MattyG

Well as many times as we've had to read these threads on this forum and others on CL - I have now become one of the bereaved members. This afternoon my much loved Lexus GS430 got crunched big time and now I am at a sense of loss.

Scenerio: going along quite nicely at about 50 - 60 km/hr (roughly 35 - 40 mph) and idiot-guy in a pickup decides to make an abrupt u-turn at the head of a line of vehicles as he gets to a T-intersection (meaning you can't turn left there). Two vehicles behind him stop, pickup truck in front of me stops. I stop... and the kid behind me doesn't. I hear a big bang and am thrown back into my seat and headrest. And immediately am crunched straight into the pickup in front of me.

Here's the result of what has happened to my beloved 02 GS430 which has served me so well. Now I don't know if it's fixable or a total write off. All I know is it sucks big time. Arrrggh!

sladkix

iTrader: (2)

definately fixable but I think insurance will probably write it off because body shops will ask way too much to fix it.

kamskeez

Ouch! Sorry to hear, looks to be a loss to me

FiveSeven

iTrader: (3)

i doubt that anyone would fix this.. the frame is probably bent

AmanO

There is no way that damage would cost less than 4k to fix.(Unless you got an estimate from Franks Auto Body and Dentistry)

I would be pretty surprised if it were NOT totaled out.

I assume the airbags did not go off after you made contact with the pickup?

So, in Canada (Specifically Alberta, if the provinces have their own codes), is the kid's insurance automatically paying for all 3 vehicles, or does yours have to cover the one you were pushed into?

mate01

That is really painful to look at.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Ouch. Yeah, that car is done. Glad you are alright!

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

Sorry for the loss, time for a 4gs now though

3stars1sun

Got into a similar accident for 4 months ago. Insurance totaled my GS. Body shop $6k in damages. Had frame damage on it. Glad you're ok. A car will always be replaceable

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Sorry to see that, glad you are OK!

DallasJhwk

Buddy of mine has a body shop. Says his days are numbered. Car manufacturers make cars where parts need to be replaced more than repaired and the costs get so high that the cars get totaled out more than they would have in the past.

MattyG

Thanks guys. Yeah the kid who rear-ended me is likely going to be the one whose insurance is going to have to pay out for my car and the damage to the truck in front of me. At least one of the witnesses in the pickup in front of me thought that the driver was dumping out some sort of Frappachino coffee beverage and I heard him swear big time shortly after I got out of my vehicle. But I don't know if that comes into play.

I'm hoping to hear from my insurance co. tomorrow. I didn't have collision on this car, it's too old. But since it's a no-fault - I am assuming my company goes after his company for my payout. Still sad though. One of the best all around cars with blazing quick performance I've ever had, and I have had quite a few.

JoshDray

Not sure what your laws are like over there, but if you did that in New Zealand you'd be liable for the car in front of you. They say it's because you should've been sitting further back from the car in front of you with your foot on the brakes. Complete BS if you ask me

Sylvan

iTrader: (6)

Sucks to see, not a lot of good condition GSs in Alberta.

MattyG

Yes, this is something I'm concerned about. But the severity of the hit and the fact that witnesses in the truck in front of me are likely going to say that I was fully stopped due to an unusual traffic condition, the onus is on the driver behind me to say that he was merely part of a chain reaction accident and prove it. I think that he has a bit of a driver record because he was on his grandmother's insurance for some reason (he's 22). He also stated right in front of me and the other driver that it was his fault and his insurance was going to end up paying.

Hoping that this is a straightforward process... (yeah right).

Now looking for alternatives. There's a nice black GS400 (better throttle response? Bad balljoints). Or an IS250 AWD for my practical side. Or a Honda Ridgeline. Don't know. Just wish I could keep my GS.