Post #275,754
12/14/06 2:51:56 AM
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They totalled our Grand AM....and I had to agree
Hey all,
Just popping in to let you all know that on Tuesday evening, (Dec 12th), we learned that Galaxy, our Grand AM GT that was wrecked the day the ice storm started, is a total loss. :(
I went and saw the car today, and the frame is just crushed under the trunk bed and the wheel well is crushed into the trunk. Also the rear spindle, (which serves as an axle did on older cars), is cracked completely in half. It was a really hard decision to make, but the car does not look safely repairable, and the repairman was iffy about it and not terribly comfortable with it being a good solid safe repair. I had to agree, despite wishing it could be otherwise. So I did my best to accept that repairing it was not an option. :(
I test drove several cars today, including the 2006/2007 Pontiac G6 which replaces this car on the Pontiac line, the Chevy Malibu which was awful, and the 2006/2007 Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300 line. Most of the cars I test drove have almost no hood that is viewable from the driver's seat, which was a problem for me, but the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 did. I was able to gauge road position from some points and gadgets on the hoods of both the Dodges/Chryslers and the G6s, but the G6 made me far more nervous, as I'm used to some sort of hood reference for a sightline.
John also test drove the G6 and the Dodge Charger, (which is the cheaper of the Dodge/Chrysler line), and he liked the Charger as well, so we will probably be purchasing one in the near future, I think. We were given a little under $10,000 in settlement for Galaxy, which would make a good downpayment on the Charger, which ran a little more than twice that.
We're still coming to terms with losing the Grand AM GT, me because it was my "dream car" that would someday replace my '68 Fury.... which seems to be invincible; and John because he really didn't want to lose this car, plus he'd just paid it off, so it's been hard at times, but we're coping I guess.
However, all thoughts of preparing for Christmas sort of left me the last couple of days, as all I've been able to focus on is handling this situation. I've kind of lost the Christmas spirit at the moment, I guess.
Thanks, and prayers and support are appreciated and welcome as we handle this car situation.
Brenda
P.S. It's kind of weird. When I was younger, I always dreamed of owning a Dodge Charger, but the one I dreamed of looked nothing like this one. Times really have changed.
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
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"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
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Post #275,755
12/14/06 3:16:40 AM
12/14/06 3:27:07 AM
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Photos of the damage can be seen here
[link|http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/whooty/Owl%20and%20John/|http://smg.photobuck...Owl%20and%20John/]
Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
Edited by Nightowl
Dec. 14, 2006, 03:19:40 AM EST
Edited by Nightowl
Dec. 14, 2006, 03:27:07 AM EST
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Post #275,761
12/14/06 5:22:09 AM
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'He's dead, Jim'
Sorry.. but that's clearly a "salvage title" - a blotch you could never remove from Registration == as regards any future sale or recovery value, after spending (way-too) much, etc.
Luck in the too-many-choices game. Everyone here would have numerous not-GM "solutions" - but that's your business. Note though, just how much-less-than Twenty Thousand Dollars would buy any number of.. as-reliable-as-it-gets kewl cruisers, perhaps 2-3 yo but still with warranty (plus thorough mechanic checkout pre-purchase.)
Fortunately too - every one of those WILL have ABS, and since you live in an ice rink - some of the fancy 'stability control' features, as cover acceleration, along with the braking trajectory: might tickle your fancy.
(It's amazing what can be done now with tons of transistors and hi-pressure hydraulics: to save non-physics students from themselves. Really! - these gadgets have reached the Functional stage.)
Luck,
moi
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Post #275,810
12/14/06 6:34:21 PM
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Reason for GM, etc.
Sorry.. but that's clearly a "salvage title" - a blotch you could never remove from Registration == as regards any future sale or recovery value, after spending (way-too) much, etc. I had to agree Ashton, even though it was a tough call to make. Luck in the too-many-choices game. Everyone here would have numerous not-GM "solutions" - but that's your business. Note though, just how much-less-than Twenty Thousand Dollars would buy any number of.. as-reliable-as-it-gets kewl cruisers, perhaps 2-3 yo but still with warranty (plus thorough mechanic checkout pre-purchase.) The reason for the GM choices is that in regards to purchasing a new car, John has a discount from work on the following cars: GM, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Infinity, Nissan, Dodge, Chrysler, & Jeep. We have discussed a used car option, but our biggest problem is we don't have a lot of time to locate a car before he goes on after-hour support (Dec 20th until Dec 28th), so we are trying to find something fast as he will need to be able to leave if he's called in. We are currently paying for the rental ourselves, so it's not logical to keep it either, however, I don't know for sure what will happen. I know the insurance company told him they would personally bring his check by his work tomorrow to get it to him in as expedient a manner as possible, so that's where we are at this point. Appreciate all the input though, and we are still considering a lot of options, just leaning towards the Dodge Charger as it seems to solve both my needing to have sight lines on the hood issues and his specific needs as well. Fortunately too - every one of those WILL have ABS, and since you live in an ice rink - some of the fancy 'stability control' features, as cover acceleration, along with the braking trajectory: might tickle your fancy. Oh yes, this Dodge Charger we drove has a fancy allspeed traction system, and the St. Louis Police department rated it the best car for getting around in the ice storm we had a couple weeks back, not bad, huh? Me, I just want a car I feel comfortable with, that feels heavy enough and hugs the road, and that I can see some semblance of hood through the windshield in. :) Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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Post #275,820
12/14/06 9:15:17 PM
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Will agree on the 'sight lines' problem.
One of my not-so-minor nits with the fancy Acura Plutocrat is precisely that lack, both front and rear. A group pointed out a eBay sale (one-only = sold) of a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) option on their version of my car; (the phenom is exaggerated too, by the length of hood necessary for a long fwd-5-cyl engine underneath):
A Pop-up, illuminated fibreglass rod! called a 'bumper pole' - you can locate it on front bumpers or rear (or both) depending on what bugs the most. A little bit of wiring fiddle - and an indicator + switch, in cockpit. I do miss the compact size + visibility of the Saab - but the later models were way off my radar for many reasons.
Quite right that these modrin copy-cat 'sleeky look-alikes' completely ignore this absence of all refs, as the hood just drops away and rear is masked by wide pillars. I just may try to run down another kit from that seller; it's at least an Interesting solution.. Hmmm - if you end up with a !=Dodge, you might want a JDM kit too, for some other sleek thang. I have Seller's data.
I.
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Post #275,879
12/15/06 11:26:45 PM
12/15/06 11:35:08 PM
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Thanks, Ashton!
I'll certainly keep the option in mind. I didn't have much trouble driving the Charger, so I think I'll wait and see how it goes once I actually have some driving experience with it, but that sounds like a neat item to use for a sight line!
Edit: As an aside, one of the dealers we saw, (Pontiac dealer), told us this older lady wanted to buy one of their newer cars, but insisted that she would only buy it if they got a specific hood ornament and mounted it exactly where she wanted it. And they did! ;)
Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
Edited by Nightowl
Dec. 15, 2006, 11:35:08 PM EST
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Post #275,771
12/14/06 8:23:57 AM
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Not a smart repair. You're doing the right thing.
Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry.Adrian Belew
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Post #275,772
12/14/06 8:32:55 AM
12/14/06 8:34:49 AM
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What? No Lexus?
For your insurance money (assuming 2nd-hand values are about the same here as there), you could get a nice GS300:
[link|http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/118826.htm|http://www.pistonhea.../sales/118826.htm]
Comfy as you like, auto for the non-manual-driver, will never break, superb spec.
Think laterally.
Peter
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Use P2P for legitimate purposes!
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Edited by pwhysall
Dec. 14, 2006, 08:34:49 AM EST
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Post #275,781
12/14/06 10:48:26 AM
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the charger is nice but pricey
currently though chrysler is offering the dealers incentives 7k off sticker on 2006 models plus the 1k discount on various models. Talk to the dealer and see if he has access to those deals.
thanx,
bill
Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 51 years. meep
reach me at [link|mailto:bill.oxley@cox.net|mailto:bill.oxley@cox.net]
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Post #275,878
12/15/06 11:24:57 PM
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Re: the charger is nice but pricey
currently though chrysler is offering the dealers incentives 7k off sticker on 2006 models plus the 1k discount on various models. Talk to the dealer and see if he has access to those deals. We actually got a really nice deal tonight on a 2007 Charger. :) We talked to the dealer and got a nice financing deal plus John's employee discount, so it was well under $25,000 or so. We get to hopefully purchase the car tomorrow, the exact model, color and features we wanted were all available in a car on another lot. John got his insurance check today, (they personally delivered it to him at work), and we did some of the paperwork tonight. I still miss Galaxy from time to time, and probably will for awhile, but hopefully this new car will work out okay. :) Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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Post #275,790
12/14/06 11:10:38 AM
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Given the damage, "totalled" is a good thing.
Good luck in your car hunt. Take a look at some Japanese names for economy and reliability.
Alex
When fascism comes to America, it'll be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis
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