So my 2018 GT2 AWD was rear ended this weekend. I was stopped in backed up traffic on the highway, heard screeching tires behind me then blam! I’m DEVASTATED, I just bought it in February and was trying to keep it pristine. So I’ve got a claim going and hoping it will be totaled so I can have a “do over” and get another new one, but I’m doubtful that will happen. I’m hoping someone who is mechanically inclined can tell me what parts/systems of the car could have been damaged so I know what to make sure they have looked at to repair? The other car hit me going at least 35 I’m guessing, and he nosedived and went under my rear end. So there’s lots of mechanicals underneath I think could have been damaged. Pics attached of my Stinger and his car for reference. Might be too hard to tell from the pics but i thought it was worth a try.
My precious got rear ended....
- Thread starter Kate
- Start date
Manaz
1000 Posts Club!
Firstly - it's good that you're OK and able to post! If you get *any* neck pain, get that checked out - whiplash can be nasty. Hopefully the other driver is OK as well (and any passengers involved in either car) - mistakes happen, I'm sure there was no malicious intent when the accident occurred.
On the car itself - primarily, bent chassis rails will total a car. Signs of that are doors that are not directly impacted by the crash appearing to "droop" or "sit up" because the chassis itself has bent and the doorframes are now mis-aligned with the chassis.
Otherwise, you're looking at a cost of repair vs cost of replacement calculation.
They're going to need to get the battery/etc out and check the boot/trunk floor underneath, it's likely crumpled (remembering that the boot/trunk is part of a crumple zone designed to absorb crash energy instead of transferring it into the "passenger safety cell").
It looks, at minimum, that you're going to need:
* rear bumper
* rear skirt
* two new mufflers (and confirmation that as they've deflected, they haven't bent the mid-pipes - if so, new mid-pipes as well)
* trunk lid repaired (minor scuffing visible in your shots on the bottom edge)
* A butt-load of clips/connectors/etc
As I said, I suspect the boot/trunk floor will be damaged and will require either panel beating or cutting out and replacing. The whole interior of the boot/trunk (and anything installed in that area - so battery, amp for the stereo, etc) will need to be inspected as well - in a crash, some items may have broken their mounts and come loose.
What I can't see in your shots is the right rear quarter panel - if it's suffered significant deflection, it'll possibly need replacement as well.
All rear suspension and drivetrain should be checked as well - if not for damage, then just for having moved from their stock positions/settings due to the force of the impact.
Get the car to a panel shop that you trust - if you don't know one, ask around (local car enthusiast forums/FB groups are a good place to start).
Best of luck with it! Hopefully if it is repaired they do a damned good job of it. I've had a car in the past damaged and repaired that was never the same after the crash, hopefully you avoid that circumstance!
On the car itself - primarily, bent chassis rails will total a car. Signs of that are doors that are not directly impacted by the crash appearing to "droop" or "sit up" because the chassis itself has bent and the doorframes are now mis-aligned with the chassis.
Otherwise, you're looking at a cost of repair vs cost of replacement calculation.
They're going to need to get the battery/etc out and check the boot/trunk floor underneath, it's likely crumpled (remembering that the boot/trunk is part of a crumple zone designed to absorb crash energy instead of transferring it into the "passenger safety cell").
It looks, at minimum, that you're going to need:
* rear bumper
* rear skirt
* two new mufflers (and confirmation that as they've deflected, they haven't bent the mid-pipes - if so, new mid-pipes as well)
* trunk lid repaired (minor scuffing visible in your shots on the bottom edge)
* A butt-load of clips/connectors/etc
As I said, I suspect the boot/trunk floor will be damaged and will require either panel beating or cutting out and replacing. The whole interior of the boot/trunk (and anything installed in that area - so battery, amp for the stereo, etc) will need to be inspected as well - in a crash, some items may have broken their mounts and come loose.
What I can't see in your shots is the right rear quarter panel - if it's suffered significant deflection, it'll possibly need replacement as well.
All rear suspension and drivetrain should be checked as well - if not for damage, then just for having moved from their stock positions/settings due to the force of the impact.
Get the car to a panel shop that you trust - if you don't know one, ask around (local car enthusiast forums/FB groups are a good place to start).
Best of luck with it! Hopefully if it is repaired they do a damned good job of it. I've had a car in the past damaged and repaired that was never the same after the crash, hopefully you avoid that circumstance!
Sorry, I should have started off by saying that everyone was ok! My teen daughter had a day or two of a sore neck, but some ibuprofen and a heating pad and she’s all good. I’m fine. The driver who hit us was an ELDERLY sweet man who was a veteran, on his way to a doctors appt at the VA center. He said he was ok but I really was concerned he’d be feeling the effects later like my daughter did, especially with his advanced age. I couldn’t be mad at him, but maybe he shouldn’t be behind the wheel so much anymore. But I really think he doesn’t have a lot of support, he had a hard time getting anyone to pick him up at the accident, and the police officer took him to his appt. Just a very unfortunate accident, and a miscalculation on his end.
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Manaz, Thank you so much for that detailed reply. It really is hard to see how far under the car he went but I was on the highway and didn’t take really good underside pics. I was rattled! The right quarter panel is out of whack, as is the trunk itself misaligned. I also had a car in a bad accident that was repaired and was never the same again, and this is my fear. With what I’ve heard about the tuning and sophistication of the suspension, exhaust, etc, of this car, it just really makes me nervous, or perhaps I’m just overthinking and it’s all just a bunch of bolt off/bolt on plain old parts!
Manaz
1000 Posts Club!
Glad to hear all people involved are OK - and that the police took him to his appointment, good to see the support vets are getting there!
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Manaz
1000 Posts Club!
In the end, if the chassis is straight and the mounting points are fine and true, then the car should go back together properly.
Yes, cars are more complicated these days, but so are repair techniques.
Yes, cars are more complicated these days, but so are repair techniques.
eflyguy
2500 Posts Club!
Glad you're relatively OK, but if your daughter had ANY symptoms, you should take her to get checked out. His insurance will cover the bills.
His insurance will also be responsible for getting the vehicle repaired to your satisfaction, don't sign off on anything until you've thoroughly inspected and test-driven it.
(I doubt it's totaled. The damage seems limited and not too severe, despite how it looks with all the plastic bashed in and hanging off.)
His insurance will also be responsible for getting the vehicle repaired to your satisfaction, don't sign off on anything until you've thoroughly inspected and test-driven it.
(I doubt it's totaled. The damage seems limited and not too severe, despite how it looks with all the plastic bashed in and hanging off.)
StingerLover
Active Member
It is very fortunate no one was seriously injured. I imagine I would feel pretty devastated, too. Good luck with the resolution.
MerlintheMad
10000 Posts Club!
Man! These incidents are hard to look at and read about. You are not being unreasonable to worry about your car not being the same again: until this is done and driving it proves that everything is okay: till that happens all bets are off. Nothing makes us more vulnerable than being a sitting target: squat you can do about it. So sorry and I hope it never happens again!
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DCBStingerGT
1000 Posts Club!
Silvermanor
Active Member
It's really easy to total new cars that are rear ended. I would say pull the carpet up and see if you have any damage to the floor. The left bumper is out and your hatch is up which means you were hit pretty good.
robz32
Texas Stinger Swarm
Wow....glad to hear everyone was ok. Also glad to see the Stinger too that like a champ and kept you and your passenger safe. However I do suspect the insurance may try to total it as there seems to be damage to the floor of the car and hatch section is out of alignment.
mandasol
Active Member
If insurance repairs vs totaling the car make sure you also get paid for diminished value (they call it diminution of value). Insurance companies will never bring it up and whenever you bring it up they will act like it's not an option or they will stall. I was rear ended and had to go through the other person's insurance but my insurance agent explained the process and advised me what to do. The other person's insurance will likely not discuss diminished value until all the repairs are done and you are satisfied with the repairs and then you have to basically follow up and demand it. They will ask you to fill out a form and then they'll do a calculation based on age of vehicle and amount of damage from this accident and any prior damage. Mine came up to about 1/3rd of the cost of the repairs - which is money you won't get without asking for it.
mandasol, yes I did bring up the diminished value already with the other insurance company--the adjuster should be there in the next day or so and she said we can discuss that when they decide if repair vs. totaling. I didn't even know that was a "thing" but I guess it is! I was just thinking how this will look on a Carfax if I sell it or trade it in later, it definitely affects the value if it's got that "black mark". Heck, I try to avoid buying used cars that have been in accidents if I can!
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Well 2 months and $15k later and she’s out of the shop. What a nightmare. Insurance delays, parts delays, oops something more needs to be fixed. Glad to have her back but devastated by this whole thing. I just bought her in Feb and paid $48k after negotiations (52k sticker) and owe $45k. Did a car fax and it’s worth $28k trade in value due to the serious accident cited. Not that I want to get rid of it, but man.... And now I’m worried about every stinking thing I see. It looks almost back to new. Except the steering wheel sits ever so slightly to the left, and I’ve got serious black gunk coming out of the exhaust. I’ve always had a little bit of carbon dust, but this is a lot of gunk, and only after a few trips since I got it back Friday.
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A lot of people forget that the exhaust can cause damage to engine components in a rear end collision. I would take it to a shop and have them put it up on a lift and check to see if the turbos are leaking oil. When I got rear ended in my Subaru it cracked my turbo downpipe and up pipe. I had to fight with the insurance company to get them to replace those parts.
How does it work with the other person’s insurance since they caused big depreciation to your car?
I told them when this first happened I would want DV compensation on this and they told me it was impossible to prove unless I actually sold the car. Now that all is said and done and it shows it, I’m contacting MY agent tomorrow, and possibly a lawyer if I have to. The Carfax reflects a significantly lower value specifically because of the accident, and when I did some estimates of value without the damage, there’s about $5k difference.
Yes I’m taking it back to the shop tomorrow to look at it.
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