My PT meets a tree, tree wins

[Pinstripe]

If you love something you know something is going to happen. Just before Christmas I hit a slick on a rain soaked mountain road lost control and hit an oak tree head on. My 2002 PT lost a good deal of her beauty that day, about $9,750 worth. Much to my surprise my insurance company did not total the car and she is now in for 60+ days of repairs. I was lucky the airbags didn't deploy or that would have put the cost over the top. I have owned so many cars in my life that I would love to hit a tree with, a Vega, Chevette, Buick Skyhawk, Mekur XR4ti, VW Cabriolet... each and every one a lemon without a scratch on them. [:0]

[IRPT]

Pinstripe, welcome to the forum, or perhaps I should say welcome back. Sorry to hear about your accident, I'm assuming you came out of it OK. Can't believe your airbags did not activate with that much damage.

[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

quote:Originally posted by IRPT

Pinstripe, welcome to the forum, or perhaps I should say welcome back. Sorry to hear about your accident, I'm assuming you came out of it OK. Can't believe your airbags did not activate with that much damage.

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.

[quicksilverdon]

Wow, and I was griping about losing a wheel and tire in a pothole. Hope they get your PT as good as new, and glad you're okay.

[KingKole02]

Ha and people think the PT is not solid. Pinstripe's experience has proved them wrong.

[2 TONE PT]

I think I'd be dropping an email with pics to DC questioning why the airbags didn't deploy. You certainly hit hard enough to activate them and by the sound of the damage that resulted I would have thought that would've been enough to set any close sensor off. Hopefully you'll never need them in another situation but it's worth finding out if there's a problem(there is always a first time they've never seen before). Glad to hear you're OK and hopefully the cruiser comes out well. Is the frame bent on the passenger side? Left frame being replaced - connected to motor and tranny that have to be pulled - connected to right frame.. you see where I'm going? Good luck.

Steve

[TripleJackInGA]

FYI - Make sure you insist on them putting in two new headlamps, or chances are, they will not match.The road debris, pits, etc. that are on your current headlamp will not be there on the nice new shiny headlamp and it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Also, make sure the insurance company reimburses you for deminished value.State Farm lost a big law suit over this not too long ago and had to pay out a *lot* of money to past claims.Basically, they have to not only fix the car, but compensate you for the value of the car going down.You will never get as much for the car when you trade/sell it, as you would for one that has not been damaged, thus the reimbursement.

[bigdogdad]

Here's is a thread for you to look at. Still doesn't say that much other then the air bags being deployed in a severe collision. Yours sounded pretty severe to me. Pursue it.
http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/...Terms=air,bags

[IRPT]

quote:Originally posted by TripleJackInGA

Also, make sure the insurance company reimburses you for deminished value.State Farm lost a big law suit over this not too long ago and had to pay out a *lot* of money to past claims.Basically, they have to not only fix the car, but compensate you for the value of the car going down.You will never get as much for the car when you trade/sell it, as you would for one that has not been damaged, thus the reimbursement.

This is excellant information, thanks TripleJackInGA. I will have to put this in my memory banks.

[bigdogdad]

You must have just woke up IRPT. I beat you giving out an imformational link It's fun to help. That's what is so great about this forum. Everyone tries to get their hands dirty.[?]