels sealed with PB's Wheel Sealant - I'd forgotten how bad Honda brake dust is


Thanks again for all your good wishes

 

[supercharged]

. . . it's been six weeks & I am still fighting with my insurance company over the value of my 04 CR-V, going to physical therapy for my knee, foot, shoulder & neck strains & pains & it's still unclear on the status of the other driver's insurance

But on the brighter side, after four weeks of some really "interesting" dealings with local Honda dealers, I took delivery of a 2007 CR-V EX-L in Glacier Blue Metallic on Tuesday night last week. In spite of my explicit instructions that all plastic was to be left on, the lot boys were a little too anxious & had it all "detailed" by the time my salesman returned to work on Tuesday morning, but it does not look like they "took a buffer to it".

This weekend, I was only able to do a quickie clean up & topped with DG AquaWax due to the cold weather & continuing problems with my knee, but I think she's looking pretty good

Now I can't wait to get those wheels sealed with PB's Wheel Sealant - I'd forgotten how bad Honda brake dust is


Thanks again for all your good wishes

Japanese cars don't dust as much as German cars.
Congratulations on new purchase! One thing I've noticed, which is very important is you already have your windows tinted with a limo tint.
I would also add a little tint (50%visibility film, or 35%) on front windows as well. Gives a little more privacy.

By the way - very nice color.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[NorahCRV]

Japanese cars don't dust as much as German cars.
Congratulations on new purchase! One thing I've noticed, which is very important is you already have your windows tinted with a limo tint.
I would also add a little tint (50%visibility film, or 35%) on front windows as well. Gives a little more privacy.

By the way - very nice color.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Oops, should have mentioned, it's going in tonight for 35% (maximum legal in AZ) tint on the driver & passenger windows & eyebrow Also having the front splash guards installed.

 

[Nuke33]

Oh that sucks so much will your insurance rates go up, even though its no fault

 

[P1et]

Very nice! So I guess they declared your previous car a total loss? Who was your insurer, if I may ask?

 

[Reddwarf]

Very good Norah. I'm glad you were not hurt in that wreak. The new wheels look snazzy!

 

[dengood1]

I HATE insurance companies!

Nice color Norah.......congrats. Looks really nice.

 

[supercharged]

Oh that sucks so much will your insurance rates go up, even though its no fault

Insurance rates should not go up as long as it is not your fault.