My Q is Totaled

[NY94J30]

The car was immaculate. Full service history when I bought it a year ago with 52K miles. Perfect exterior and interior. All fluids flushed and changed over to synthetic at purchase along with all filter changes, plug replacement, tension rod bushings, and an added ATF cooler. I Added an indash navigation system before I drove out to the Grand Canyon. Less than 100 miles ago I put on new a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S. I just bought a power antenna motor from Bullitandy and belts from IOS. I was going to finish the suspension this summer.

Friday, while entering an onramp form a city surface road, my girlfriend hit a patch of ice, over corrected and hit a cement barrier at relatively low speed - she is fine. It was a direct front-end collision. Both airbags deployed. bumper cover is wrecked, bumper supports, maybe the radiator support, one fog light, one headlight, the fans and shrouds, the grille, condenser, windshield, and not much more. No damage to the hood or fenders and none to the frame. So, I am very surprised it was totaled. I was guessing $6-7K, even considering the cost of FGY33 replacement parts. My policy requires 100% of value before a total. They said they were over $13K in damage.

[Q451990]

Wow... I hate to hear that. I hope you can get a good settlement and find another Q soon. I'm glad to hear that your girlfriend is OK... another Q down but another driver walking away.

These stories seem to come in clusters, so I think I'm moving my Q to the garage for a few days....

Heath

[maxnix]

So sorry!

Other Drivers + Ice = Bad Accidents

[oldmako]

Bummer. Sad news to be sure.

Can you keep it as a parts mobile and buy another? Sounds like a win - win to me as yours is(was) in such nice shape, and the cars are incredibly cheap.

I'm not surprised that it's totaled given the resale of these cars versus the insane prices for parts. For example, I just received a 700 dollar box 'O' parts from IOS. For that I received two front shock cartridges, mounts, tension bars and a set of front brake pads. IF these parts were readily available at a typical aftermarket parts seller, I probably wouldn't have spent half that. But contrast that to the fact that I bought the whole freaking car (a '99 in VERY nice condition) for $4500 and it starts to makes sense.

An econo box now retails for over 20K. Perhaps you can make some room for the wreck and start shopping for it's cousin.

[NY94J30]

Thanks for the sympathy, Heath, Brian and Mako. I'm sad that I won't drive it again, for sure. There were very few things I enjoyed more than getting in my Q on a weekend afternoon and driving for hours into the country with no destination in mind.

I'm not sure what my insurers policy as to buy back on a car that they have determined has no value. If I can get it for next to nothing, at the very least, I will pull the brand new Eagle F1s and anything else of value. Unfortunately, I can't keep it around, I live in an apartment.

I think I may be shopping for an F50 now.

[maxnix]

Couple of FGY33 down here, one with low mileage.

I could look at them for you.

[oldmako]

If I had a place to store it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'm interested in some of the parts if you'd like to sell some.

I know what you mean about just killing time in the car. Today I ran mine home from work and had a huge grin on my face. I covered 220 miles in just under 3 hours.

[brymax]

Man, that sucks!

If it was me......? I WOULD SUE!

OH YEAH!

I'd sue the water on the street for freezing without prior written consent. I'd sue the city for not having those bumper saving soft impact collapse-able guard-rails and I'd even sue the girlfriend for driving your car without your consent. (You can make it up to her later with some of the settlement $$$$).

But hey, that's just how we roll here in So. Cal (sue capital of the country).And that's just me always looking at the bright side.

Seriously though man, it's just a car! "F" that thing! You can get another better one.The important thing is that nobody got hurt, right?

Be thankful for what is important and another ride will come your way.

[BadQ45t]

That doesn't surprise me at all. I got hit in a parking lot in my 97' and it dented the left corner of the front bumper and just ever slightly lifed up the the hood. I also broke a little tab off the front left headlightwhich forced them to replace the entire unit. Total was $4 grand, so with what you describe that makes complete sense at that much damage.

Sorry to hear it!! At least get your NAV unit the hell out of there.

[paranoidjack]

Very sorry to hear it. Glad to hear your girlfriend is OK-although she probably feels horrible, it could be a lot worse.

I wrecked my Q also -fortunately she was young enough to come back better than ever.

You'll find the same passion in another car; it just doesn't seem that way!

[NY94J30]

Couple of FGY33 down here, one with low mileage.

I could look at them for you.

Thanks, Brian, I may very well be interested. Can you send me some further details?

And BadQ, I've already discussed switching out the Pioneer nav unit for the stock Bose. It was about the first thing I asked about - it's an incredible unit.

I'm still waiting for a valuation from my insurer. In the meantime, I am going over my folder of maintenance records and calculating my investment.

[Haitian_King]

Damn. I'm sorry to hear that.

Only 3 people have driven my Q since I bought it. Keith Van Meter, my dad, and I was teaching my brother to drive. (Not a good idea on the last one. The Q is NOT a beginner car)

I'm a little obsessive. I hate when people sit in my driver's seat.

It all goes back to when I lent my friend my Grand Cherokee and I woke up to it not being able to start. I asked what happened, and he showed me pictures of steam pouring out of the hood because it overheated. Rather than bring the car back, he let it cool off and continued on to his destination.

Since then, I've never lent my car out. People know better than to ask me that question now.

[jamesmost]

id get a new girlfriend while u r at it, or at least get a 2nd girlfriend.Sorry about the car, feel bad - we shall all take a moment of silence and a shot of whisky 4 yaJames

[jmorasch]

good to hear everybodys Okay!!!!!! I hate to see these posts....but when one door closes,GOD always opens a bigger better door!!!!!!!sucks to know your rides totaled.

[Jesda]

Glad she's alright! On the plus side, its an opportunity to go car shopping.

[ddrumman]

Sorry to hear about that. As all the guys have already said be happy that no one was hurt and I'm sure you'll find another ride. I would however, see if I can buy it back from them after you get your check. Use those parts.

[RAQ45t]

If you really think the car can be fixed for much less,and can get a commitment from a shop to do so,perhaps using some used parts,then settle,and buy the car back,and fix it.

[NY94J30]

I'm going to settle once my insurer gets a final number to me - likely tomorrow. They will also give me a buyback price. I will likely buy back the car if they offer a reasonable price and part out the big ticket, easy to salvage/ship items (e.g. tires/wheels, stereo, ...), then have the car towed to a junk yard for scrap.

It's a real shame, every part of the car was immaculate.

I have about 3 weeks to find a new car after all that.

[AlabamaDan]

Sorry to hear about the Q. Glad everyone is alright. She can make it up to you

[NY94J30]

To update a number of people who have asked for parts, though the salvage price was reasonable - around $900 - and while I would like to recover some more money, I don't have the space to cannibalize the car or the time to wait in the money.

I'll go by this week and take out the navigation unit. It really grates at me to leave the brand new set of tires on there, but I can't quite justify the effort of it will take to wring a couple hundred more dollars out of this.

I'm taking the settlement and moving on to another Q45, hopefully.

[bullittandy]

To update a number of people who have asked for parts, though the salvage price was reasonable - around $900 - and while I would like to recover some more money, I don't have the space to cannibalize the car or the time to wait in the money.

I'll go by this week and take out the navigation unit. It really grates at me to leave the brand new set of tires on there, but I can't quite justify the effort of it will take to wring a couple hundred more dollars out of this.

I'm taking the settlement and moving on to another Q45, hopefully.

Take it from me, you will be blessed and cursed if you buy it back. I'm almost considering having you buy it and buying it from you.

No, don't Andy, wait yes, no don't, yes, no , yes, no .................................................

I'm going to have a stroke.

[NY94J30]

Andy, if you, or anyone else, wants it, and has a means of getting it in NY in the short term, speak now of forever hold your peace. I'm getting ready to settle today.

[bullittandy]

Any chance you can follow it to the junkyard it ends up at? And then only tell me?

Screw the rest of these guys, they don't deserve those new tires and 17 touring wheels, and one foglight, and one Xenon etc etc etc..

Just kidding about betraying my fellow Nico'ers (but not really)

[AlabamaDan]

I'm intrested. Can you tell me more about it? Have you replaced the struts or anything? I might be able to pull a few things off and part out the rest. Where are you located exactly? Does Washington DC = Cap City?

[NY94J30]

Dan,

I am located in Albany, NY.

I did not get to the suspension yet - that was this summer's project. The only parts I replaced to date were the tension rod bushings.

The car is mine until the title makes it to San Antonio.

[NY94J30]

I will be selling a few items, if anyone is looking: floor mats (stone interior), power antenna mast/ motor (came from Bullitandy 2 days before the accident), bound owners' manual package (with genuine Infiniti pen!), and the Pioneer Avic D3 navigation unit (assuming I replace the car with an F50).
Modified by NY94J30 at 1:03 AM 2/5/2008

[Haitian_King]

Dan,

He said the car was in NY.

[Haitian_King]

Got a picture of the AVIC? Double Din?

[NY94J30]

zerothread?id=250406




Modified by NY94J30 at 4:31 PM 2/19/2008

[Haitian_King]

Nice. That looks sweet.