The Curse strikes again......
09-07-2011, 01:34 PM
#1
The Curse strikes again......
For those of you that don't like reading, you can just skip to the bottom where the pics are........
I can't even begin to describe to you how upsetting this is. This is the sixth or seventh time the TL has been hit causing damage to the extent that it needs to go into the shop for at least a week. The first time was exactly one week after picking it up. I was rear ended at a stop light by a pizza delivery guy and the car was in the shop for a couple weeks. But I rolled with it and moved forward. Since then everything else has been minor cosmetic damage, but frustrating none the less. Just about every six months, like clockwork, it’s been something else, and every time it has been due to someone elses negligence. Not once have I had an at-fault claim with the car.
The last time she came out of the body shop was the end of April, and with lots of help from Tony at Airport Road Autobody in Hartford, the car came out looking better than ever. I can’t tell you how many times in the recent past I have been approached by strangers telling me how great the car looks and how it’s the first time they have ever seen a TL of this body style “hooked up”.
For the past five months I have been absolutely smitten with the car. Every morning when I walk out to the car to go to work I get this feeling of, “**** yeah….I built that….and I built it for me.” The car was my vision, and my dream. It was created without the redundant, “What wheels/springs/shocks/spoiler/roof rack/stickers should I buy?” and with very little input from anyone (Brian and Andy offered some advice on wheel fitment). I knew the look I was going for and made it happen.
All of that being said I should have known from my past experience that “The Curse” was about due for another “incident”. That incident came last Wednesday on my ¼ mile commute to work when I was traveling east bound on Farmington Avenue in Hartford approaching the intersection of Prospect Avenue, where a left hand turn lane opens up to go north. Traffic was stopped in the right lane to go straight through the intersection and I was coasting down the left turn lane when all of the sudden the uninsured and unregistered Chrysler Pacifica from HELL shoots out between two cars from the gas station on the right, plowing in to the passenger side front corner of the car.
Just like that, my creation, the thing that I had put so much blood and sweat into, and the only material possession I really care about was once again in pieces. Leaving me with nothing but a $1000 deductible and out of pocket costs for a rental car to pay for.
This is the aftermath……
Facing West.....
(Yes I know how ironic the ambulance chaser ad on the side of the bus is.)
Facing East....
The car was towed back to Tony this morning as it is undrivable. Waiting on the damage estimator to come out, but Geico said it could be a week and a half before they get there because of all of the property damage claims from this past weekends storm. I'm guessing $4k-$5k in damage.
The car will be rebuilt once again, but will be listed for sale once the work is complete. I am not a very superstitious person, but I have never had worse luck with a car in my life, and this is #14.
I just can't take her constantly breaking my heart anymore. I knew in the beginning when she and I first met that she wasn't what I really wanted, that I could do better and that I was settling. Maybe she could sense this the whole time and just didn't let me know in fear I would leave her for a gorgeous German with RWD and three pedals.
I just don't know.......but what I DO know, is that the relationship between she and I is toxic, and I can't keep doing this.
I can't even begin to describe to you how upsetting this is. This is the sixth or seventh time the TL has been hit causing damage to the extent that it needs to go into the shop for at least a week. The first time was exactly one week after picking it up. I was rear ended at a stop light by a pizza delivery guy and the car was in the shop for a couple weeks. But I rolled with it and moved forward. Since then everything else has been minor cosmetic damage, but frustrating none the less. Just about every six months, like clockwork, it’s been something else, and every time it has been due to someone elses negligence. Not once have I had an at-fault claim with the car.
The last time she came out of the body shop was the end of April, and with lots of help from Tony at Airport Road Autobody in Hartford, the car came out looking better than ever. I can’t tell you how many times in the recent past I have been approached by strangers telling me how great the car looks and how it’s the first time they have ever seen a TL of this body style “hooked up”.
For the past five months I have been absolutely smitten with the car. Every morning when I walk out to the car to go to work I get this feeling of, “**** yeah….I built that….and I built it for me.” The car was my vision, and my dream. It was created without the redundant, “What wheels/springs/shocks/spoiler/roof rack/stickers should I buy?” and with very little input from anyone (Brian and Andy offered some advice on wheel fitment). I knew the look I was going for and made it happen.
All of that being said I should have known from my past experience that “The Curse” was about due for another “incident”. That incident came last Wednesday on my ¼ mile commute to work when I was traveling east bound on Farmington Avenue in Hartford approaching the intersection of Prospect Avenue, where a left hand turn lane opens up to go north. Traffic was stopped in the right lane to go straight through the intersection and I was coasting down the left turn lane when all of the sudden the uninsured and unregistered Chrysler Pacifica from HELL shoots out between two cars from the gas station on the right, plowing in to the passenger side front corner of the car.
Just like that, my creation, the thing that I had put so much blood and sweat into, and the only material possession I really care about was once again in pieces. Leaving me with nothing but a $1000 deductible and out of pocket costs for a rental car to pay for.
This is the aftermath……
Facing West.....
(Yes I know how ironic the ambulance chaser ad on the side of the bus is.)
Facing East....
The car was towed back to Tony this morning as it is undrivable. Waiting on the damage estimator to come out, but Geico said it could be a week and a half before they get there because of all of the property damage claims from this past weekends storm. I'm guessing $4k-$5k in damage.
The car will be rebuilt once again, but will be listed for sale once the work is complete. I am not a very superstitious person, but I have never had worse luck with a car in my life, and this is #14.
I just can't take her constantly breaking my heart anymore. I knew in the beginning when she and I first met that she wasn't what I really wanted, that I could do better and that I was settling. Maybe she could sense this the whole time and just didn't let me know in fear I would leave her for a gorgeous German with RWD and three pedals.
I just don't know.......but what I DO know, is that the relationship between she and I is toxic, and I can't keep doing this.
09-07-2011, 01:43 PM
#3
Registered 3.5L Member
WOW!!! I'm not a real believer in luck - good or bad. But I do firmly believe that shit happens, and for you it happens to your car. Just be grateful nothing worse happened - like you being seriously hurt, or losing it (rightfully) on the Pacifica driver and ending up in jail. A new M3 or the like may bring you smiles and good luck, but it will also bring new headaches and expensive repair bills.
09-07-2011, 01:45 PM
#4
06 Anthracite TL
I'm very, very sorry this happened to you-you have a sweet ride- sounds like the other driver is a moron- my wife's CTS was hit recently while parked in a 25 mph zone whereas the other driver had to be traveling near twice that. He was arrested at the scene for multiple failure to appear warrants. It was repaired- actually looks as new as the shop painted quite a bit of the car and replaced quite a bit in parts ($14K in damages all on the other driver's insurance dime). I know how you must feel (like a moving target). I am also waiting for the next bad driver to hit one of our cars.
Just one question- RE: the unregistered and uninsured Pacifica...did it equal an arrest of the other driver at the scene? It should have. Sue the other driver for damages, even if it's for the deductible. They shouldn't get away with anything!
Just one question- RE: the unregistered and uninsured Pacifica...did it equal an arrest of the other driver at the scene? It should have. Sue the other driver for damages, even if it's for the deductible. They shouldn't get away with anything!
Last edited by erdoc48; 09-07-2011 at 01:49 PM.
09-07-2011, 01:49 PM
#6
BANNED
iTrader: (33)
jesus man...that's horrible. sorry that happened to you. i've always loved your TL. very classy.
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09-07-2011, 02:23 PM
#10
Damm bro, really sorry to see this happen to you and your car again! But I would do the same...sell it, then buy a TL-S!! Regarding the Pacifica driver, at least get the deductible from him!!
09-07-2011, 02:40 PM
#11
damn man.. maybe your car is cursed.. you should try changing your license plate number if you believe in superstitions. My aunt had a similar problem where she thought her car was cursed. Crash after crash every few months. After changing her license plate, no more accidents..
09-07-2011, 03:24 PM
#15
tehLEGOman
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Age: 41
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That sucks man. Glad you're ok.
Do you use your headlights a lot? Everytime i turn the key in my ingition i turn my headlights on at the same time. I have driven over 180,000 miles combined in my two TLs and no collisions yet.
Do you use your headlights a lot? Everytime i turn the key in my ingition i turn my headlights on at the same time. I have driven over 180,000 miles combined in my two TLs and no collisions yet.
09-07-2011, 03:53 PM
#17
damn man.. maybe your car is cursed.. you should try changing your license plate number if you believe in superstitions. My aunt had a similar problem where she thought her car was cursed. Crash after crash every few months. After changing her license plate, no more accidents..
Thanks for the kind words guys. We'll see how she looks when she gets out of the body shop the end of next week. I'm thinking it's going to be hard to let her go. Love that car...curse or no curse......
09-07-2011, 04:29 PM
#19
Race Director
iTrader: (8)
Ouch sorry to hear =(
Glad you're physically okay.
Hope you're emotionally okay too.
Glad you're physically okay.
Hope you're emotionally okay too.
09-07-2011, 04:37 PM
#20
09-07-2011, 04:48 PM
#21
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
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Damn J-I'm SO sorry, buddy.
Keep the faith-she will be alright.
Keep the faith-she will be alright.
09-07-2011, 04:49 PM
#22
The Sicilian
Hey I know where that is. I used to live on Farmington Ave. and used to work at the drug store on that corner same side as the bus.
Ya that's a crappy area. Always busy and well driving in Hartford or West Hartford in general is a nightmare. Too much traffic and too many assholes who don't know how to drive.
I always take mt cars to Royale Coachworks 37 Airport Road in Hartford. Mark does a good job there as well.
Good luck buddy.
Ya that's a crappy area. Always busy and well driving in Hartford or West Hartford in general is a nightmare. Too much traffic and too many assholes who don't know how to drive.
I always take mt cars to Royale Coachworks 37 Airport Road in Hartford. Mark does a good job there as well.
Good luck buddy.
09-07-2011, 05:06 PM
#23
Bro I know how you feel. My car has been hit in my works parking lot 6 times. The most recent put a dent in the passenger rear quarter panel. Not enough damage to make an insurance claim though. Sad to hear you are going to let it go.
On a side note, if you decide to part out anything before you sell let me know (since we both have DGP cars)
On a side note, if you decide to part out anything before you sell let me know (since we both have DGP cars)
09-07-2011, 05:29 PM
#25
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
FUCK! You just can't catch a break can you?
09-07-2011, 07:07 PM
#28
Burning Brakes
Sorry to see and hear dude.
Is that a TX plate on the Pacifica? WTF?
Is that a TX plate on the Pacifica? WTF?
09-07-2011, 10:14 PM
#33
Safety Car
iTrader: (4)
Fuckin blows my mind how many people dont have fucking insurance. Sorry for the language but this is the kind of crap that really gets to me. Something you work hard to have (and have legally), then some low life does that. Sue their asses! maybe that'll teach them. Sorry to see your car like that and glad you are ok.
One other thing since I have never been involved in an accident with an uninsured motorists. What does the other person say when you first talk to them? "umm sorry I dont have insurance"?
James
One other thing since I have never been involved in an accident with an uninsured motorists. What does the other person say when you first talk to them? "umm sorry I dont have insurance"?
James
Last edited by JTS97Z28; 09-07-2011 at 10:25 PM.
09-07-2011, 10:45 PM
#37
I saw JMiller... Then first pic of this pretty ass TL that I love so much.. Then read and scrolled and shit... Glad you ok... No matter what I will always love this car from the color to the way you built it.. Good luck with everything..
