Totaled

Noteworthy Entry

I think there is just something with this time of the year -- it's like the bad drivers come out in full force. This time last year a guy ran a red light and hit me. This year? Rear-ended by a Trailblazer -- and he won.

I was driving down 202 during morning traffic last Wednesday, which with all the construction is pretty much stop-go for the first three miles. Traffic sped up as we passed the construction and we got up to maybe 20mph when we had to stop again; anyone who drives 202 in the morning knows the pattern, you always have to slow down again in the same spot (a spot of frequent accidents, I might add). Apparently the guy tailgating behind me in a Trailblazer didn't know how this works cause he didn't stop. Hit me full force, threw me forward knocking off my glasses and I just missed the steering wheel.

Once you've had one accident you don't get as frazzled the next time (although I wish there wasn't a next time). I was without injury so I did the insurance/police thing. Guy admitted fault and was cited for unsafe speeds or somesuch. Was told to take the car in for repairs at the local auto body shop.

Damage looked bad, but not that bad. I was able to drive it home and then to the auto body shop with no issue. I guessed maybe 6k of damage but there was no way it'd be totaled, blueblook had it worth ~15k still.

So I headed down to Florida for the weekend to visit my mom (a much-needed vacation I've had planned for a few months). Literally right when I got picked up at the airport I got a call from my Progressive rep saying the car was totaled...$14k+ of damage. Damn it!

Fortunately since I had paid off the loan very early and it held its value very well I got a good-sized check for it. I already had a good idea of what car I'd want; Acura discontinued the RSX last year in favor of the redesigned Honda Civic SI. Pretty much the same car as the RSX just a bit faster and not a hatch-back. So called (shameless plug) Jeff at Robert's Honda in Downingtown who was great when Kiera got her car. Set up an appointment for the first thing when I was back in PA on Monday.

He gave me a great deal on the car and I drove it away Wednesday night. With the check from Progressive I had to finance very little, which makes me feel good. It's going to take some getting used to (it's a six-speed as opposed to the five-speeds I've been driving my whole life) but I'm already loving it. It has more power than the RSX did and it feels roomier. It's a bit more sporty than my normal taste (shiny silver metal pedals, etc) but not too over-the-top. Lets just hope no one decides to hit me for a while...

So, that's the new baby. Name to be determined. Not happy that the RSX is gone; I loved that car, but I can't complain about the new one -- it's great.

Posted: April 24, 2008, at lunch time
Tagged: Car, Noteworthy