Tag: car-tipping

So, perhaps you’re thinking of tipping a car? Perhaps a small Honda? Perhaps you wonder how much of the car would be damaged? Here’s the estimate from the body shop:

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Been doing some more musings on replacement cars… this is a bit long, and a lot of it is for my reference.

Honda Fit. I’m still trying to decide between the base trim and the sport trim. The sport trim adds some options I want (200w AM/FM/CD with Aux jack, alarm system, perhaps cruise control), but a lot of stuff I don’t (fog lights, spoiler, 15″ wheels, leather steering wheel, shift controls on wheel)… and costs a little over $1,200 more (the base is $14,036 invoice/$14,650 MSRP; the sport is $15,297 invoice/$15,970 MSRP). If I went with the base, I’d want the following dealer-installed options [more info on each] (which I can’t price easily): Locking Fuel Filler Cap, Security System With Remote Entry*, Apple^® iPod^® Music Link^® [if this is what adds the “Aux” port]*, Floor Mats, Cargo Cover, and the Cargo Tray [*d items are standard on the Sport]. I don’t know what this would add to the price. I think the choice will boil down to what is available on the lots, as this car is in short supply. Most of the standard stuff is just fine (including a decent sound system). It also has a 5-* safety rating. It does have a Drive-By-Wire Throttle System(TM) Drive-By-Wire Control for Throttle, which makes us a little nervous (same reason we don’t like Airbus), but I think all cars are heading in this direction. The Fit also has a lot of different modes, which give it quite a lot of space.As for colors: I’m thinking (in order): Taffeta White w/Beige Int., Lunar Mist Mettalic w/Beige Int., Storm Silver w/Black Int., or Vivid Blue w/Black, Reading the reviews on Yahoo, there may be some first model year problems, but those are usually the outlyers.

Toyota Matrix. This car is slightly more expensive, gets slightly lower gas milage, but is roomier and heavier. It has a fair number of standard features, but we would need to add a lot of options that drive up the price: 4-Speed Automatic Transmission With Overdrive, Vehicle Stability Control System, 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes, possibly Cruise Control, Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Tire Pressure Monitor, Intermittent Rear Wiper/Washer, Power Package, … plus the following dealer accessories: Toyota Vehicle Intrusion Protection (V.I.P.), Carpeted Floor Mats, Cargo Organizer, and a Cargo Cover if they have it. According to Edmunds, this brings the cost of the vehicle to $17,986 invoice, $19,712 MSRP. Reading the reviews, they seem to be mostly good, with the occasional problems. I’ll note this is the same thing as the Pontiac Vibe, but the Matrix has a lower invoice price. The Vibe may have incentives, but I’m not sure they would offset the difference.

Scion xB. An odd looking car, very boxy. Very in with the “kids”. Inside, it is surprisingly roomy in the passenger area, although there is very little storage in the bag. To fit in my tubs of games, I would have to fold down the seats. The base car is a little cheaper than the Fit, but I would need to add an automatic transmission, raising the price a bit to $14,088 invoice, $14,830 MSRP. I’d want to add some dealer accessories: Pioneer^® AM/FM Radio With iPod^® Control, Floor Mats, Fold-Down Center Armrest, Scion Security, Cargo Cover, Cargo Net, and I don’t know the cost of those. The standard features are impressive. The reviews are a bit better than either the Matrix or the Fit, but that could reflect the younger-skew of the Internet (the car is geared towards net-heads).

Here is an overall comparison of all three. You might be wondering which cars were runner-ups. Here’s the list, unordered: Mazda 3 Hatchback [more expensive than the others, slightly lower reliability, built on the Volvo platform and partially owned by Ford]; Toyota Yaris 3-dr Liftback [just too small, and only a 2-door]; Scion xA Hatchback [smaller than the xB, which was borderline]; Scion tC Sport Coupe [although a hatchback, only a 2-door, plus the sporty nature would make insurance higher]; Nissan Versa [although it looks good, it is not quite in the showrooms yet, and Nissan quality of late has been spottier].

What is the timeline for this? This morning, my wife went down to clean the last stuff from the car (I would like to, but that just didn’t work out schedule-wise… and thus, I really don’t get to say “goodbye” to the car… as if it knows). She was also going to post some pictures, which I’ll post as soon as I have them, along with a summary of the damage. The shop has pulled out the aftermarket radio we put in: we might be able to sell that. We’re then planning on releasing the car to the second estimator, who is the one who confirms that it is totalled and comes up with the initial offer. We expect to counter that initial offer with evidence of excellent maintenance, low milage, etc, which should raise it some. Once we know it is totalled for sure, we’ll start going out to actually buy the new car (we don’t need to wait on the check; we’ll just deposit that back into whatever account from which we pay for the car). The only time-limiting factor is that we only have the rental for 3-days after they give us the check. My guess, since I’m working from home Wednesday next week, is that will be the day we’ll go get the new car, if we have found the right dealer and the price.

Now, about that last sentence. Given that AAA is our insurance and they work with car dealers on replacement cars, our first line of attack will be to work with AAA and our favorite Honda and Toyota Dealers. We will have researched the invoice price, and will also contact fleet managers (faxing all local dealers) with offers. We’ll also work through the credit union fleet office. We may also go the internet query route (which is much easier now than in 1999 when I purchased the Civic).

So that’s what I know at this point.

I’ve calmed down a bit, so…

Actions have impacts. We’re all taught that. To those who think vandalism is harmless, think again.

Monday morning I awoke to find that someone had “tipped” my car, a 1999 Honda Civic DX Hatchback with around 66K miles on it, onto the driver’s side. I found this because two friendly LAPD officers were at my door, alerted to the problem by our neighbor across the street who saw four teens doing it at 4:15am that morning. The police took the report, and AAA towed the car to their repair shop. It was then quaranteened until fingerprints were taken. They were taken yesterday (they supposedly got a good set), and the estimator looked at the car today. I don’t have the full verdict, but suffice it to say it is totalled. Evidently the B pillar (i.e., the roof support between a car’s front door window and rear side window) was crushed (which implies roof damage). This destroys the structural integrity of the car. I also know there was damage to the front quarter panel. The amount of damage to the car was thus greater than the wholesale blue-book (or at least that’s what it appears right now), totalling the car.

So, what did this “innocent” prank cost. Well, we’re going to have to replace the car. We’re going to have higher insurance payments. We’re going to have higher registration. We won’t have car payments, but that’s simply because I’m able to pay cash for the new car — we will, however, lose the income producing value of that money (so it is the same as payments, but at a lower interest rate). The gross cost, not counting what we’re likely to get from the insurance company? Probably around $20K, if not more, plus their expenses. We’ll probably get the retail replacement cost for our old car, which will amount, if we’re lucky, to perhaps $7K.

If we find the perpetrators, what will this “innocent prank” cost them? It is Felony Vandalism under California Penal Code 594(b)(1). According to the code, as the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, they could face a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or both fine and imprisonment of up to a year. My understanding is that a felony conviction will stick with them: it will prevent them from jobs requiring bonding, likely teaching, certainly getting a clearance. Additionally, we will certainly file a civil suit against them. There goes college.

All from an “innocent” prank.

We’re lucky. No one was physically hurt. We’re financially able to replace the vehicle quickly, although the funds will reduce savings some. The car was paid off, so we won’t have the effect of two payments. Others I know wouldn’t be so lucky. An incident such as this could through their entire lives in turmoil. They might lose their own transportation to work; their only way to transport their children to daycare.

Again, all from an “innocent” prank. Major impacts on lives.

Before you think of doing something potentially stupid, be it cow-tipping, toilet papering, tagging, prank phone calls, or even getting behind that wheel after having a belt or two: think about the potential impact you might have one someone else. The life you save may just been your own.

So where do we go from here. This evening we test drove potential new cars (I haven’t had good experience buying used). The candidates, in order, are:

1. Honda Fit. We drove the Fit this evening and were really impressed; it reminded me a lot of the Civic. Lots of storage space, a peppy engine, familiar controls. Basic specs: In-Line 4-Cylinder 16-Valve SOHC VTEC 1.497cc displacement. HP is 109 @ 5800 rpm. Turning diameter is 34.3ft. Milage is 31mpg city, 38mpg highway. Headroom is 40.6″ front, 38.6″ rear (more headroom stats). MSRP is $13,850. Edmunds shows it as MSRP $14,600, with an invoice of $14,036. Of course, the dealer will try to add options.
2. Toyota Matrix. This had decent storage and was peppy to drive. It has a larger engine (1.8l), is DOHC but not VTEC, has more HP. It is a larger car. It also gets lower mpg, and costs more. The base MSRP according to Edmunds is $16,060, with an invoice of $14,854. By the time we add the options we want, it comes to $17,150 ($15,893).
3. Scion xB. A peppy, sporty, wagon. Very comfortable and good visibility. We didn’t like the storage space in the rear. Edmunds shows the pricing as $15, 530 MSRP, $14,628 invoice.

Once we have confirmation from insurance that the car is indeed totalled, I think we’re going with a Fit. Sigh. I hadn’t expected to be buying a new car for a while.

&*(#$@# Vandals. The “B” Pillar is crushed. They are totalling it.

Expect a detailed rant. Needless to say, I’m pissed. But we’re going out test driving tonight.

Don’t know what I’m talking about. Click on the $#@$ tags.

Well, this morning is starting out better. Both the rental car and the vanpool van are still in front of the house, still on their own four wheels.

This morning, at 5:00am, just after I had assembled breakfast, I noticed two flashlights poking around my front door. Curious, I was moving to turn on the light when the doorbell rang. I was greated by two L.A.P.D. officers, who asked, pointing to the street, “Is this your car?”

Looking through my not-quite-awake eyes, I see some squarish-shape. Thinking it is a van, I say, “No, it’s not.”. They say, “But it’s registered to you.”. I go and investigate.

Someone had tipped my car (a 1999 Honda Civic DX) onto its side (specifically, they appear to have picked it up from the curb and tipped it onto the driver’s side). It looked square because I was looking at the bottom. Our neighbor across the street had called it in; evidently four teenage boys did it around 4:15am (I get up at 4:50am).

I’m still in shock.

All I can guess is that it was some sort of grad-prank. There was no other vandalism to the car. Supposedly, a similiar gang had been tipping over trashcans a few months ago. I never had things like this happen in our old neighborhood — perhaps slime like this only go in the nicer neighborhoods.

AAA has been called; the car has been righted and is being towed to the shop. My wife says there is minimal side damage, other than the mirror. They’ll need to verify the frame is OK, and that the engine hasn’t been mucked up by fluids. Insurance should cover this, although I’m sure we’ll be out a deductable.

Oh, that’s right, happy Monday morning.