Sob Story (with a semi-happy ending)

[BillyBeaneBall]

OK, first off, who do I contact at Nissan to do a commercial for them? Here's why...

In March I bought a Sapphire Blue Versa SL with everything EXCEPT the convenience package, Sunroof package, ABS, and Audio upgrade. I was happy....I was proud...I loved my new Versa. I did a TON of research before settling on what I wanted and got an OK deal on it $15,900. I was in love with the interior space, the safety ratings, and the overall value for the money of the vehicle. The problem was it seemed like it was attracting bad drivers/ karma around me. I had people go to turn left in front of me and stop in my lane while I was going 40mph, people try and change lanes when I was already in the lane, and so on and so forth. Soooooo, in May, I was retuening from a White Sox game when a chunk of something (it was dark and it happened fast) came up from the road ahead of me and put a fist size dent in my hood and took some paint with it for good measure. Needless to say, I just bought the car so I wanted to get it repaired...my father is friends with a guy who owns a body shop and he did a FANTASTIC job with it and it only cost me $300. All was right with the world.

Now I consider myself a safe driver. I'm 31 and until this year, I've never been in an accident that was my fault (unfortunately I rear ended a guy...not hard, I tapped his bumper and left only paint damage) but that was it...nothing major.

Until 3 weeks ago. To make a long story short, I'll abbreviate it for you guys. In rural Michigan (I'm from Chicago) while visiting my Grandmother with my girlfriend I made a stupid mistake. I had the stopsign and the cross traffic did not...I knew this and made my stop and looked both ways and somehow missed a GMC Envoy coming from my right at 55mph (there was a dip in the road ad that's the only thing I can figure I did...the truck was in that dip and I looked over it) and it hit me at full speed in the passenger side at the rear of the engine. We spun 300 degrees counterclockwise and both front airbags deployed as well as the passenger side curtain airbags. My Grandmother (who is 79) was in the passenger seat and my girlfriend was in the rear passenger seat.

We all walked away with only a few minor bruises and one case of seatbelt "rope burn"...which is by far the most important part of the story.

But the car looked terrible (and if I can figure out how to post them...I have pictures I can post here) The hood was mangled...the engine practically gone, Both quarterpanels were destroyed, the right front tire was popped and turned in. Basically it looked like it had been hit by an SUV going 55mph, LOL

The insurance company totalled it out Luckily I had the GAP cverage (which I didn't need) and after all was said and done, I owed only $59 on the car.

Now I needed to buy a new car.

I started with Nissan and worked online with a sales rep who assured me she could find what I wanted (I decided THIS TIME I wanted a fully loaded 2007 Versa...because they were offering 4.9% and $500 cash back on them since the 2008's were now out) we went back and forth on price and finally settled on $16,400 (which, when you take off the $500 cash backis the same price I paid on my original Versa. Now she had to locate one and have it delivered. I gave her my color choices...Black, Blue Onyx, or Magnetic Gray....ABSOLUTELY NO Sapphire Blue, LOL becuase I felt it was cursed. With a Charcoal interior...it had to be Charcoal because I have a dog and, well muddy paws are hard to get off beige fabric, LOL.

She found one in Magnetic Grey and my new Versa and I have been happily married for a week now : I love the new options too...especially the sound package because I like my music to be clean...no distortion.

Now, who do I contact at Nissan to do a commercial about how safe thier vehicle is for a small car???? Maybe I can get my loan paid off, LOL!!!

[KimberKenobi]

It's a pity the little Sapphire had to go, but at least it gave it's life for you!!

That's awesome that you are so happy with the V! (that's exactly how I feel about my Camel!!)

I'm glad even G'ma walked away unscathed...

Where in rural MI were you? My G'ma lives in Peacock (which is halfway between Baldwin and Irons... it's a township).

[matt_a]

WOW! That crash could have been fatal in a car with less side protection. I'm glad to hear everyone was ok. Makes me feel great about owning a Versa!

[rainerng]

Are the side curtain airbags standard?

[Martin Roy]

Semi-happy ending ?Everyone's OK, you tested the car's safety and you got a better car for the same price. I would qualify this as a complete-happy ending !

Anyway, thanks for testing the car's safety for us ! That way, we won't have to

[lain]

heh good ol' GAP. I never got the GAP coverage...they wanted to charge me $800 for it...i was like...nah its coo. My gf's mom works for Acura as a manager and told us that they sell their GAP program for only $130 and Acura has more expensive cars. And just like you I have never been in an accident..but im only 22. I have had someone hit me on the freeway going 65mph...well i was they were going like 80mph. Thank goodness I was in my parents Astrovan and not my Versa. It was fun though cause they hit me on the side and I was sliding on the freeway at like a 45 degree angle in an Astravan. After the car had stopped I got out of the car saw that I was still inbetween the lines and thought, "man im good".

[Ever Victorious]

Glad to hear everyone is ok!

So we have now, between forum members tested:

Rollover (everyone ok)Side impact by SUV (everyone ok)Rear impact by truck (everyone ok).

Anyone else want to total their V?

[coxcj]

Anyone else want to total their V?

put me down for NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[starlight0229]

I'm glad that you're okay and have a nice pretty new V... but it all happened because you're a Sox fan... Go Cubs!!!

[srellim234]

Glad to hear everyone is ok!

Anyone else want to total their V?

Ditto here on the part about everyone being ok.

As for totalling Vs, I believe I can speak for the group that we are much more interested in testing the longevity of our Vs over the impact survivability of them.

[KimberKenobi]

As for totalling Vs, I believe I can speak for the group that we are much more interested in testing the longevity of our Vs over the impact survivability of them.

AMEN!!!

;oD

[Deke40]

Are the side curtain airbags standard?

They are on the SL and I think so on the S also.

[Martin Roy]

EV, someone, I don't remember who, drove over an animal and broke his windshield washer tank. I guess that also counts !

Didn't someone also hit the middle of the road when turning left at an intersection ?

[mking8288]

They are on the SL and I think so on the S also.

Yes, side curtain airbag are standard on both trims - S model at no extra cost, I coupled it with ABS option with Brake Assist, and I feel safe in it - 95% of the time, I have no rear passengers riding along. It's important for those in the rear to buckle up since it is part of the overall safety package.

[Ever Victorious]

EV, someone, I don't remember who, drove over an animal and broke his windshield washer tank. I guess that also counts !

Didn't someone also hit the middle of the road when turning left at an intersection ?

The "hit the middle of the road" was the one where she rolled it because she hit the median island doing like 25 while turning, which is what caused the required momentum pop to flip.

And yeah,... the animal was recent, wasn't it an armadillo?

[BillyBeaneBall]

Yes, I think I remember reading it WAS an armadillo.'

Actually I'm an A's fan living in Chicago and was at the Sox game rooting them on. But truthfully as long as they aren't playing the A's I root for both Chicago teams because it's good for the local economy.

Martin, you're right is WAS/IS a happy ending...just a shame it had to happen at all I guess is what I was getting at

I agree, Kimber, this time I want to test the longevity of my V as well!!!! (of course that was my plan with my old one too, LOL!)

But I must say, these cars seem pretty durable

[Ever Victorious]

I dunno about Nissan doing a commercial about you (though it would certainly show how safe the car is), but when I got rear-ended, I sent some pics to my dealer along with a description of what happened, and they posted it on their website for a while, and had a color flyer posted in their dealership next to the brochures with the pics and my writeup.