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jimlam56
02-02-2007, 06:36 PM
Or, it coulda been better.
One of my 3 teenagers took the MM for a quick trip to Walmart...he's OK.
Took off a bit too fast off the I-10 exit ramp, fishtailed and nailed the guardrail.
Took the 4x4 wooden guardrail post clean off, hitting just left of center of the front of the car.
No air bags, only visible sign is a scuffed up bumper cover.
But...upon closer inspectiion, grille has 3 of 9 mounting points intact, bc has stress cracks, and the front cowl frame is broken.
So I'm looking at about 2 grand worth of parts and paint.
Is this worth putting an insurance claim in, or should I just bite the bullet and fix it myself?
Just worried about the bill goin' up...
MarauderTJA
02-02-2007, 06:41 PM
Damm Jim.....Glad everyone is OK. Personally, I would take the car to someone you know at a body shop and get an estimate. Where did the 2 grand number come from? Make a confirmed decision to go through the insurance or not. Sorry to hear of the misfortune. Was it the blue or silver car?
KillJoy
02-02-2007, 06:45 PM
<$2K....let your son pay it ;)

Turing it in to the Insurance Company will DEFINATELY raise the premium.....knowing that a teenager is driving it, it is fast, and he had an accident.

KillJoy
BAD MERC
02-02-2007, 06:51 PM
Will you guys QUIT wiping these car out? Come ON!!! The picnic is about two weeks away, can we please have Marauders there without bandaids and slings on them?
HwyCruiser
02-02-2007, 06:54 PM
Wow, you've got my vote for Dad of the Year. I would have made the nightly news, and not in a good way either.
jimlam56
02-02-2007, 06:56 PM
Damm Jim.....Glad everyone is OK. Personally, I would take the car to someone you know at a body shop and get an estimate. Where did the 2 grand number come from? Make a confirmed decision to go through the insurance or not. Sorry to hear of the misfortune. Was it the blue or silver car?


List price:
210.03 Grille
419.48 Front Cowl Asmbly
1325.48 Bumper cover
Plus paint for bc and cowl.
It's the SB, as of today the Blue is WChain's property.
Bigdogjim
02-02-2007, 06:56 PM
Agree with TJA, get real numbers then ask your insurance company about your rates, some let you side on one accident.

Glad your boy was OK
KillJoy
02-02-2007, 07:07 PM
some let you side on one accident.

That is true. I wasn't thinking about that.

Always an option :up:

KillJoy
FordNut
02-02-2007, 07:27 PM
Pay it yourself, keep it off the record and save the insurance for a big one.
jgc61sr2002
02-02-2007, 08:58 PM
What is your deductable?
Is you son on the policy?
I would fix it my self and aviod the insurance company. In NY they will raise your rates for 3 - 5 years and make all (and more) of their out lay back.
Jusr my 2 cents.

Also glad there were no injuries.
Good luck with the repairs.
MENINBLK
02-02-2007, 09:06 PM
This is a tough call.
With no other cars involved, your insurance rates will probably not go up.
The problem is that it is still a claim.
It may not raise your rates but the next one definitely will.

If it hasn't been reported, keep it quiet and repair it yourself.
If it has been reported, you have no choice.
Your insurance is going to be contacted by the city to repair the guard rail.
And they WILL come ask you questions about the incident.
the_pack_rat
02-02-2007, 09:30 PM
That sucks.

Put me down for fixing it yourself & keeping the insurance co out of it, if you have the money. Even if you are entitled to (1) freebie ... no point in using your one & only get out of jail free card if you don't have to. As was said ... save that for something far wor$e if it should ever happen.
Hotrauder
02-02-2007, 09:34 PM
Jim, I still say that there is no penalty to talk with your agent about the consequences of filing a claim. You will at least have firm information to deal with as apposed to speculation. Just my 2 cents. Twice. :D Dennis
Vortech347
02-02-2007, 09:48 PM
My dad did the same thing back in december. Except he did it at 50mph and he slid the back of the car right into a pole (05 Roush, my head still hurts from hitting the pillar sideways.) The final bill was 6k. My wife had a deer actually HIT her kia as she was stopped. New bumper cover and hood her bill was 2k.

If its under 2k I strongly recommend doing it yourself and having jr. pay you back. I know my dads rates are going to go up quite a bit from his little incident.

Throw up some pictures. If its cosmetic damage you shouldn't get hit to hard....if there is any "Support" damage it will be expensive.

My dad has told me for years I was going to wreck my mustang. Never did but he gets one and BAM...

Good luck. **** happens. At least everyone was OK and the car isn't to messed up from the sounds of it. Time to load a "teenager" tune on the car to not let it go past 3000rpm.
jimlam56
02-03-2007, 05:00 AM
I have Geico, with a $250 deductible.
Sonny boy is on the policy, until his next birthday.
It was not the same son that totaled the TBird.
There is no structural damage amazingly enough,just need to replace the three parts I mentioned, cowl, grille and bumper cover.
All of which I can install myself.
I'm just wondering if the City is going to contact Geico for repair of the guardrail.
If so, will my rates go up whether I file the claim or not?
Either way, I got very lucky.
He didn't get hurt, and the damage was confined to parts I can unbolt and replace myself.
JMan
02-03-2007, 06:03 AM
Jim,
So sorry! I hope everything works out. No need to consider the insurance until you know the complete cost of repairs and guardrail damage. I presume there was a police report drawn. Best of luck and sorry again!

J
Pops
02-03-2007, 06:52 AM
If there was a police report turned in your ins. company will find out. Ask your agent what will happen if you file a claim, you will probaly be alright on one claim. Good luck as I have been thru this one a couple of times at home and at work[ I also own a body shop] The big thing is that no one was hurt. Remember they have to learn just like we did. I hope that they do not drive like I did at that age!
BlkRauderMatt
02-03-2007, 10:27 AM
Jim's my dad and I am NOT the son that did the damage....

That being said... Yes there was a police report. My brother was also ticketed with careless driving ($120). The accident actually took out two of the wood 4x4 pylons... Hell, pictures are better than words. These pics were taken right at the scene.. I took a total of 48 pictures... (I just wanted to document my brothers first accident!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Marauder/P1300002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Marauder/P1300012.jpg
There's my Sport next to the trooper!! :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Marauder/P1300038.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Marauder/P1300034.jpg
Even the fog light was fine!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Marauder/P1300042.jpg
magindat
02-03-2007, 01:25 PM
You just had that bumper painted!!!!
Bummer.
Glad everyone is OK!
JMan
02-03-2007, 02:44 PM
Hey Matt,
Saw a pic of your tips. Look great! Hows the beast runnin'? With a big brother like you . . .

J
Master
02-03-2007, 03:13 PM
I always had my own beater as a kid. If I broke it, I fixed it. If I hurt one of my folks cars, I paid for it. I had my own job at 15 and it only seemed right that I live my the "You break it, you fix it" philosophy. I'm glad he and the MM are OK, but I really hope your son pays the bill. Insurance companies should be saved for "The Big One". My 2c.
Marauder2005
02-03-2007, 03:57 PM
Three words you will now use.

'Take The Bus.'
Master
02-03-2007, 04:29 PM
It just looks wrong seeing a Marauder disabled like that. I'm glad it drove home. Can't believe it cleaned two posts and didn't set off the airbags or the fuel cut-off. Nice shot with the other MM and the Trooper car side by side.
Glenn
02-03-2007, 04:56 PM
Dad pays the bill for letting his teenage son drive a powerful car. Sorry, Jim don't want to cause :flamer: , but you do not let teenage sons drive a MM. I have two sons of my own and would never let either of them drive my MM even when it was N/A.

Sorry, Dad pays - LOCS.

Glenn
94_302
02-03-2007, 06:02 PM
Glad everyone is ok, for taking out two posts I would have expected more damage. The 2nd pic looks like two FHP vics looking on at a FHP Marauder (because of the cobra badges) People driving by probably thought oh man a cop got into an accident.
jimlam56
02-03-2007, 06:33 PM
Hey Matt,
Saw a pic of your tips. Look great! Hows the beast runnin'? With a big brother like you . . .

J

J, you caught it too...the brotherly love.
Had to tell somebody...:rolleyes:
RedMerc04
02-03-2007, 10:27 PM
Dad pays the bill for letting his teenage son drive a powerful car. Sorry, Jim don't want to cause :flamer: , but you do not let teenage sons drive a MM. I have two sons of my own and would never let either of them drive my MM even when it was N/A.

Sorry, Dad pays - LOCS.

Glenn
I dont know about never throwing a teenager the keys; Ive been driving my MM for 2 1/2 years and not a scratch. I did contribute my life savings to help buy the car but I think that even if it was 100% my fathers that I would still have as much respect as I currently have for it. I think that everybody makes mistakes and gets caught up in the moment at times and that prevents them from thinking clearly no matter their age. Handling a car like this is mostly a maturity thing, maturity and age usually compliment one another but there are exceptions on both ends. I guess im just saying that from a fathers standpoint Id rather thow a mature 17 year old the keys than one of my as*hole 45 year old inlaws...