My 04 SXT 0344 is a PITA!!!!

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:36 pm

I messed up the Mistress pretty good today...

Was taking a sweeping right turn (at roughly 30 mph) when the ass end rotated on me (it was raining) kicked me off the road and into a phone pole. I'm OK, just a little steering wheel burn on my knee. What you can see in the picture is that the outer fender is toast.

what you can't see, by my estimation (quickly, haven't really looked at it, and will get better pics when I get a rental and can get there) are as follows:

inner fender is toast
side marker is in 2 pieces
knuckle or something is messed up (tried to drive it, and it wobbled something fierce!)
possible frame damage
JDM hood tilt on pass. side
hood part folded over drivers side
looks like something is up with the motor mount

The wheel looks OK, albeit scratched to shit now. Anyone know the laws on a totalled car? Specifically if it's totalled and I owe a lot more than I'll get for it?

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:52 pm

pray you have gap, otherwise you're going to be owing a lot of money to the bank... in which case, pray it's not totaled

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:58 pm

No gap, or I'd have considered doing it purposely earlier than this...

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:16 pm

Should've given it more gas. Terribly sorry for your loss. Glad you're alright.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:17 pm

Hindsight = 20/20 lol... I could have hit the gas on the road, or even in the grass... or even just went around the bent slower... believe me, I'm second guessing the hell out of my driving right now!

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:13 pm

I added more pics of the car, and tried to give you guys an idea of the road I was on, and the path I took on my journey to rendezvous with the telephone pole.

http://www.randomidiot.com/images/neon/accident/

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:33 pm

Shit man! That torque strut looks scary. I'm guessing its out of whack due to your strut tower being shimmied around. She's close to being salvaged, no doubt. Frame work is going to be the big expense here. Wonder how that axle faired.

Goodyear FTL eh?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:58 pm

Dunlops, actually! lol

I blame the rear sway bar for tightening up the rear end, Erick for helping me to build the sway bar brackets...

and BRR for cursing all of us Neon owners!

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:31 am

Being a 2004 will make them think a lot before totalling it, unless the mileage is up there. With the fuel prices, the market value has gone up a bit. Anything '03 and up was way out of my price range when I was shopping. And 2002 - older were all rusting, and still too high. It was the deciding factor to rebuild my salvage.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:57 am

Good god man, clean your car!

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:17 am

That pole made you it's bitch!

IowaNeon04 · Post by **IowaNeon04** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:35 am

Could have been worse, at least you walked away.

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:59 am

glad ur ok, car doesn't look too bad. Good luck with insurance and whatnot.

contagious18 · Post by **contagious18** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:17 am

damn, why would u try dat in the rain? but atleast ur ok.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:18 am

I didn't try anything, I've taken that sweeping turn dozens of times much faster than I was going this time without issues (even while it was raining) so I dunno if I just hit an oil spot or what...

Now I get to call the insurance company today and see what I have to do about a rental and towing etc.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:34 am

Glad you have a sense of humor about it. But I am sorry for your lost. Quick question, Did you have more tread in the front tires than the rear?

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:39 am

maybe a little bit... they were all bought new last year, and the only reason the rears would have more than the fronts is I recently rotated them, and have done a couple attempts at burnouts.

Although, as everyone knows, with an ATX Neon, a burnout is futile. Why do you ask?

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:18 pm

Ouch! I'm sorry to see this.

That underhood shot of the torque strut tells the story... that whole side will need to be put back into alignment.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:15 pm

A frame machine does wonders. My dad backed the farm tractor into my mom's '85 Lebaron GTS, it bent both sides over about 6 inches. Amazing how something doing less than 5 mph can inflict so much damage! That was a happy day in the household.

They fixed it without issues.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:26 pm

OK, body shop's estimate is only 1600 bucks, so I guess I overreacted a wee bit! lol

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:04 pm

Great news man!

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:09 pm

Just talked to the insurance company, they received my stuff, and even though I sent them a copy of the police report, they need some OTHER copy, and are STILL waiting on the quote from the body shop. On top of all of that, they want 2-3 days to review the claim after they receive that stuff, so the earliest my repair work will start is THURSDAY! Meaning I need the rental car another week longer than I’d hoped for, so I’m spending money I don’t have for a car so they can take their sweet arse time getting mine back on the road… I hate this insurance company, I cannot wait to switch, and I want to take a week of vacation. Perhaps if I take a week off I can drop my rental so it doesn’t cost me anything…

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:50 pm

TheRandom1 wrote:Perhaps if I take a week off I can drop my rental so it doesn’t cost me anything…

That might not be a bad plan..... unfortunately.

- Nick

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:04 pm

What company? My repairs have yet to begin and they have had my car for a month now.

(I'm with progressive till this is done with, then I'm finding a better insurance company... if one exists).

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:31 pm

hansken_yo wrote:then I'm finding a better insurance company... if one exists).

Key words.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:38 pm

State Farm has always treated me pretty well.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:40 pm

I'm presently with United Equitable. They're a subsidiary of Nationwide I guess. I wouldn't mind it taking a while if they were paying for the rental (and they will if it happens again, I'll make damn sure of it) but since I'm footin the bill, I want this sucker done now!

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:12 pm

invujerry wrote:State Farm has always treated me pretty well.

I had State Farm, until I got the Neon. I couldn't afford the $700+ a year increase they wanted for the Neon. They wouldn't budge on the price, so I dumped them. While I can't say I'm pleased with Progressive, it seems if I want better service, I have to get raped financially. Either way you pay in some form.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:38 am

^ that is what I'm afraid of...

back on topic... Hopefully they won't dick you around as much and get these repairs quickly taken care of.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:42 am

When I talked to them yesterday afternoon, they said it would take them "a couple days" to review the file... because looking at a picture and a piece of paper takes a couple days???? WTF!

What a bunch of inefficient morons... they're worse than Josh, seriously!