I just finished installing upgrades this week to my 2006 TL that I have owned for 118,000 miles and drove 5 interstate miles after an alignment to make sure everything was in check. I got off the highway to turn around on a busy city road. I guess I was smiling too big and turned left through stopped traffic into what I thought was a two lane road and was hit on my right front wheel by a car flying down the unknown third (turning) lane.

My passenger curtain and seat airbag deployed, the fender, door and bumper need replaced and the front knuckle bent in. This made the wheels hard to turn and I blew a power steering boot getting it off the road.

My insurance company is suggesting a total loss (even before seeing). I love this car though and loved the very few miles I got on the suspension upgrades. It is super clean and runs as good as it did on day one.

Anyone else been in this situation? Should I expect any chance at getting my car back repaired?

I had so much fun working on the car this week and today am wiped out sad.

It hurts to hear that all the work was done and then this happened. At least you made it out okay, considering a car can be replaced, and you can't.

Depending on the actual damage (pictures would help...) your insurance will probably mark it off as totaled considering the amount of miles, but I'm not really sure. Even if you do get it fixed, with frame damage it will probably never drive the same

yeah, 118,000 sounds like a lot, but when you put nearly all of them on yourself, it's really personal. Plus, the work done this week had it feeling like a totally different car and very solid. I doubt the frame is bent at all.

I can't stomach the thought of even thinking of how to replace it right now.



https://picasaweb.google.com/1080132...35040019794002

I had the wheel turned to the left here.

Pictures aren't loading, try uploading with Photobucket and then copying the image link directly.

Glad to hear that you're ok. I would see a doctor just to get checked out.

Depending if you have the receipts for all the mods that you have just done and you can try getting the insurance company to reimburse you the total amount. Or you could swap all your mods to another TL if you decide to purchase another one.

Wow, sorry to see.

By that picture alone, I don't think it will be totaled

I didn't really even feel the impact. The car took it well and to me, it was as soft as a hit as someone closing the door hard.

I've already discussed the mods with the insurance company as either being an upper on the payout or getting them back off the car.

Glad to hear you're alright.

Like CL said, you should be okay, I see no reason as to why they would total it. Seems like relatively easy repairs.

Good luck man

part out the mod and swap to another TL (if you will buy one).

Good thing is the car took it and you walk safe.

Let them total it and buy it back if you think you can get it fix cheap.

I hope they don't total it, but the airbags may have sealed your fate.

You don't need a new hood or headlight assembly?

I really hope your TL can be fixed. It's beautiful.

I have a feeling they will total it since the airbags deployed. It's never a good sign when they say they will probably total it before seeing it...

might be a tl...

you will need ... fender, bumper,fender liner,hood,door,headlight,4 wheel alignment, right front suspension,wheel repair,tire,right front rocker moulding,curtain airbag,headliner,seat airbag.


Good thing you are not hurt though

Glad you're okay, the car is just a commodity, it can be replaced. Let them total it cause even if it gets repaired it won't feel the same, buy another, they're a few years old now but nowhere near rare.

wtf!?!?!?! No!

bumper looks to be twisted and the corner might be torn, fender liner seems to be torn, fender isnt fucked? are you kidding me? insurence wont give the shop 5 hours to fix it when replacing it will be the cheaper option,headlight corner looks gouged, hood and door might be fine....tire looks like it may have gotten a cut, if it does then it will need replacing.

these are the standards in canada where i live maybe the standards are differnt where you are from?

No hood or headlight damage at all. It is amazing how well the knuckle took the impact. I think if I had a knuckle to put on it today, it would drive fine.

Notice the items in blue..Those are the ones I was disputing. I never said fender wasn't fucked. Bumper does have a tear, but is very easily repaired. Damage is easily polished out of the headlights also. In my honest opinion, the body damage and lower control arm are the least of the problems here. Airbags are BIG $$$$. I however would buy this car in a heartbeat if the price was right.

As a matter of fact, OP, I dont live too terribly far from you. If they total it, find out what the buy back price is....we can work a deal...

The older the car and the higher the miles, the more likely they will total it. Because it depends on the value of the car.

OMG!!! Really??

yes really.

Not totaled. Glad youre alright though

the air bags are my only consern for it to get totaled. if they didnt deploy its easly fixable. here its 75% of the value of the car for a total loss. with airbags im guessing you around 7-8k in damage. im assuming the bags are 2k to replace.if a steering wheel air bag is 500+ those side curtians arnt cheap.

My insurance is 80% of the value for a total loss. With the car being in great condition and just having major services and upgrades, I would expect the value to be over 13,000. Unless they quote some really high cost, I'll get it back. If not, I guess I'll be looking at an Audi as the new TL's are ugly.

From the description and what I can see on my iPhone this is a total. Front end suspension will cost plenty with oem pricing and alone those air bags too. The front will need to be paint and blend back as far as the passanger door. Start looking for a new car buddy.

Ir, that story is incredibly disappointing. Sorry to hear....

If you subscribe to the TL weight loss program those airbags are to be removed anyway! work out a buy back with the insurance you may be way ahead!

And it's a 6spd too. Sorry about your car, OP. Hope it all works out for you.

Yeah, the 6 speed was my favorite part and is real driving, vs an automatic which seems more like just steering.

I am looking at A4s to replace this as it's one of the few sporty sedans to be found with a manual transmission

A4s are nice. im not a fan of the new TLs either. German cars scare me though, very expansive to fix and electrical problems galore. i would lease an audi, but wouldnt buy one due to depreciation.

The damage estimate was finally completed today and they are pushing total loss. Repairs are 79% of what they say the cars value is and repair + salvage value is $1000 more than their pre-wreck value of the car. I could handle all of this, except that I have a two month old open claim for $2000 in hail damage that was to be fixed in September (shops in STL are really backed up). So they took $2000 of the cars value, but my argument is that the damage would have been gone if not for the long line of cars waiting to get hail repairs. I talk to the total loss handler and a supervisor tomorrow to argue my point.

If I can't win, I've changed my mind on the Audi for fear of future maintenance cost and reliability. Now I am thinking G37X (wife has a M35X) or Toyota Highlander Limited (we have five kids between us.

No options I am fond of for a manual transmission so that will have to come again in the future, unless my TL comes back to me.

Anybody else amazed by how good his interior still looks with 5 kids?

what was the damage estimate? I think they total cars out at 75-80% because of the possability of hidden damage. Just a guess though.

$9000

I was able to negotiate a bigger payout but no change in the total loss decision. Since I can only find 8 used manual transmission TLs (2006-2008 less than 60K miles) in the country and non within a thousand miles of me, I am lot hopping this weekend to find something I like.

Any suggestions? (no audi, bmw, chrysler, saab, volvo)

what are you looking for style wise? want a car, truck, or SUV? Im looking for a TL 6 speed too. theres only 3 within 500 miles of me. And all of them are over priced.

Glad you're ok.
You got less miles than mine, I'm sure if anything like that ever happens to mine it's totaled.

I know of a private party 05 w/stick thats not even listed yet in chicago suburbs. Owned by a older friend. 81k miles with all service records done at dealership since new. We just started talking and he was going to sell to me but the wife really wants an auto. Ive been lurking for a few months. If your interested you can pm me.

I found a 2009 Highlander Limited loaded with every upgrade they offer for $6000 under KBB suggested retail. I am not sure the Lincoln dealer knew what they had, so I negotiated a $1000 off their price and have it in my driveway now. 0-60 is around 7 and it rides like a big Lexus sedan.

I first drove a G37X and while it is a beast of a car and extremely fun to drive, the Highlander was a better fit for our family now.

Will be saying goodbye to the TL today when I go up to clean it out.

glad the TL kept you safe... congrats on the new car... don't be a stranger...