Score 2 for Festiva / 0 for Nissan

[1990new]

I vaguely remember saying it, but my wife remembers it vividly and
has repeated it to everyone...the words out of my mouth just before
we smashed into the Nissan... "Oh my poor car!"

Had an accident in my Aqua Festiva yesterday at 3:00PM.
I hit a 2002 Nissan Altima broadside at it's right rear wheel as
it proceeded to pull out from a stop sign directly in front of me.
I was only going about 25 mph and immediately hit the brakes
but there was not enough distance for the Festiva to stop in time.

The Altima spun around and it's left rear hit a 2005 Nissan Maxima
that was stopped at the opposing stop sign.

Both the right rear and left rear of the Altima were smashed and
the left front bumper and fender of the Maxima were smashed.
The Altima's right rear axle was bent and the Maxima's left tie
rod was broke.

Even though the Festivas front bumper was smashed, hood bent,
left parking light broken, left fender dented, AC hose broken off
at the compressor, my radiator remained intact. I had the only
car that was in road worthy condition. I was able to drive away.

My wife has bruises from her seat belt, some neck pain and general
discomfort today, but I appear to be OK for now...

The lady driving the Altima was charged with causing the accident and her
insurance will be responsible.

As long as "my poor car" and Oh...on second thought "my poor wife" are
soon back in perfect condition, I'll be happy.

From personal experience, those Festiva seat belts and bumpers do work
pretty well.

[fastivaca]

Glad to hear no-one was seriously hurt.

Sent from somewhere west of here!

[DriverOne]

I'm glad you're okay! I was about to say that we hadn't spoken in a while, but this is not how I had hoped to mention it!

[SimonTuffGuy]

Hopefully they'll fix you up instead of totaling the car. Glad you and the wife are (mostly) unhurt.

[Flyin4stroke]

Hope you heal from your bruise the wife left hahaha

[GenevaDirt]

sorry to say they will total it unless they are completely different in SC on the insurance laws. But you may be able to buy it back and get a salvage title. Do not let them slide on the injuries either. Wish you the best but I am not very optimistic on the car getting fixed.

[DriverOne]

I can actually input some legitimate knowledge here. In SC, you get market value for your car, i.e., what the cars are going for in auto lots.

[GenevaDirt]

I can actually input some legitimate knowledge here. In SC, you get market value for your car, i.e., what the cars are going for in auto lots.

right....so if it is worth $1,000 and the damage is $2,000...then they total it and you get $1,000

[Prafeston]

I'm pretty sure that's how it works in most states..

[GenevaDirt]

right....so if it is worth $1,000 and the damage is $2,000...then they total it and you get $1,000

I'm pretty sure that's how it works in most states..

BUT...in the state of Ohio...they look at prior damage first and if that adds up enough to total the car...then they do...and do not even get into the damage that was caused by the idiot that hit you or pulled out in front of you.

[kellen302]

Make sure the unibody wasn't tweaked at all, that could make it very difficult to get it back to it's previous condition

[scitzz]

NO! Not a wrecked Festy!

Glad everyone is OK though....

[Skrapbob]

Nice to hear everyone is okay. Mine was totaled for a small dent in the door, because the parts are obsolete.

[1990new]

Nice to hear everyone is okay. Mine was totaled for a small dent in the door, because the parts are obsolete.

Thanks... Hope you were able to buy yours back after the total.

NO! Not a wrecked Festy!

Glad everyone is OK though....

Thanks....This wrecked Festy will definitely stay on the road one way or the other.

Make sure the unibody wasn't tweaked at all, that could make it very difficult to get it back to it's previous condition

Doesn't appear to be any unibody damage. It still drive straight and true.

BUT...in the state of Ohio...they look at prior damage first and if that adds up enough to total the car...then they do...and do not even get into the damage that was caused by the idiot that hit you or pulled out in front of you.

I'm pretty sure that's how it works in most states..

Prior damage is a little dent above the right rear wheel well..don't see how they could consider that.

I will let everyone know how it all comes out. The more Festivas staying on the road the better.

right....so if it is worth $1,000 and the damage is $2,000...then they total it and you get $1,000

I can actually input some legitimate knowledge here. In SC, you get market value for your car, i.e., what the cars are going for in auto lots.

sorry to say they will total it unless they are completely different in SC on the insurance laws. But you may be able to buy it back and get a salvage title. Do not let them slide on the injuries either. Wish you the best but I am not very optimistic on the car getting fixed.

We definitely will wait the full time allowed by law before we sign a release on the personal injury liability. Hopefully only the seat belt bruising and soreness that will heal quickly. Hope they agree to repair it, but if they do total it, I definitely plan to buy it back.

Hope you heal from your bruise the wife left hahaha

We're having fun with it.
We've been married 43 years and she's a quick study. She learned about
men and their cars about 42 years ago. I honestly did not realize that I had said "Oh my poor car" out loud. I told Maureen after the accident that I was thinking it as we were about to hit and she told me that I had actually said it out loud. We just laugh about it together and she has fun telling every one about it.

Hopefully they'll fix you up instead of totaling the car. Glad you and the wife are (mostly) unhurt.

I'm hoping they agree to repair it too. Finally talked to a claims rep this afternoon and I pick up my rental in the morning. I told the rep that I wanted the car repaired and not totaled and she put a note on the claim about my wishes. She said they use a computer program that makes the decisions based on the information input and there was not much leeway. An adjuster is supposed to call me and set up at time for him to come look at the car at my house. She said, based on what he found regarding the overall condition of the car, that he could add additional information that could possibly raise the resale value to a point where they may not have to total it. I just finished putting on a new tail pipe and exhaust last Saturday. It also has new tires, steering rack and front suspension replaced within the last year, the new engine that I put in now has only about 60,000 miles on it. It's not quite as shiny as it is in the pictures that I posted from 2007, but it's still in great shape. So we shall see.

I'm glad you're okay! I was about to say that we hadn't spoken in a while, but this is not how I had hoped to mention it!

Thanks.... No...I've not been on the forum much this Spring and Summer.
Injured my left hip by running a buffer with a sanding pad on it for 4 hours straight a few weeks ago..was helping my son grind the adhesive off of his concrete porch where carpet had been glued to it. That's slowing me down so I will probably be on the forum more this Fall and Winter. Have an appointment with an orthopedist next week. Hope he can make the pain go away without surgery.

Glad to hear no-one was seriously hurt.

Sent from somewhere west of here!

Me too...my wife was feeling better today. She though about seeing a doctor about the bruises and the neck pain yesterday but she said it felt better today.

[crazyrog17]

Firstly: I'm sorry to hear you got in an accident! I can't believe the Altima moved when a FESTY hit it but, dang! Glad to hear you two are alright. I think I might have said something a little more obscene but everybody's different hahaha.

Now this:

I told the rep that I wanted the car repaired and not totaled and she put a note on the claim about my wishes. She said they use a computer program that makes the decisions based on the information input and there was not much leeway. An adjuster is supposed to call me and set up at time for him to come look at the car at my house. She said, based on what he found regarding the overall condition of the car, that he could add additional information that could possibly raise the resale value to a point where they may not have to total it.

... makes me feel better. I don't know how much you all value your cars but they're quickly becoming extinct. There's nothing like a Festiva out there. I call it my road legal go kart, others might call it a collector's car at this point. They're more valuable than "fair market price" lists them. Proving to the insurance adjuster the value of the car is closer to fair than an immediate markup to 'totaled'. Where else can you get bulletproof reliability and fuel economy for such a low cost?

Hope everything turns out alright