On her way to work my found herself in the intersection of a figure 8 demolition race. The 80's era Ford Thunderbird (going approx. 25mph) turned and hit the 06 FEH going straight(also going around 25) starting at the drivers side front wheel and ending at the rear fender well. Nobody was hurt but the 20 year girl was still clutching her cell phone, and the wheel with her white knuckles..
The local police said it was clearly the T-bird drivers fault, and both cars ended up at the local Ford Dealer.. They totaled the T-bird but said they could "fix" the FEH with 19,400 or so miles.. AAA is handling the insurance and the Ford Dealer is an affiliate of theirs.. I don't think the car will ever be "right". I drove it down there and even the AC didn't work and it tracked poorly, since the front drivers wheel is pushed/bent back about 2".. Doors and window don't work on the drivers side and there's bent underbody .. I'm
thinking of traded it in on a 08 FEH but don't think we'll get a fair shake from this dealer..
My question is has anybody out there had a similar experience with a fairly new car, also I wonder how the FEH batteries/electronics handle jolts like these?? Sorry about my punctuation and paragraph form..
Thanks
Mike

Glad there was no human damage, though based on my one major car crash experience (at about the same age), it will be real hard for her to drive for a while.

I would not worry too much about the FEH electricals. They will either work fine, or 'throw a code'. Getting the body straightened accurately seems to be the largest problem, so I think you should concentrate on that. Good luck.

DAS

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about the accident:
If you drove away, you're probably in good shape . . . until the rework. The biggest risk is when they do the paint job since sometimes that involves heat, the enemy of electronics. I don't think it is a big risk but otherwise, I suspect the vehicle will be OK . . . but for the accident report.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Be very picky about the finished product. Make sure the insurance company is going to guarantee this HYBRID, that might frighten them into totaling it. Though it may not be 70%of the value to total it. Did they say how much the estimate was?

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG

I absolutely concur. Your biggest problem is not likely to be the electrics or even the drive system. It will be tracking, suspension, steering and and other subsystems associated with wheel alignment. Getting the structural elements back in line after a hit like that is extremely difficult. In the eyes of an insurance company repair might be justified for a newer vehicle but they would replace it in a heartbeat if it was an older one just to avoid the subsequent claims, fights and bad will that comes out of frame/body problems in this type of collision.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

Thanks for your replies...
The Repair estimate from the local Ford dealer is $9583 of which $4322 are parts (28 items listed, pillar/rocker panel was most $418, fender nut $2 least, Conti tires $113 each). I told them I didn't think it would ever be the "same" again, they just shrugg.. AAA is the insurance on the hook and they play hardball.. I told them I didn't want the car back, they could gold plate it and I wouldn't want it back.. It's not up to the dealer anyway.. They let me take home an 08 fully loaded 2wd with a sticker of $32K. I don't think they're going to give us much for a smacked/fixed 06 with 19,900 on the odometer and for sure the 0 percent financing is gone.. The car, in fact, even if repair perfectly
is worth thousands less than it was before the accident..
Not having much fun out here in sunny CA.
Thanks again
Mike

The car should look like it was never wrecked. No hammerd metal, poor fit, obvious repaint, wavyness in the sheet metal. You should be able to open the hood and not see evidence of wreck damage. The car should drive straight. The steering wheel should be centered. With a estmate of $9500 this is not a serious wreck as wrecks go. Did the air bag deploy? I you have an independant mechanic have him look it over esp underneath

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG

You can try to force the at-fault insurance company to pay for your "diminished value."
I've heard of that being done - not sure about its feasibility in CA, though.

Steve

STOP terrorism - Drive a HYBRID

Vehicles:
350 miles a week ------------ 2006 HCH II, Magnetic Pearl, w/NAVI (born on May 25, 2006)
350 miles a month ---------- 2003 Mazda Tribute ES-V6
350 miles a year (for now) - 1986 Mercedes 560SL

Yeah,
The key word being "force" kicking and screaming insurance adjuster..
The local Ford dealer/owner also mentioned "diminished value" so I think he is
willing to work with us.. Only problem is my wife, who drives the car is not so
crazy about the 08 design changes, higher window sills, new grill, interior.. but
I'm getting ahead of myself... Only thing I know for sure is we don't want the
car back...
Thanks
Mike

Hi Mike!
First let me say how grateful I am to hear that your wife is okay. Having been in a similar accident almost 30 years and and then another with alas similar consequences to this one a year ago.

We had hoped to have our 91 Previa minivan fixed even tho it had been seared along the right hand side and pushed in. When I went to a Pacifica body shop that had been recommended to me, the concern the guy mentioned to me is the difficulty in getting the frame and structural items to fix up. Parts would have been challenging but it was getting that to work and even if they are able to, you always wonder and are never really comfy in the car again.

I also highly recommend that your wife see someone to talk out psyche issues. Even tho I was only bruised and whiplashed with no "serious injuries" I hurt like heck for months and was on limited physical activity for several months. Didn't start hurting until about 48 hours later and then it was OUCH! Encourage wife to see someone for a medical evaluation. The adrenaline and shock take that long to wear off. And it took me a long time to be comfy driving again and that is very unusual for someone like me! (see my user name )

Last but not least, it sounds like you have a good case for a personal injury lawsuit claim against this Tbird driver. She was found negligent and is causing you and your wife painm suffering and inconvenience... You might not get hundreds of thousands of $$s but you might get enough to pay off medical bills and help with that downpayment on a new vehicle.

Whoops, not surprised your wife doesn't want to give up her car! Farmers practically had to drag my beloved Previa away from me. I miss her still, but am enjoying my TCH too, especially the better mileage!!

Wishing you both the best!