Worst Day Ever!!- Say it aint so!!!

[jcm3]

Just so you don’t beat yourself up too badly, I want to share a story that will make you feel better.
In 1978, my best friend had just bought a Mustang II Cobra. Yes, historically it was a piece of crap, but in 1978 that’s what you could get. Anyway, he needed to take it back to the dealership to have some minor warranty work done and he asked me to follow him down and give him a ride home. Easy, right?
Well, we came to a stop sign to turn right, he stopped and then proceeded.
I looked then proceeded as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t see that his car had stalled and stopped. Yes, I rear ended him! Took out all of his taillights and beyond. I was so embarrassed, and he was so pissed. We laughed about it later but in the moment, yikes!
I haven’t thought about that brain-fart in a long time.

Been there, done that. Fortunately it was in an old beater van that I had to haul my mx bikes around.

I was following a buddy to a camping place and didn't know where I was going. We were at a stop sign and he punched it. I did a quick look left, and did the same so I could stay with him and not get lost. He ended up hitting his brakes. Doh!

Only did that once, and have since warned the kids and wifey about never going until the car in front of you is gone, then look left.

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[TrueBlue22]

OP - accidents happen, and I am very glad you and others involved were okay and uninjured. Ultimately that is what is most important here. Mechanical things can be repaired and replaced.

S550’s are pretty toughly built (honestly, they’re built like a tank), so I would be surprised if this is considered unrepairable, but given vehicle age and mileage it might not make financial sense to an insurance company. As others have said, you do have options beyond that, and a reputable body shop really ought to be able to repair that body rail and have her as good as new. Is it worth it to you? That is a question that only you can answer.

Again - glad you are okay, because that’s the most important outcome here. Life is precious.

 

[pinksurfer]

agree with the sneeze comments. I have been told I can raise the roof when I do and that half second of eye closure has caught me a few times...

that said if it was my predicament, I'd let 'em total the car but push for a "fair value" and go buy a new-to-me car. having a dirty carfax and a possibly branded title isn't for me.

on a related note, it is interesting to see companies like Auto Savvy in vegas and how many dealerships they have around the country and that they only sell salvage/rebuild and in my hunt for a gt how many on facebook marketplace were salvage cars. it feels like the insurance and the car industry have created a whole new market over the last dozen to 20 years and knowing big business, this is at the expense of all of us.

 

[sk47]

agree with the sneeze comments. I have been told I can raise the roof when I do and that half second of eye closure has caught me a few times...

that said if it was my predicament, I'd let 'em total the car but push for a "fair value" and go buy a new-to-me car. having a dirty carfax and a possibly branded title isn't for me.

on a related note, it is interesting to see companies like Auto Savvy in vegas and how many dealerships they have around the country and that they only sell salvage/rebuild and in my hunt for a gt how many on facebook marketplace were salvage cars. it feels like the insurance and the car industry have created a whole new market over the last dozen to 20 years and knowing big business, this is at the expense of all of us.

Hello; In my area there is London Auto Sales. They move more flood vehicles it seems to me the last few decades. Also do collision repair. Their vehicles have branded titles. Some folks like the cars.
I know one fellow that has bought several over time. I am skeptical that money is saved over time. None of his cars start out completely right and seem to break down often. I have gone to pick him up a few times over such.

 

[ORRadtech]

on a related note, it is interesting to see companies like Auto Savvy in vegas and how many dealerships they have around the country and that they only sell salvage/rebuild and in my hunt for a gt how many on facebook marketplace were salvage cars. it feels like the insurance and the car industry have created a whole new market over the last dozen to 20 years and knowing big business, this is at the expense of all of us.

YouTube and all the car rebuilding content has popularized both salvage car auctions and subsequent salvage title cars.
I wouldn't personally be against having a salvage car with the caveat that I knew the rebuilders work. Or if I did it myself. For example, there's a guy out of Chicago who's channel is "Vechor". He does really excellent work, in some cases restoring cars better than factory. I would trust him.
Unfortunately the popularity and economic factors have pushed salvage car prices and the fees to outrageous limits. So it's not nearly as good a deal as it once was. And without the good savings it's much less worthwhile for individuals. Perhaps a business built on that business plan could succeed but I'd be leary of buying a salvage car from someone who's motive was profit ahead of quality.

 

[SHOdaddy68]

In my business, I've never seen a salvage/rebuilt vehicle in my shop that was done right. Sometimes you can tell right away. Other times we find nasty stuff after removing parts that cover a really bad repair. As a general rule, we don't take in a vehicle if we know it has a salvage title.

It really bothers me that these cars are being "hacked" back together and structural parts that should have been replaced are pulled out and repaired improperly. I wonder how many people have been hurt or killed because a "cheaper" reconstructed vehicle they bought didn't do what it was designed to do in a subsequent collision?

 

[cocopanda]

You should probably not be driving a vehicle if you have sneezing fits. I might be the only person that holds this opinion. But if you randomly can't operate a motor vehicle WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. You should have your license revoked. Its a good thing you don't have a car. You're a danger to the general public. What if it was a person walking across the street? You couldn't stop in time. You're a danger.

 

[RacerPaul]

Maybe try to take it to a second State Farm approved shop to see what they say...

Hi Tony, this is RacerPaul
I have a 2017 GT convertible w/PP1 6sp mt
Ever have any issues with wheelhop
Recently installed Subframe and differential bushings (black), helped, but sometimes still a problem
will be installing recommended Steeda adjustable shocks down the road
Tires are good Pirellii P zero
Just curious looking for feedback, thank you in advance

 

[TonyT930]

Hi Tony, this is RacerPaul
I have a 2017 GT convertible w/PP1 6sp mt
Ever have any issues with wheelhop
Recently installed Subframe and differential bushings (black), helped, but sometimes still a problem
will be installing recommended Steeda adjustable shocks down the road
Tires are good Pirellii P zero
Just curious looking for feedback, thank you in advance

I have have a 2017 GT vert with 6 speed auto trans and standard suspension and brakes, not the PP. I have never had a wheel hop issue. Its difficult for me to relate to because it's never happened. I have Conti DWS06s with 255/40r19 up front and 285/35r19 in the rear. They just grip and go

 

[RacerPaul]

Thanks for your quick response Tony
Very nice car
I do very much appreciate the feedback
Getting to the bottom of this is good challenge for me
Well see how it is with better shocks
As many people with verts know, that massive subframe support makes things challenging
Stay safe, be well, enjoy your vert!

 

[Johnny Rockit]

That damage is not near a total loss.

Air bag xeployed and bent frame is usually a total according to many opinions on this board.

If you keep it, the title will be a salvage I think. Just a wag.

 

[ORRadtech]

If you keep it, the title will be a salvage I think. Just a wag.

If it's totaled and he opts to buy it back to keep/repair it then it would be a salvage title, or whatever his state calls them.
Of course it's not as simple as just fixing it. It's my understanding that it must be inspected and certified by the state and only then can he apply for a salvage title. It's not automatic.
If the insurance company opts to repair it then there won't be a salvage title. Just a hit on the reporting services like carfax.

 

[Decosse]

I'm sorry to hear of your accident, I know how you feel. As others have said, at least there were no injuries.
A little over a year ago my babied since new 16 Mustang was totaled for similar damage. Difference I was on a country highway, and someone pulled out right -and I mean right in front of me. I was only going about 50, restricted speed. No time to brake so I yanked the wheel to the left and rather than t-boning it, the car glanced of their minivan. They accepted fault, it was apparent to the highway patrol and there were witnesses. I ended up in the desert. Thank goodness. no one was hurt in either car, and there were no cyclists or oncoming cars.
Yeah, and someone told me (from a photo) the adjusters were wrong, and it shouldn't be totaled, too. Geico and AAA even called in a 3rd party to assess because the car was low milage and pretty much perfect.
Rundown- everything in that corner under the hood gone, frame rails bent, steering rack bent, brake rotor had a chunk out of it, all suspension on that corner trashed. That was before tearing it down and checking for undercarriage damage from the unintended off-roading.
I searched for a couple of weeks, looked at several (some former rentals) and eventually settled on a one-owner, 30,000-mile gold certified 2019.
I hope it all turns out ok for you. Start looking now, but don't rush. Your insurance may call a 3rd party in. In my case, they gave a complete, itemized run-down of the car, accessories, options, and equivalent cars to show how they arrived at the figure when I questioned it. They also gave me a figure if I wanted to keep it, but it would have a branded title, and insuring it would be hard.
Good Luck!
**Bottom photo is taken standing next to my car, and the debris you see on the right side are parts of my car. My BF was riding with me, and he tells people Mustangs are built like tanks.

 

[David Schmidt]

I find it kind of alarming that somebody can’t control their car when they sneeze.

I imagine it would be alarming to someone who hasn't had something uncontrollable happen to them. I have only experienced this on my motorcycle, but I have gas permeable contact lenses and in NC we have this kind of pollen season where the world is covered in yellow pine pollen in March. If I don't catch it in time and wear my glasses and instead of pop in my contacts, sometimes pollen can sneak under my contacts and it locks my eyes shut it hurts so much. Super scary on the bike, trying to douse it and get to the side of the road before I-don't-know-what. I'm not in control of my eyes at that moment, and I need to get rid of all my speed safely. I imagine that's what it's like with uncontrollable sneezes.

 

[Pittpa]

Mine are so violent and usually 3 of them,

My dad used to sneeze in threes, but it came out more like cha-cha-cha

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