Safe but Sad

[RMBrock]

Nearly a couple weeks back, another driver who appeared to be awaiting on-coming traffic before turning into it to go to a small shopping center, all the sudden turned early and was right in front of me with 20 feet or less for me to avoid. Hit the brakes, but went into the side of that vehicle at about 35 mph.

All the front seat airbags deployed in milli-seconds, as designed and 3 of the 4 in the Stinger unhurt, except me with a broken wrist, requiring a plate and screws to stabilize.

Very grateful to the engineers at Kia for how the Stinger performed, though sad to see the severe damage, which still awaits the adjuster’s eye. In the end, only a car, though a great one, including how it was designed to give a good chance to the occupants in these situations, always too with a heavy dose of Our Lord’s Providence.

Will update on findings from the adjuster, due in the coming week.

 

[RMBrock]

In case wondering, my car shown in ruins: 2023 Stinger GT2 with the Grand Tourer Package, plus Chris’ CK71 DRL’s - fabulous car!

 

[djerickd]

aww man glad you are ok.

 

[RMBrock]

Bought new in December ‘22 and only has 16K on the clock…

 

[Sabs]

Sorry to hear about your injury and hoping you have a swift recovery. That's a big hit and sounds like it was unavoidable, so I'm glad to hear it wasn't any worse for you and your passengers.

Sad to see the car in such shape, but glad it performed as it was designed to. Hope you're able to get back into a Stinger before long, whether it's this one or a replacement.

 

[RMBrock]

Not sure it would be this one, sadly. Unclear yet whether totaled, but certainly appears a strong possibility that it will be so…

 

[Sabs]

I would imagine so. Thus far all the Stingers I've seen with airbags deployed and significant front end damage have been totaled. That may be for the best, though - no waiting on repairs or concerns that the work was done perfectly.

 

[RMBrock]

Agreed, likely for the best. Not sure I could trust the airbags to again operate with same efficiency as they did. Will be sad to let it go, grateful though for its great service…

 

[JSolo]

@RMBrock Glad to see the car did its thing to protect occupants.

Do you recall how your wrist got broken?

Years ago I was in a wreck in my camaro, spun out getting on the highway and hit the guard rail a few times - Best I can recall, the passenger rear hit first, then passenger front. I brace for impact by grabbing the wheel at 12oclock. End result was potato chip looking steering wheel and a bump on my left temple where I hit the side window. After 3 months in the shop it was good as new (not really). Kept the car for another 70K miles and 11 years.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Agreed, likely for the best. Not sure I could trust the airbags to again operate with same efficiency as they did. Will be sad to let it go, grateful though for its great service…

Airbags are replaced, that's my understanding. Although that looks dire, Ima thinking interior damage is minimal. If the main frame isn't torqued everything else could be replaced. Straighten the crash bar and radiator mountings, etc. New suspension parts as required. Vroom! Then again, airbags deployed. That is the main concern, indicating serious impact energy. Glad nobody else was hurt and hope that your wrist makes a complete recovery, even if your Stinger cannot.

Every time we drive it is "adventure time", a bit like doing combat in a massive, fluid arena. The idiots out there are the instigators of the adventure aspect 99 out of 100 times - the rest being random factors dealing with the machinery, our own inadequacies and the weather. I hate it. But I wouldn't give it up either. Carry on.

 

[RMBrock]

Break was likely from holding onto the steering wheel, trying to turn away from the other driver. Perhaps can see from the pics of the car, but the impact with my car was on the driver’s side, thus likely a direct shot on impact up the steering column (though it collapses somewhat on impact) to my left hand, thus the broken wrist.

 

[RMBrock]

Heard back this afternoon - a bit earlier than expected - from the insurance company of the one caused the accident. Did not see a specific damage report, only a report on the value of my car. End result is that they totaled my car, and made a very generous property damage compensation offer.

As to replacement, hard to find the same car I had and also with the low mileage I had, but what has the same drive train as our Stingers is the Genesis G70 3.3(?great safety too, as with the Stinger. Good option among others for the new ride…

 

[blnewt]

totaled our 23 G70 and the safety features probably saved the life of my Godson and possibly me too, no injuries except a concussion from the airbag for me and nothing for him. Kia/Hyundai/Genesis really have done a great job regarding impact safety for sure! Glad you're OK OP!





Did such a great job we HAD to get another one!

 

[RMBrock]

Wow, Blnewt - again, thanks be to Our Lord and the engineers at Hyundai/Kia/Genesis! How have you found the reliability and maintenance with G70’s? Seems same or little difference from the Stinger.

I am looking at a ‘24 G70 3.3T Sport Advanced Prestige - basically very similar to my GT2, though wheel base is a bit shorter, as is the body length by comparison.

Had not had a chance to install in the Stinger, the afe cold air induction kit, but great news is that it will fit a G70! So, a lot of promising signs!

 

[JSolo]

I am so sold on the utility of a hatch. Would be hard to ever go back to a 4 door.

 

[Snicklefritz]

What @JSolo said. I'd miss the hatch terribly. Otherwise, the Stinger's styling is much better, and that about sums up the differences for me right there.

 

[RMBrock]

Agreed on the hatch, though can count on one hand the number of times I used it with one or both seats down. The G70 does not have a hatch, but both seats do go down. Always have to resist wanting the Stinger to be something more that it is as a point when a whole different vehicle is really needed - such as a pick-up - as would not be a fan of messing up the interior, though to each owner, their own…

 

[JSolo]

@RMBrock See this.

https :// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=w-n4W1Zdrws

Folks, please DO NOT fix the url, that's that way on purpose.

 

[blnewt]

Wow, Blnewt - again, thanks be to Our Lord and the engineers at Hyundai/Kia/Genesis! How have you found the reliability and maintenance with G70’s? Seems same or little difference from the Stinger.

I am looking at a ‘24 G70 3.3T Sport Advanced Prestige - basically very similar to my GT2, though wheel base is a bit shorter, as is the body length by comparison.

Had not had a chance to install in the Stinger, the afe cold air induction kit, but great news is that it will fit a G70! So, a lot of promising signs!

Love the Stingers, just didn't need extra room w/ the hatchback so the G70 fit the bill. Recently had a Infiniti G35 followed by a G37 (both 4dr sedans) so the G70 was a nice & logical upgrade. Been very happy thus far, will be having the oil line recall done next month. Only negative is the dealer network. We used to have a dealer in El Paso and Albuquerque but both have closed (they may have been Hyundai/Genesis combo dealers). The closest dealer for service & warranty work is now is 440 miles away, so hopefully nothing that disables the G70 occurs and all will be good. Don't mind a road trip now & then and we get to Las Vegas 3-4x a year and there's a shiny new stand alone dealer there that will handle the warranty work (where we bought our 23 G70). I would imagine the reliability and maintenance will mirror a Stinger, but I think there's more Kia dealers but???

Only "mods" I've done is black window trim/emblems, quad exhaust tips, spoiler, and will be adding F&R whiteline sway bars this weekend.

 

[RMBrock]

@RMBrock See this.

https :// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=w-n4W1Zdrws

Folks, please DO NOT fix the url, that's that way on purpose.

The ultimate hatch in that case, yes!