Dad got in a pretty bad wreck last night...

[MoneyMike]

IDK fully what happened, but from what I understand, the other driver was attempting to merge, and my dad inadvertently rear-ended him. The other car managed to get some air, and dented the roof enough to break the windshield. Not only that, but the front bumper is completely f'd up. It was bad enough that his airbags went off, and the car had to get towed. We're not sure IF it was the other driver's fault (like I said, kinda shaky on the details, and my dad couldn't see much as the windshield was getting crushed and the airbags went off), let alone if the insurance company will decide to total it. I think if the engine runs, then they won't. But my dad did put quite a bit of money into it.

However, the important thing is that he seems to be ok (I was once in an accident, and I didn't start hurting until a few days after, plus my dad has had so many surgeries, so he might not feel anything from this at all).

On a side note, if the insurance company does decide to total it, would he be allowed to salvage any of the aftermarket stuff, let alone any factory parts? Although on many of the aftermarket parts, it'd depend if he got another Pontiac G8 GT...

[petrified.rabbit]

Total is almost allows 80% of market value, I've put engines, transmissions in cars, frames in trucks, even fixed a car or two that i later found out people died in. (kind of obvious they were injured when you replace bloody interior) if the airbags went off that is close to $3000 in damage in a car like your dads, the shut off tow probably has nothing to do with a broken engine but the roof and pillar damage along with front end damage might make it close to total when added up. Buy back to "steal" parts is 10-25% depending on policy, company, state. But if you retained posession you can swap parts back to stock.

[petrified.rabbit]

Glad to hear your dads ok though, that's most important.

[MoneyMike]

Glad to hear your dads ok though, that's most important.

Agreed. He just told me that he thinks that the other car flew and put the dent in the roof that smashed the windshield. He just couldn't see much because of the airbag and windshield. I just kept saying that if it did, he got VERY lucky. Plus, he also had his nitrous in, so I don't know if something could've happened had it just been slightly worse. He's a pretty good driver, but the unexpected does happen. I certainly didn't see it coming.

[mikedudley17]

Bummer to hear man, and nitrous in a G8, jesus!

[MoneyMike]

Bummer to hear man, and nitrous in a G8, jesus!

Definately something that he put a bunch of money into, and really enjoyed. Something that could be a sports car, but was a sedan. And since (well at least around here, only 8 for sale within 150 miles of where we live) those G8's are fairly rare, he'll have to look at something else. The only thing he said about nitrous is that he won't do it in another car, he learned that stuff is pretty dang expensive. Not like he used it a whole lot anyways. Heck, he said that the only work he'll do on another car is just waxing it.

For the fact that he's done so much to that car, I hope the insurance decides that it'll be cheaper to fix it than to give him the full retail (plus the aftermarket stuff, possibly). The only things that need replacing would be the front bumper, radiator, I think he said the front side fender got damaged a bit as well, the windshield, and the airbag (this will be the only reason why it'll get totaled, if they decide to go that way). Things that will need to be fixed would be the roof (he said it wasn't too bad of a dent, so it might not mess with the structural integrity, but might be another reason for it to be totaled) and his cd player (couldn't get his cd's out, and it doesn't even play the cd's, but the radio works well). Just gotta wait and see what the insurance says on Monday.

[mikedudley17]

This is where I learned about the value of investment versus spending money on toys. When our jeep got totaled, I realized that it is a little foolish to invest... Correction, spend alot of money on getting aftermarket add ons for your car. Its one thing if your doing something for efficiency like a CAI and exhaust. Its another when you go all out and make your **** crazy fast because all that money and work can be destroyed in an instant. Im not trying to harp, but it sounds like your dad figured out the same thing. I want to modify our WRX for sure, but, all like I said, all that can be gone in a flash.

I hope for the best for you guys and hope there are no residual effects from the incident later like physical pain or anything.

[MoneyMike]

Yeah, like I said, he's just gonna stick to waxing and other detailing stuff. He also said that if the insurance does decide to fix his car, he might just trade it in.

My dad seems to be fine, if he's in pain, it'll probably be because he's had a few back surgeries in a year. But, he really hasn't seemed to have gone through any extra pain since the wreck. I think he'll be fine, as it's been over a week now.

UPDATE: Well, he's finally got himself a new car (slightly used 2011 Camaro on September 24), and he actually decided to get an exhaust kit, as well as a CAI. And he plans on tuning it (he got a Cortex that he was using on the G8, he can pay to use it on multiple cars).

And on Monday, he had to go to the insurance's storage lot to strip out most of the nitrous stuff. I guess it's kinda illegal, and the insurance could fine him if they see it in the car when they total it. My mom went there and took some pictures (and continue her rather annoying habit of taking stuff out of the car that we don't need, like the floor mats), and I will say that the damage was way worse than I thought, especially the roof. My dad says that the roof could be replaced, just way too much money.

[MetroMPG]

Glad it turned out well - both your dad & the replacement car!

[MoneyMike]

Glad it turned out well - both your dad & the replacement car!

Thanks, I'm glad that it turned out pretty well too. I knew my dad was going to aim for a high performance car. It just wouldn't have been right if he went with something weaker than that Pontiac anyways.