MSP vs. deer dashing across road ...

[livelyjay]

The MSP wins, but not unscathed ...

So on my way home last night from my friends rehearsal dinner, I smacked into a deer. Not too much damage, but it punctured the radiator so I couldn't drive it home. Here are some pictures:

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_2296.jpg

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_2297.jpg

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_2298.jpg

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_2299.jpg

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_2300.jpg

[evilmonkeyMSP]

that sucks...I'll take having to dodge armadillos and raccoons over deer anyday...

[Rotary_Powered]

Looks like you'll need a new radiator, radiator support, grill, hood, the bumper actually looks pretty good. Not too much damage all things considered.

[We Are Ninja]

Did it kill the deer?

[livelyjay]

I have no idea. The deer was running across the road at full tilt, hence why I had no time to react. It flew into the underbrush and it was pitch black out, no idea if it lived.

The front bumper is cracked all the way through on the drivers side of the grill, so it needs to be replaced. I'll take another picture of that. The paint on the front lip is cracked all over the place from the impact, so it will need to be replaced or just repainted. I also lost the fog light hole grill piece.

[livelyjay]

Looks like you'll need a new radiator, radiator support, grill, hood, the bumper actually looks pretty good. Not too much damage all things considered.
Don't forget about the passenger side fender ...

[livelyjay]

I guess I can't claim the MSP won, since I have no idea if the deer was killed. I'll call it a draw just to be on the safe side.

[magnumP5]

God those pics look eerily familiar. I can say for one thing though rear of Acura TSX > MP5T so does that mean Acura TSX > deer? LOL! Sucks about the radiator though - that was the one thing I was fortunately enough to not break. I'd definitely check all the fans as well. Guess it's time for a CF hood now?

[We Are Ninja]

That blow. Thank God for insurance.

[livelyjay]

God those pics look eerily familiar. I can say for one thing though rear of Acura TSX > MP5T so does that mean Acura TSX > deer? LOL! Sucks about the radiator though - that was the one thing I was fortunately enough to not break. I'd definitely check all the fans as well. Guess it's time for a CF hood now?
I have an electric fan in front of the AC condenser, but it is fine. Stock radiator fan looks fine too. No CF hood. I run SCCA and CF hood puts you in street mod, which is a money pit class to run in. My deductible is $250 for comprehensive so I'm happy that I'll only owe that much for how much this is looking to cost.

The sad thing is I am likely going to miss the event next weekend because I doubt my car will be done in time.

Does anyone know if they have to pull the AC condenser to replace the radiator support? I hope so, because I still have the full length P5 condenser in there from the previous owner (replaced stock stuff with P5 radiator and condenser when he went with FMIC). I have the stock MSP condenser sitting in my garage. This would be a great excuse to get that installed for free and not have to pay to have my AC recharged. Hell, if I know they pull the condenser I may just install the stocker before they tow it to the shop.

[magnumP5]

I have an electric fan in front of the AC condenser, but it is fine. Stock radiator fan looks fine too. No CF hood. I run SCCA and CF hood puts you in street mod, which is a money pit class to run in. My deductible is $250 for comprehensive so I'm happy that I'll only owe that much for how much this is looking to cost.

The sad thing is I am likely going to miss the event next weekend because I doubt my car will be done in time.

Does anyone know if they have to pull the AC condenser to replace the radiator support? I hope so, because I still have the full length P5 condenser in there from the previous owner (replaced stock stuff with P5 radiator and condenser when he went with FMIC). I have the stock MSP condenser sitting in my garage. This would be a great excuse to get that installed for free and not have to pay to have my AC recharged. Hell, if I know they pull the condenser I may just install the stocker before they tow it to the shop.
Yeah, they should drain and pull the A/C condensor as well. That's what they did for me. Kind of unsettling seeing the front of your car as a big hole.

[livelyjay]

Yeah, they should drain and pull the A/C condensor as well. That's what they did for me. Kind of unsettling seeing the front of your car as a big hole.
Sweet. I'm going to sneak in there and put the stock condenser, line, and bracket and line up the SMIC correctly and get the stock bracket in place before the adjuster looks at it.

It could have been worse, and I am glad it wasn't. Had it been worse, I would have been out of a car for a while because there aren't many MSPs out there for sale right now, and I would want another one.

[livelyjay]

Yeah, they should drain and pull the A/C condensor as well. That's what they did for me. Kind of unsettling seeing the front of your car as a big hole.
What was the lead time on getting your car fixed?

[livelyjay]

The adjuster just called. They are going to tow it to a shop that's close by (3.5 miles) and he's going to take a look at it on Monday. No chance in hell this is getting fixed by Sunday next week (pissed)

[magnumP5]

What was the lead time on getting your car fixed?
I got it to the shop exactly two weeks ago but I had issues with the towing service and my insurance so it wasn't looked at and estimated until the next Monday. The shop didn't finish until this Wed but they ran into problems with the headlights and we didn't discover one of my broken fans until last Thurs. If it weren't for the last two things, my car probably would have been done Mon or even last Fri. I still don't have her back though as she went right to an alignment shop and tonight she's hopefully going in for an inspection (that should be fun).

[joesmazdaspeed]

thas a bummer man i had the same thing happen but i was only goin 40 and threw the ebrake on and put the car in the ditch and erthing was a ok hope erthing goes ok with the fix

[livelyjay]

So I got the final verdict from the collision shop yesterday, but they can't start work till I sign the papers tomorrow.

New bumper cover
Fix right fender
New hood
New grill
New grill trim
Fix front lip
New radiator support
New radiator
New AC condenser
Blend paint with drivers fender

Grand total: $3400

[magnumP5]

So I got the final verdict from the collision shop yesterday, but they can't start work till I sign the papers tomorrow.

New bumper cover
Fix right fender
New hood
New grill
New grill trim
Fix front lip
New radiator support
New radiator
New AC condenser
Blend paint with drivers fender

Grand total: $3400
Man, it got the radiator and the A/C condensor? Aside from those two items the repair list looks similar to mine (except I had headlamps in there). That's more than I paid though - after two supplemental repairs my total was around $3000.

[livelyjay]

Man, it got the radiator and the A/C condensor? Aside from those two items the repair list looks similar to mine (except I had headlamps in there). That's more than I paid though - after two supplemental repairs my total was around $3000.
I'm actually glad it got the AC condenser because now I get a brand new stock MSP one that will fit as designed with the SMIC, instead of the full length P5 one that was on there before. I actually have a used replacement sitting in the back of the car, but I figure I'll just have them put a new one in while they are at it.

[pluto316]

Poor deer. :(

[livelyjay]

Whoops, that estimate is wrong. They calculated it for non-MSP items and they didn't include the radiator on it either. Not sure if the radiator did get messed up, but the AC condenser for the MSP is a lot more than the one for the regular Protege. So this could jump over $4000.

[Jackelope]

same thing happened to mine... quoted everything like a normal protege (car ended up being totaled) - wanted to give me like $12k? i had bought the car 50 miles before the accident for $16k.. ended up w/ $20k ;)



Whoops, that estimate is wrong. They calculated it for non-MSP items and they didn't include the radiator on it either. Not sure if the radiator did get messed up, but the AC condenser for the MSP is a lot more than the one for the regular Protege. So this could jump over $4000.

[livelyjay]

Yeah, I am in discussions with the collision shop too. I have a stock MSP condenser in the back seat, along with the bracket and line. He asked me a few times if I wanted to use it, I mulled it over, then said yes. Then he said it would not be covered under warranty if they did not supply the part.

Hmmm, let me think about it .... cut the insurance company a break and use my own part versus $430 parts .... not get a warranty .... YEAH RIGHT!

He also said this may get sticky since I have a non OEM condenser in there right now (you can see my ghetto rigged SMIC from the picture) but I want the stock one to replace it. I may be worried about nothing, but they might also just put it back to the way it was exactly before the wreck. This shop sounds like they want to do things by the book, which I think is great, but I might not get what I want (fully stock AC system).

In the end if they get a regular Protege condenser like is in there right now, then I'll just put the stock one I have in and pay to have a shop recharge the system. Anyone know how much that would cost?

[livelyjay]

Month later, still no car. The shop was backing it out last week when the brakes failed and the car dragged along a dumpster on the same side of the car that was sideswiped over a year ago. Talked to the shop last night, they said the front brake lines were both shot, but the rears looks brand new. This is surprising as they are fairly new Russell stainless lines. The shop is replacing the two fronts with rubber lines free of labor charge. Now I have to decide if I want to replace all four with new stainless lines, leave it how it is, or replace the rears with rubber lines.

Here's the synopsis of the three different economy rental cars I have had through this whole experience:
2006 Ford Focus
- Pros: Good acceleration, comfortable seats, not too shabby interior, good trunk space, stable at highway speed, decent gas mileage
- Cons: High seating position feels like a truck, turn signal indicator makes me want to slit my wrists, it is sooooooo annoying
2006 Chevy Cobolt
- Pros: Ummmmmm, none? Maybe the lower seating position
- Cons: Ummmmmm, everything? Seriously, this car sucks and I can't see why anyone would buy one.
2007 Hyundai Elantra
- Pros: Comfortable, roomy, best interior of the three, Aux input for MP3 players, great gas mileage, decent pickup for the size of the car, trunk is huge
- Cons: Transmission doesn't shift as well as the other two cars, higher seating position, suspension feels slightly sloppy, but it's not like this is an autocross car.

[Smus]

That really sucks that it has to go back in...geez, a month without your car, that would really suck.

Hope everything turns out alright

[Arok22]

That really sucks that it has to go back in...geez, a month without your car, that would really suck.

Hope everything turns out alright
Yeah, this happend to me once. I had to drive around a ford focus too. I hated it the whole month I had to do it. I felt like a grandma and I could see everyone laughing at me as they drove by.(sad1)

I hope it all works out for you soon. I would hate to be without my MSP for a month.

[livelyjay]

The worst part is I go in for knee surgery on Monday. So I won't be able to drive for at least another 3 weeks after that, so another four weeks from now without being able to drive my car. That will be a total of almost 8 weeks without it. I'm going to be pretty raw for the auto-x on the 26th, if I can even drive. I am hoping my knee is recovered enough by then that I can drive with the brace.

[Jackelope]

8 weeks.. thats like.. umm. forever!

[Arok22]

8 weeks.. thats like.. umm. forever!

FFFFOOOOORRRRREEEEEVVVVEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (msptitani

[livelyjay]

Forever, and ever, and ever

No MSP and no Zoom Zoom make Jason go .... something .... something

[livelyjay]

FINALLY got my car back today. I should have had it yesterday, but they found out the radiator was leaking so they had to order a new one. The guy that came with when the dropped it off told me how frustrated he was with the people ordering parts. At least three times they ordered parts and did not specify it was for a Mazdaspeed. So when the radiator was leaking he ordered it himself so there would be no confusion and they got it back to me in one day.

Of course the second I got outside to check things out, while on crutches mind you because of the knee surgery, it starts raining. So I can't really look the car over very well. First glance, looks like they did a good job. The grill looks like it's sitting out a bit too far, but I am sure that can be fixed pretty easily. They also replaced my corroding Mazdaspeed badge, maybe it got messed up when the hit the dumpster. I'll get a closer look at it over the weekend and take some pictures.

[RacerXGirl]

Glad you got your baby back!

[livelyjay]

After further inspection, the car looks good. There is a paint chip in the right rear quarter panel that wasn't there before however, and the parts that I had in the passenger compartment are missing. They also did not give me the faulty brake lines like I asked. Of course no one answered my call today so this may not get sorted out till next week. Oh how I love how this shit just continues to go on forever.

http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_5701.jpg
http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_5702.jpg
http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jasonoff/pictures/cars/2003msp/20070628-accident/IMG_5703.jpg

[~JoJo~]

damn..at least check for some deer burger.

[livelyjay]

So here's the list of things still wrong with the car:

- Two paint chips on the passenger side of the car that weren't there when I took the car in.
- A few gouges by the Mazdaspeed badge, likely from when they pulled the original off. Not too bad because they painted over it so there isn't any open paint
- Two screws/bolts lying in my rear passenger compartment floor, no idea where they go
- The black lining by the front driver's side window has a gouge in it
- There is more air coming in the driver side door than when I took it in
- The stock Kenwood player has stopped working (this may be just the fault of the unit, but somehow I doubt it)

[Arok22]

That really sucks!! Sounds like you have learned a couple lessons.

1. Don't hit a deer
2. Find the best body shop in your town. If you did take it to the best one..... I'm very sorry.

I know some of you guys out there really don't have much selection when it comes to autobody, but doing homework to select the best will certainly pay off.

I hope you get everything fixed bro and good luck. I hate crappy autobody shops.

(hand)