another reason I drive a 1 ton as a daily driver
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sandman2234
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One of the reasons I parked my '66 vette was because a lady rear ended me and i got out and saw a BUNCH of plastic all over the place and reacted badly before I realized it was her front grill and not the vette. Upon further investigation, the trailer hitch (I didn't put it on it, previous owner did) did all the damage to her car and there was no damage to the vette.
As far as getting hit in a larger heavier vehicle, nothing is going to help if the vehicle is larger than yours. I got T-boned while driving a Freightliner and it shoved me a couple of truck lengths SIDEWAYS. The vehicle that hit me was only going 16 mph in a 15 mph zone, so overly excessive speed wasn't the reason. Guess it must have been those 17 freight cars that the locomotive was pushing... that took me for a ride
Since the lawsuits are over, I guess I could repost those pictures, but probably won't. I was EXTREMELY lucky, especially since it was finally determined that the accident wasn't my fault because the train was actually supposed to stop at two crossings in this town and the one I got hit on was one of them. I was just glad to be alive and after six and a half months of unemployment, able to go back to work.
David from jax
As far as getting hit in a larger heavier vehicle, nothing is going to help if the vehicle is larger than yours. I got T-boned while driving a Freightliner and it shoved me a couple of truck lengths SIDEWAYS. The vehicle that hit me was only going 16 mph in a 15 mph zone, so overly excessive speed wasn't the reason. Guess it must have been those 17 freight cars that the locomotive was pushing... that took me for a ride
Since the lawsuits are over, I guess I could repost those pictures, but probably won't. I was EXTREMELY lucky, especially since it was finally determined that the accident wasn't my fault because the train was actually supposed to stop at two crossings in this town and the one I got hit on was one of them. I was just glad to be alive and after six and a half months of unemployment, able to go back to work.
David from jax
there's no win in this situation. people will whine and complain because a minor fender bender can cause a several thousand dollar repair bill, but at the same time they're guaranteed to whine and complain even more if someone in their car gets hurt. vehicles today are made to save the life of the passengers - not to save the plastic bumper cover. if your vehicle has a lot of value then you'd be well advised to carry insurance to cover it. if you own a sub-$5000 daily driver and are frantic over the cost of a minor fender bender, then it's likely your own vanity causing the issue. the car will still work fine with some hammered out dents and scratches, and mis-matched body panel colors won't make it drive any differently.
this would likely only happen if you were at fault. if someone else was at fault then their (likely mandatory) liability insurance will pay the bills. if they don't have insurance then you have the option of trying to get them to pay directly, but if they can't pay for insurance then they probably don't have the money anyways. in that rare case then you do get the short end of the stick, but that is the low percentage odds there.
you can complain about the ridiculous cost of the repairs too, but again, go and try to run a body shop. see what a hassle and cost it is to work with hazardous chemicals all the time. you can then complain about the epa regulations, but if they didn't have to play by any rules then you'd be complaining about how your neighbor was ill because he worked in a location using hazardous chemicals with no regulations.
this would likely only happen if you were at fault. if someone else was at fault then their (likely mandatory) liability insurance will pay the bills. if they don't have insurance then you have the option of trying to get them to pay directly, but if they can't pay for insurance then they probably don't have the money anyways. in that rare case then you do get the short end of the stick, but that is the low percentage odds there.
you can complain about the ridiculous cost of the repairs too, but again, go and try to run a body shop. see what a hassle and cost it is to work with hazardous chemicals all the time. you can then complain about the epa regulations, but if they didn't have to play by any rules then you'd be complaining about how your neighbor was ill because he worked in a location using hazardous chemicals with no regulations.
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Soundguy
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i agree that passanger saferty is the ultimate concern... however I feel a shock loaded good bumper with a slip type plastic shroud, so that some small collisions could be absorbed by shocks and springs, with no plastic damage.. that would be idea.. then if it was a bad collision.. go ahead and start utilizing the crumple zones for energy disipation.. etc..
JDgreen227
Super Member
I agree 100% because minor impacts should not cost such an obscene amount to repair. My '73 Nova took a hit in the rear with only damage to the impact strip on the bumper while my '04 Buick required over $1000 to fix and the hit was nowhere near as bad.
logdog
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You guys are forgetting that those 70s bumpers were considered ugly by most people and in the automotive world style and design carry very big sticks. Things must be pretty or they dont sell as well.
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Soundguy
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perhaps on a truck, they could be less pretty.. no?
logdog
Silver Member
You would think so but most new trucks sold are high trim levels and even step bumpers are molded to the curves of the body (money) and you are seeing body color bumpers (more money) becoming common. I saw this morning Ford will start offering HID lights (lotsa money) on the F150 so that will add to the price of a minor front end collision even more.
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Soundguy
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makes you wonder why they want expensive trim on a 'wear' area.. ???
logdog
Silver Member
Its driven by consumer demand. We (as a population, not TBN readers) tend to want pretty things so thats what they sell us. The fact its more profit to make pretty things is just a bonus.