Monday morning I (in a 2002 S2K with 23,000 miles) was rear-ended by a GMC Yukon. I was stopped and he was travelling about 35 or 40...never hit his brakes. He pushed me into a Mercedes SUV. I was taken away in an ambulance, but no major injuries. The car, however, has suffered about $15,000 or $16,000 in damage to both ends (mainly the rear).

I am two years into a 4 year lease. Do I take the car back in a month when it's fixed, or do I trade it in for a 2004?

I love my car, but I tend to doubt it will ever be the same. And I think I'll always worry about the things the mechanics didn't find...or damage that may remain hidden for a while and pop up in a few months.

Can anyone that has been in this situation offer some advice?

 

Damn dude that sucks. Damn SuV's. Takes a mile to stop those things. I don't know what your going to do because you are dealing with a lease. Goodluck though. Let me know if you need anything since I am close by.

 

id get a new car and forget about all the hassels
hey if you loved your car , you will love the new one at least just as much! plus it will be new!
good luck man!!

 

tell the mechanic that you want anything and everything that could have potentially recieved damage to be looked at and if there is any signs of anything that it should be fixed or replaced. You were rear-ended, so it sounds like you were not at fault, so its not like you have to pay for it.

 

UVA;

I am sorry to hear about your accident. The good thing is that you are OK.

Last year my wife was rear ended in her MB430CLK. Didn't push her into anything in front but it bent the frame, pushed in the trunk etc.
The gear shift wouldn't move because the frame was bent. Funny thing was if you looked at it quickly, you could hardly tell it was in an accident.

About 10K in damage all together-as they took apart the car they kept finding more and more "concealed damage". Car was fixed by a reputable MB/RR dealer. We got it back looking ok except it was covered in overspray. Luckily a good 'clay' job took care of it. Then it started having funny electrical gremlins--the windows would go down without touching anything...the stereo would loose 1 channel. Every thing intermittent of course so it could never be pinned down.

You are never really made whole-it may look ok but your car has now been remanufactured-possible by Goober and Gomer (the "Rolls Royce Service" shirt don't mean a thing).

About 2 weeks after we got the car back, an elderly lady backed into the rear bumper splitting the cover. I traded it in the next week.

The problem I had was not with the gross body repair, it was with all the gremlins which mysteriously appeared after the accident.

With 2 years left on the lease you may be 'upside down' (the loan is worth more than the car), especially since you will have to disclose the major damage. Call up the lease company for a buy out figure and compare what your car will bring in a trade.

Best of luck in your situation

BD

 

Damn Atlanta drivers! Where did it happen? I'd see how the car drives once you get it back but visit a local dealer and see what they will do for you on an '04. If you decide to go that route, visit Milton Martin Honda in Gainesville, they have been very good to the Atlanta club in the past few years. Ask for Ron Lawson or Butch Smith and tell him Dave sent you.

After what you have been put through you deserve to drive a car you feel safe in.

 

It happened on Piedmont near Roswell Rd. (I actually live just off Roswell). It is currently getting repaired at Curry Honda, and I am trying to work with them on an '04. I think I will take your advice and try Milton Martin.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I really don't want to let her go, but I think it may be the best choice.

 

Talk to your insurance company. A 2002 S2000 with those miles would be worth certianly no more than $25,000. $15,000 in repairs sounds like the car should be totaled out.

 

if you can, get a MY04, too risky IMO to stay with the MY02, do you mean there is 15k in damage in each end of the car or a combined amount? if it is 15k each, then combinedits 30k, if damage goes over 25k i believe it was, the car is a totalled one...

 

Youch- That's the biggest fear I have in this oversized SUV/cell phone riddled town! Too bad they can't total it. There are bad driver's everywhere-Atlanta just seems to have more than its share...