Elise wreck...

[habendanio]

Sorry about your accident. Hard to say how much it would cost but I know if it's declared a total, someone who is willing to do the labor can get a good car.
I had a similar accident last year with a barb wire fence and can feel your pain.
The question I had to ask myself was would I be happy buying a used Elise or can I purchase new if it's totaled? I was lucky, my repairs ended up costing my insurance a little less than 23k.

[Serebo1]

So sorry Shaggy. Been there and I know how traumatic this can be. I'm glad you're OK. I've gotta say total loss, but, in case they give you any hassles, call Lance Coren. You can find him at www.theautoappraiser.com

Good luck!

[MattG]

Sorry to hear about your accident! Good luck getting everything worked out.

[2002 Sexterra]

SHAGGY! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sorry brother... u had such an amzing car blog and great photos up as well... i hope this saga goes painlessly, keep us informed glad your okay


...and on a side note...as KG is no longer a factory option...does this increase my cars value?

[ewalberg]

One thing to keep in mind that a progressive recommended shop just might be the best place to take it... only reason i say so is because for my front clam replacement Chilton Autobody was one of the Allstate recommended shops nearest me and it turns out they're been doing working on them no sooner than they started hitting the road in early 05... LOTS of expereience... they've got clam carnage up in the rafters they keep for posterity and for spare sections if someone wants a cut and past job that's out of pocket (and feasible)...

I think a lot of shops treat you like they'll never see you again... which is often true... in this case service is really good... i suppose they've already learned there's a fair chance in repeat business with a lotus...

(no affiliation by the way)

[rcw82]

Originally Posted by Afgdevil16

As a matter of fact, that is true I will probably be able to buy a used one (30-35k) around November but i am looking for some salvaged ones so I will have extra money to mod

Don't you mean your dad?

[Rugbyduck]

This is terrible! The great pics of your car are still on my computer. My kids laughed in hysterics at the "krypton green reindeer". Glad to see you are fine, but I too would be sick at the thought of my baby gone or getting bent by insurance. Whatever you want to have happen...I hope it does. I'll kiss my car tonight.

[Rugbyduck]

Originally Posted by Afgdevil16

He shdun't be sad cuz his insurance will cover it! He might even have enough money saved to add to what his insurance gives him to buy a brand new Exige S 240!





or he could just find another Lotus like his for around the same price......

And zero brains or tact. Unlike some jerk who treats their car as another in a long line of VINs, some of us, Shaggy included, treat cars like family, paint rooms the same color, give names to their beloved autos and are saddened when events like this happen. I have found those who care about their cars the way Shaggy does is directly proportional to how the same people care about others. I would speculate you know nothing concerning either.

[jkolb]

Spoken like a true Oregonian, RugbyDuck! We'll have to get together sometime - I live in Bend.

Jerry

[NMRJock]

Originally Posted by Afgdevil16

so ur saying you love ur car more than your family? typical "Oregenian" all mof* losers. SERIOUSLY

When did he say that?

I asked in the other thread and I'll ask again. Please keep it civil.

[Randy Chase]

Afg, you are on a very short time here. Please see your pms.

Everyone else, please don't stir it up more.

[shay2nak]

holy sh*t, man!!!! sorry about the car and I'm glad you're ok. The Bishop must be crying right now.

[chuck_risen]

Sorry about your car. I love KG too. Makes me sad to see it in this condition.

[DragonRider1]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

some of us, Shaggy included, treat cars like family, paint rooms the same color, give names to their beloved autos and are saddened when events like this happen.

(Note: looks like Afg is banned and that's not what I am responding to)

My Elise is my trusty steed, my daily driver, and a fantastic adventure companion (especially with my wife along!). The wife loves her just as much. Even going so far as to collect some shadow-boxes, blow up some pics into posters, and dedicate a bathroom and part of a bedroom to her. Yes, my wife is even looking into red and black towels or yellow ones that we can put embroider a Lotus symbol on for the extra bathroom. <grin> I had my last (of 3) Miata for 14 years and it was treated much the same way. Some people just don't get it, some think I'm nuts, but everyone has something they treat as more than just a material good. Thankfully I'm among like-minded people here.

I have found those who care about their cars the way Shaggy does is directly proportional to how the same people care about others.

This is also quite true. A person who cares about nothing, at least from my personal experiance, their quality of life tends to be crap. They may have money. They may have objects, but they have no concept of appreciating what they have. They also tend not to have too many real friends.

Ever wonder who your friends are? Break a leg and become a "temporary cripple!" It didn't happen to me, but to a good friend of ours. He simply couldn't believe how many people came out of the woodwork on our local motorcycle forum to help him out. He's hardly rich (often borderline keeping the roof on his head), but he has a personality, affection, and appreciation for everything that is infectious. No matter how bad your day is going, he's the type of personality that makes it seem like everything will be alright.

Another way to figure out what kind of person you are is how you treat people during the daily mundane sort of things. Whenever I am doing something as simple as checking out of the grocery store, ordering a burger at the local fast food place, or dining out and dealing with a waiter/waitress, I figure if I don't find some way to lighten their day and make them genuinely smile or have a good laugh, then I failed. That's just me.

Knowing how much Shaggy cared for his car and that it is (by all apperances) gone, it is hopefully just a matter of time before he has the opportunity to start a new relationship with another car. An equal car. It may have more, it may have less, but no one ever forgets their first real partner. Here's to a fallen friend and a new one to come...

[dbisbee]

+1 That was nice! Sorry Shaggy about your loss, but that last post from DragonRider1 shows that good can come out of everything. I am trying to say this forum tends to bring such nice soul to the net.

Sharing the PASSION

[coolingmist]

Originally Posted by jasperw4

Sorry for your loss Shaggy. Besides the clams the front crash structure will need to be replaced which is not only an expensive part but also labor intensive. If that doesn't total her, if the suspension pickup points on the rear chassis are damaged that will do it. Coolingmist... 16k to just replace a cosmetically damaged clam sounds totally out of line, was there any other damage? (radiator, crash structure, headlamps?)

crash structure was about $2400 of that, they had to put the star shield back on, the radiator was damaged.

It was funny cause from the outside, it just had a 4 X 4 hole in the front where a hitch hit it. I failed to mention the crash structure it was knicked, they said it needed replaced.

Also, remember the clam is something like $4500 or so from Lotus, but the shop put a 25% markup that as they need to profit on the parts as well.

David

[Cardinal]

Terrible news Shaggy, but at least you're OK. Hope you get back in the saddle again soon!

[Shaggy]

Quick update...

Right now it looks like it's probably going to be fixed. It's being transported to a second repair facility that has already done their homework on the construction of the car and has been highly recommended by two different collectors in the area. The repaired a McLaren SLR for one of them so I feel pretty comfortable with them. These photos are from the first collision center...









The damage looks to be completely superficial so far with the right rear toelink piece being the only damaged suspension component. Both front & rear clams will need to be replaced, the entire car will most likely be repainted, the right rear wheel has a crack in it and will be replaced, crash structure, etc... I'll post a rundown of parts, prices and labor once the final estimate is together and try to keep everyone up to date with photos as the work is done.

Side note, if it does in fact get repaired I'll probably take the opportunity to have the seam in the front clam (under the headlights) filled in and a few small pieces replaced with newer ones. Trying to make lemonade here

[Bavarian Motorist]

Good for you. Is that the SLR in the background?



I'm surprised all that damage wouldn't total it. It must be at least $20,000 in damages if not more.

[Shaggy]

Time for an update and the ending of it all...

The car was taken to the second repair facility only to immediately be moved to Progressive's holding center in Cincinnati. It appears that once they finally looked at it in person they decided to take it seriously (ie, stop suggesting Honda collision centers). They called in someone from MAG in Dublin Ohio (our service dealer), Lotus USA as well as a few specialized adjusters. Within a day or so it was deemed a total loss. The initial "actual cash value" they sent to me was about $31,125 or so.

Honestly I would have halfway expected this based on the used Elise market right now (along with the current economy in general) but I had one thing on my side, their preferred repair center (Honda collision shop) that first looked at the Elise had printed out the NADA value for the car and gave me a copy of it. The "Average" price listed was about $39,125 or so. I called my adjuster and faxed him a copy of that and within 24 hours had an agreement for a final settlement of about $41,500 (NADA + 6% sales tax refund).

I figured that was about the best I could hope for so I agreed and headed up the next morning to pick up my check and grab a few things out of the car (radio, Zoom mirror, etc). When I arrived I noticed that they had never taken the rear of the car apart, meaning that the front damage combined with just the rear clam was enough to total it. I'm still waiting on the final write up of costs & whatnot but once I get it I'll post it.

So yeah, these are officially the last photos of that Elise...






That same day I was actually leaving for Gulf Shores Alabama. I had seen a Laser Blue Elise (my other favorite color choice) just over the Florida state line from Gulf Shores so I figured I'd take my checkbook and go check it out. Arrived at "Diamond Motors" in Pensacola only to find a bunch of (what looked like) auction cars that were filthy and not in the best shape, but no Elise or Exige, both of which were still (and still are!) advertised on Autotrader. The smug owner laughed about it and blew us off, ignoring my statement that we tried to call 5 times and had sent numerous emails. I got the strong feeling that the owners purposely left flashy cars (not many Lotus' in that area at all) on there to help attract attention to their little lot. So yeah, if you are ever in the market for a car and find one at Diamond Motors in Pensacola Florida, stay away from it. Honestly I probably would have went home empty handed any way if the Elise had been anywhere close to the condition of the other gems on the lot. The owner was nice enough to mention that he was getting another Elise in week or two, I'd almost guarantee it's a Krypton Green Elise with fresh paint...

Over the next week or two I dug around online and looked at several other Elise/Exiges as well as some alternative cars. While looking at E30 M3s I came across another one of my long time favorite cars/colors. That particular car had already sold but I did find another nice one in Birmingham Alabama, which is where I just arrived home from....



I'm now the proud owner of a 2001 BMW M3 in Laguna Seca Blue. It was obviously quite a bit less than my settlement but I'll toss the extra in savings after a few small modifications. It's a totally different beast than the Elise. The Elise is/was more fun to drive and offered a MUCH purer experience but this is still a great experience. I don't have to feel guilty about driving this as much (almost had a complex about driving the Elise daily for the most part) and it will be a little easier on trips. Insurance is a little cheaper and it will be easier to fly under the radar now

With that said, I WILL HAVE ANOTHER ELISE ONE DAY. I guarantee that. This is just a change for a few years but one day I will find "that right Elise" and jump on it. I am by no means jumping ship, more just "visiting an island" for a little bit