Some bad news..(now with pictures)
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:23 pm
I received a phone call from my mother at 6 AM this morning extremely upset. i knew that something wasn't right because she never calls me earlier in the day, especially THIS early. She was on her way to her first job passing between two corn fields when a large buck ran directly in front of her SSEi. She didn't even have time to touch the brakes. She said that the deer didn't even touch the ground before it hit the front of her car. To make matters worse, the tow truck took over an HOUR to arrive so she was sitting there with the police officer bawling her eyes out staring at her car. She really loves her Bonneville. I arrived to the scene just as the tow truck got there and drove her home. I checked on her periodically throughout the day and even at noon she was still very upset. I feel REALLY bad about this. I hate seeing someone upset, especially my own mother. i wish I could do something to help more, but it's really out of my hands. Thank god she has full coverage with rental car coverage! The body shop that we had the car towed to claimed it as totaled. the total damage exceeds $7000, but we're waiting to hear from the insurance company before writing it off. This really stinks, she has had this car for six years and the body shop was amazed by how good of shape it's in.
From looking at the car this is what is wrong with it:
Front bumper cover
Front impact bar
Radiator support
A/C Compressor
AC evap core
hood
both front fenders
Both front air bags
Air bag module.
Front windshield
fuse panel.
Both Front headlights.
Both fog lights
Unfortunately I could not get any pictures of the car because by the time I got out of work the body shop was closed and the car was inside because the driver's window would not roll back up. I'll get some pictures tomorrow morning and update here then!
EDIT/UPDATE: 10/22/08
I looked at the car myself in actual daylight and I do NOT think that this car should be totaled. It does not look that bad at all to me. A lot of the stuff they put down doesn't even need to be replaced, like the fog lights, passenger headlight, passenger fender, windshield etc. Does this look like a totaled Bonneville to you? I bet you this car can be made drivable for under $4,000.
One thing that seems a little odd to me now that I look back on last night is that the owner of the body shop kept insisting that if the insurance company decides to total the car, he was very interested in buying it for himself. Hmm..
From looking at the car this is what is wrong with it:
Front bumper cover
Front impact bar
Radiator support
A/C Compressor
AC evap core
hood
both front fenders
Both front air bags
Air bag module.
Front windshield
fuse panel.
Both Front headlights.
Both fog lights
Unfortunately I could not get any pictures of the car because by the time I got out of work the body shop was closed and the car was inside because the driver's window would not roll back up. I'll get some pictures tomorrow morning and update here then!
EDIT/UPDATE: 10/22/08
I looked at the car myself in actual daylight and I do NOT think that this car should be totaled. It does not look that bad at all to me. A lot of the stuff they put down doesn't even need to be replaced, like the fog lights, passenger headlight, passenger fender, windshield etc. Does this look like a totaled Bonneville to you? I bet you this car can be made drivable for under $4,000.
One thing that seems a little odd to me now that I look back on last night is that the owner of the body shop kept insisting that if the insurance company decides to total the car, he was very interested in buying it for himself. Hmm..
I'm glad your mom is okay. It sounds like she did the right thing and took the deer head on...
the tires/wheels are only a few months old. Unfortunately, We probably would buy it back and have an independant person fix it, but, she doesn't have anything else to drive while it gets fixed. I'm not even sure how long she will have this loaner.