My PT meets a tree, tree wins

[Hooligan]

quote:Originally posted by Pinstripe



The work starts this week on the car... engine gets pulled first. Hey at least I get all new fluids out of the deal. [8]

Heck of a way to get a oil change[xx(]!!!!

[Pinstripe]

I heard from Chrysler today on the issue of the air bags. They said it was a matter of force and direction that deploys the bags. Since my car sank in the soft soil as it hit the tree the force of the impact was up and back which will not set the bags off. They said my dealer would be able to check to make sure the bags are in good order. Since we are now going on 2 months and my car is still sitting in the shop lot I think it's the least of my worries.

[Gt_Cruiser]

I remember seeing this post when you first posted it and feeling bad for you but having not much to say that would help. I live in California just like you do. Today I rear ended a 2003 Silverado who stopped short after taking off from a stop light. (the car infront of him made a sudden unexpected stop) I slammed on my brakes and slide into him. This being my first accident I was rather at a loss of what to do. The guy jumped out of his truck and looked at his bumper which had a 1 inch long gouge in it.. (black plastic) then he looked at the front of my car and told me not to worry about his car. I exchanged names and numbers with him anyway..
I took my car into the body shop that the dealer uses for an estimate. 3815.35 and that's what he can see without taking the grill and bumper off. I really don't see it being anything more terribly involved than what he estimated.

~~~~~damage list (not all inclusive)~~~~~~~~~~~
frt bumper cover is cracked
the grill completely bent in and came back out... it almost looks perfect except it's not secured, and it has some small gouges in it. it pushed my radiator in and broke off one of the stem-looking thing that holds it into the top of the grill thing.. so my radiator is leaking steam out the top and my hood won't shut... (yes I am a female[:I])because that whole brace thing that it's attached to is pushed in too. The fender where it meets the headlight is bent in. so that it's distorting the headlight hole.. and needs to be replaced. I don't have a problem with the estimate really, it's all itemized and the place seems really good. He did tell me that Cruiser parts are very hard to come by and that it could take months to get the parts! I was going about ten to twenty miles an hour, not fast at all. and the car behind me, I thought it hit me, but I don't see any damage and it didn't stop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~end damage report~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love my car, it's an inferno red gt and this is my first brand new car.

anyway, I was wondering how you're repairs are going. I am wondering, I always brought my car in for it's oil change at the dealer and it's due now to go in but obviously I am not going to be driving it for awhile. I don't want to void my warranty, but I don't want to tell them that I damaged the car. I don't want to tell anyone.. [xx(]
It is one year old as of yesterday and I have 7118 miles on it. What should I do? Do you all change your oil yourselves? Do you all do the other stuff that's in the "book" of car care? I mean I wasn't looking forward to some of the "checkups" -- price wise. I am not $$$!
(now you see why I don't post much) Where's the dumb dumb emoticon when you need it.

[IRPT]

GT Cruiser, sorry to hear about your accident. Now would be a good time to think about adding an aftermarket front end, something like a PTeazer front fascia and grill or one of the others available. It will probably not cost any more than replacing with the stock front end, if so it would not be much more.

[zzzhuh]

Ouch! sorry.


Why can't bumpers absorb a bump without costing so much $$$???[xx(]

[KingKole02]

quote:Originally posted by zzzhuh




Ouch! sorry.


Why can't bumpers absorb a bump without costing so much $$$???[xx(]

They dont make them like they used to. This was a wreck down here between an ealry 80's caddy and a school bus. Both had significant damage done to them and both had to be towed away. I my PT meet a school bus, the bus would have a scratch on the bumper and I would need the Jaws of Live and a medivac to the best hospital in the area.

They make car so cheap now. Then cost you an arm and a leg to get them.

[IRPT]

They are also making cars these days with built in crumple zones, this is one reason there is more damage than say with cars built in the 50's, 60's, etc.

[Bosch]

quote:Originally posted by Pinstripe


The repair shop said the bags have several triggers and the hit has to be in a certain direction and rate of speed. My hit was off

center and up to the drivers side. No injuries except I moved my knee cap. I lost the bumper, hood left fender, grill, radiator, fan assembly, one headlight, upper left frame arm and the list goes on and on. It's the frame arm that has been a real problem. It's not sold anywhere and had to come from Mexico and took almost a month. Since most of the sheet metal hangs from it nothing can be done. The other problem is they have to pull the engine to put in the arm.

To add insult to injury the only rental available is a Ford Focus. If you ever question buying a PT take a Focus for a test drive, that will put your mind at ease.

I am sorry to hear of your accident.. I am glad you walked or limped away from it. [b}] And you are right the Ford Focus is a POS... I had one for a rental while my PT was in the shop.. I hated it..

And GT Cruiser don't worry you won't void the warranty by not having the dealer change the oil,because it is in the body shop.. I change mine myself, or let the dealer do it(service contract=free) or have jiffy lube do it. However it gets done I just keep the reciept of it.. And since your PT is sitting it can wait.. it is 3months or 3000 miles.. which ever comes first..

[Gt_Cruiser]

thanks you guys! I feel better today, guess I just needed to vent some steam. [V]I also talked to my insurance company and I feel better now.[|)]I put some pics of it up on the net if anyone wants to check it out
http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/fl513/car.html
it doesn't look like a lot but the grill snapped right back. The airconditioning condenser is going to have to be replaced as well as the tranny cooler.
Those grills look amazing but I don't think insurance will pay for that! ... and I wish I was only replacing the grill. (the quote says a new grill will cost $86 + labor.)
Has anyone had a problem with paint matchups?

[Sleighboy]

Well, ok . . . I was keeping this to myself (and my local club members) but last October my brand spankin' new GT was hit by a county bus while parked in front of my favorite restaurant. It was a trainee driver! No one was in it but Buck, my lab, and he was scared but ok. This is the first new car I've ever owned too and I was heartbroken. The left rear quarter panel was damaged, the suspension on that side was broken, my wheel and tire were ruined, the rear bumper had to replaced and it was pushed into the curb so the right rear wheel was also replaced. The car had less than 7000 miles on it. It took forever to get finished! First the frame shop to make sure it wasn't bent or outa whack. yeah we checked the transmission too! and then body and paint work. The good news! The body and paint look like new (because the car is new color matching was easy), I had the Chrysler Dealer examine all the work and they saw no problems anywhere. I had the original trim removed and now I am driving a GT . . . just a plain old GT Cruiser (kinda)! I just got my deductable check from the county yesterday. There is life after an accident . . . even in your PT!