Glad to be alive, totalled J30

[Spaco]

First of all, I want to say how truely happy I am to be alive. I'd never had a near-death experience until last week, so it's been a real eye-opener. My accident happened last week on Wednesday while on my way to work. It was 8:00am and raining outside, I was driving on a 4-lane road with my car in the left lane travelling about 40mph and a large semi pulling a trailer on my right that was slowing down to make a right turn onto a road. I got up next to the cab of the truck and suddenly 20-30ft in front of me another truck's cab appeared in front of my car crossing the road. I slammed on my breaks, but my car just continued to slide towards the gas tanks of the cab. I had nowhere to go except to the right, so I turned the wheel to the right and my car slid into the rear wheels of the trailer, smashing in the hood and bouncing my car back a foot or so. This was probably the best place for me to have impacted, considering it was a FLAMMABLE CHEMICAL TANKER! In one light, I'm lucky that the tank is high off the ground and that I probably couldn't have punctured it without toppling the truck over. But at the same time it could have been a Very Bad Thing if I would have gone under the truck.. the whole top of the car, as well as my head could have been taken off.

Luckily, I was in my J30. The airbags deployed perfectly, keeping my head from hitting the steering wheel or windshield. I'm sure the car's sturdy frame played a big part in me being able to walk away as easily as I did, too. Besides the 1' newly-created wedge in the car's hood, the car still looked fine. No windows blew out, no tires bent, etc. I didn't really intend on ranting or venting through this post, I just wanted to let you all know how my J saved my life.

Also, I wanted to urge all '93 and '94 J30 owners out there reading this to do the following:

Get your airbag system checked by the dealer, it's time. The driver-side visor states you should have it checked 10 years after the date of manufacture. I hadn't done this yet, and I could have been not so lucky. Just a friendly warning..

P.S. This is my first(and hopefully last) car accident, so any legal tips are welcome.. :icesangel

Daniel G.

[theTony]

Glad to hear you are ok! That's too bad about your J though, but it appears to have surrendered it's life to save yours. What do you plan on replacing it with?

[DDWQ45T]

Glad you walked away! Could have been much worse as you point out.

I can't give you much legal advice, but I have found that an exceptionally detailed, written account of what happened, complete with as many sketches/photos as possible, will give you much more leverage with both your and his insurance companies.

A chick totaled my Celica a few years back by T-boning it in an unmarked intersection. I spun and hit 3 parked cars on either side of the street. Damages maxed out her coverage, and since it was an un-marked intersection, her insurance company tried to pin 10% of the fault on me, to get into my insurance companie's pockets.

I created a clear report with evidence of the direction and path of my car after the impact (spinning confused the insurance adjuster, when the rear of my car slid down the side of one of the parked cars.) I also shot pictures of her bumper, my rear wheel, and the gouge in the pavement where her bumper dug in, after impacting my rear wheel. This positioned both cars in the intersection at time of impact, and proved clearly that she hit my rear quarter panel, not my front bumper as her insurance adjuster was trying to suggest. I got cleared of blame, and the rest of the parties had to sort it out with her and her lawyers.

My insurance did not go up.

It's good to get the details down in writing as soon as you can, before memory starts to adjust.

[911/Q45]

Sounds like it was pretty clearly the trucks fault. Since you weren't hurt and it's a commercial account, my guess is they'll bend over backwards to keep you happy and out of court.

[BadQ45t]

Commercial insurance companies are very easy to deal with even though the truck drivers often think that they will be hard asses. If you're sure you are not hurt, than go after the biggest settlement you can possibly get out of them for the car. You will not want to use a lawyer to fight for car value...get everything about the car to prove it is worth more than kelly blue book value. I mean anything. If they start to play hardball than your neck is going to start to hurt...but they are usually pretty good if there is no casulty claim when your whole car is totalled.

The Nissans are built pretty well overall. I have in addition to my Q45 a 84 300ZX and about a year after I bought my car I remember an accident with some actor in LA (cannot remember his name) that wrapped his Z around a telephone pole. This was long before airbags and he walked away. Than I also had a friend roll his maxima when he fell asleep at the wheel and he walked away with no injuries.

Good luck...what are you going to get next, G35?

[PalmerWMD]

Those J's must be very well built.

Another NICO member Jeff aka jpalm totaled his J just a few months ago at hi speed and the car rolled several times with him in it.

He had not a scratchg on him.Hooray for the J30!:ylsuper

After looking for just the right J or Q to replace it with and not finding what he was looking for he replaced it with a 2002 Sentra SER Spec V.

Fred...

[Spaco]

Yeah, me and jpalm were buds back in the j30 yahoo group, I was id_S4vant.

As far as a replacement goes, I dunno what I can afford. It looks like my car's going to definately be paid off and I'll get back more than $2,000 what I paid for it a year ago, so I'll have about $2,500-$3,000 for a down payment on something. I'm accustomed to my $160 a month car payment on my J, so I don't really want to go over $250 or so right now. Any suggestions on good used or new cars? I haven't seen anything that excites me other than another J, but you have to be picky with 6-10 year old cars so I don't know if I can find another good one soon. I would consider a Q if I could find one! All the ones here in Memphis are either '91s or '99s! Any help is much appreciated!

Daniel G.

[VimyJ]

Glad you're OK. Sorry to hear about your J, though. I hope you can find a 97.5 J30 with low miles to ease your pain. Too damn bad they stopped making them. Another one gone. The highways and biways will be a little less tested now. Sniff...

[PalmerWMD]

Oh, and I almost forgot:oface

I am very very sorry about your J...But glad your ok

Fred...:thinker

PS: I hope you find another good J.Also newer G20' are very reasonable right now...

[greg_atlanta]

My advice is to not get upset at the valuation of the car. Will probably be lower than you expect. To make up for that, make a LARGE claim for "pain and suffering." Don't tell anybody "I'm OK." Just say "no major injuries but I'm still shook-up"... or something like that.

Insurance companies car about people more than they care about cars.

Too bad about the car, but glad you sound complacent with the whole ordeal. It happens.

(I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often, frankly).

[AZhitman]

Spaco - Glad you're in one piece buddy. Sorry for the loss of your J, I'm sure that part will take some days to sink in...

Take your time looking - I was dead set on a 2000 Maxima SE when I bought my Q. Probably the best bang for the buck in a newer sport sedan.

[Mayhem_J30]

Spaco, glad you're still with us. Mechanics hate the car, but it all seems to be worth it. Does anybody what all Jeff parted out of his J before they took it away?

[Mayhem_J30]

as a matter of fact i would love to have your front and rear sway bars along with any bushings are bolts that may be attached to them. email me if you're interested.

[Spaco]

I think Jeff got the floor mats, service manual and maybe even the ashtray/lighter section or something. What other used nissans/infinitis should I consider? I can't really tell the difference between i30s and g20s and whatnot, what are the plusses and minuses of the other models? Maxima SE a pretty sporty ride? I like a comfortable car that has a little kick to it and looks good.

Daniel G.

P.S. As far as the strut bars and stuff go, I dunno how I'd do that. Would I have to buy them back from the scrapyard?

[Spaco]

If I do go looking for a used Q, what's the best year to get, besides the newer ones? Rate them in performance, durability and style if you don't mind.

Thanks,

Daniel G.

[maxnix]

When buying an old Q, I would look first at condition then maintenance records then have a proper inspection by a competent shop.

Color, body styles, and minor performance differences pale in comparison when you are responsible for the repair and maintenance after you buy the car.

[jpalm]

Spaco,Glad to hear that you are okay! It is a testiment to the safety of the J30. They are solid cars no matter what "deesoleballs" may say. I once read that the J30 has the lowest fatality rate of any car on the road. I'm positive insurance will screw you so be prepared. I thought I would get alot more than I did so just be ready.

Email me sometime and I can send you a .zip file with my wreck photos in it. It really gives you a new perspective on things!

Be safe and we are all glad you were not hurt and are still with us!

[deesolballs]

Didn't know your balls talked to you JP!!

I give you guys guff about the looks of the car but much respect to it's life saving abilities. I just hope my Q can save me if the need were to arise. Glad you are ok Spaco and you too Jeff!

[Spaco]

Just a note, nevermind about Q-buying tips, my astounding deductive skills lead me to the post like 4 or so below mine that covers this in great detail.:pface But suggestions on what to get in general are, of course, welcome. You've peaked my interest and I'm going to test drive a Sentra SE V-Spec this afternoon, so that should be fun.

Daniel

[Sopdadope]

Spaco:

Glad you're alive and in one piece! Sorry I couldnt' say the same for your J30 but I bet it's in vehicle heaven right now after nobly surrender it's life for that of it's owner!

BTW, if you're looking for a new car, I say go take a look and a test drive of the new Mazda Protege if you're considering a Sentra SE-R. Truth be told, I've driven both and IMO the Mazda's a better car. SE-R has some of the coolest seats around but both cars are very comparable but I leaned towards the Mazda.

[Mayhem_J30]

Spaco:

Glad you're alive and in one piece! Sorry I couldnt' say the same for your J30 but I bet it's in vehicle heaven right now after nobly surrender it's life for that of it's owner!

BTW, if you're looking for a new car, I say go take a look and a test drive of the new Mazda Protege if you're considering a Sentra SE-R. Truth be told, I've driven both and IMO the Mazda's a better car. SE-R has some of the coolest seats around but both cars are very comparable but I leaned towards the Mazda.

How much is that limited production Protege turbo? It's only boostin 6psi, but it was enough to squeeze about 40 extra horses out of it.SE-R spec-v has the controversial 'lava' seats, but i like them. Unfortunately they're all being recalled..i heard...and being replaced with leather ones. The new protege does look good, but it follows the trendy Lexus look way to much. the se-r is still unique.

[jpalm]

OH BOY, this is how rumors start!

First, the Protege you are talking about is part of the new Mazdaspeed sport divsion and I don't think its out yet. I believe, and I may be wrong, that its a supercharger and not a turbo. Even with the SC its only making 170HP, less than the stock Spec. Not to mention this car is to cost like 24K compared to the Specs 17-18K (avg). I do give alot of credit to the Mazda for handling though, it flat out hugs the slalom.

Second, the Spec lava seats have not been recalled. The only thing I've gotten recalled is floormats (the shape was causing some peoples accelerators to stick) and some headlamp clip for alignment. Also the new 03 Spec comes with silver/charcoal colored seats. Personally I like the lava better but thats my opinion. The 03 also added the yellow exterior color and has a better transmission.

[Sopdadope]

No, the car I drove was the Mazda Protege MP3. Test drove it earlier this year with a friend when his Accord was stolen and he was looking for a new, cheap car to fill it's shoes. Despite being listed at 140hp, 40hp less than the SE-R's claimed hp, both cars felt the same in acceleration. I think Nissan was being far too optimistic when it rated the SE-R at 180hp, 180hp is a bit of a stretch even for a lightly modded SE-R in truth.

The Mazda Protege matches the SE-R in every category, both come with pretty cool "aftermarket" stereo systems already installed but still the Mazda has the edge in that category. Exterior styling is a tossup, I actually prefer the Protege's looks over the SE-R's somewhat boy-racer looks. Interior I'd say the SE-R gets the nod just because of the seats, c'mon, they're Skyline seats. The Protege's on the other hand has some weak cloth remiscent of Geo Metro or Ford Aspire. Handling and shifting, the Protege has IMO a sweeter transmission, with a shifter that rivals that of the Acura Type R and has a sporty but more civilized ride than the SE-R. Braking was equal.

Overall, IMO the Mazda is a slightly better car. It has a great chassis, good brakes, sporty ride that doesn't sacrifice comfort and is an overall very appealing package. That's not to say the SE-R is any shape or form a bad car, I mean these cars are head over heals better than many vehicles in their class and thousands cheaper even so you couldn't go wrong. And although I am a Nissan fanatic, I always try to be unbiased in my opinions when it comes to vehicles of a different make. Mazda Proteges just started popping up in Speed Channel's Touring Car Class a year ago and are already make an impact, challenging tuned BMW 3 series and Integra Type R's, in fact a few races ago, 6 Proteges placed in the top 10 so that speaks volumes for the car's sport potential if you're into that kind of thing.

JPalm, I think the one you're talking about is the Mazdaspeed/Racing Beat tuned turbocharged limited edition coming out this year. It's basically an MP3 with some tuner parts and a small T25 turbo thrown onto it. It probably wouldn't justify the extra $4-5 grand.

[Mayhem_J30]

hmmm...that's why i throw in the 'i heard' part. some lady at a Louisville Nissan meet was talking to me about how the lava seats like to snag and get messed up. But then again, if they WERE being recalled why did she still have the fabric instead of the leather...hmmmas for the protege, i'm pretty sure it was turbo'd. it was in car&driver or road&track this month. i just liked the styling of the vehicle mostly. ahh screw it, get the WRX!

[jpalm]

Through all my internet travels I have not seen but about 3 or 4, if that, Spec V's with leather. To be quite honest, I wouldn't want leather in this car, too much slip and slide, plus I like the lava seats now, they've grown on me. I don't worry about the minor crap like snags and stuff that others do because I'm careful about who and what rides in my car. The only time I worry about snags is when my dog HAS to ride in my car. Even then I throw down a ton of towels and she's fine.

I hear way too many complaints about the dumbest stuff sometimes (not that I'm saying your post was dumb or anything like that) from these kids, etc. For a car under 20K you CANNOT beat it.

2.5L engine, 175HP (not 180), 180 torque6-speed trannyHelical Slip DifferentialZ-rated Continentials17" Alloy wheelsRockford Fosgate sound systemSkyline inspired seats and front faciaFoglightsFolding rear seatsMoonroof

Add a CAI for $210, Header $425, Exhaust $400-$500, and your pushing about 200HP give or take and putting up some impressive numbers!