SUV Question
04-30-15, 05:24 PM
#1
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SUV Question
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm caught in a bit of a dilemma and since I know I can always count on th ClubLexus community, I figured I'd ask your opinion.
Last Summer, I bought a 1997 GMC Suburban with 186k miles. It only had a bad AC leak (which was taken care of). On the 10th day I owned it, I was rear-ended at about 35mph (her airbags deployed). I was third from a stoplight and the crash pushed me, a friend in the truck, the 6,000lb suburban and 2 other cars into the intersection. The driver was lucid, but sketchy. She maintained that she was hit by a hit and run driver and she was in an equally bad position. The good news is that no one was hurt and the damage to my suburban was cosmetic. The problem - I bought it for $3,500 and only had liability coverage. Last I checked, if you rear-ended ANYONE, you were at fault. Both her insurance and my insurance companies let her walk away and leave me with a busted-up truck. Lesson-learned!
In doing the math (no work has been done yet), I noticed the cosmetic repair estimates were getting near to the 2007 and up Ford Expedition EL SUV pricing. I was wondering if I should jump ship. I've had 2 work vehicles that were high-mileage Fords and I've only had one $535 repair on one of them in 6 years. My 2000 Chevy Blazer was bought for $5,500 in 2012 but I've basically had everything replaced on that truck at east once. The Suburban is comfortable, but for work purposes, I can not afford to have one of my trucks down for long.
My mechanic tells me to stay with GM trucks because there is an abundance of parts and they're easier to work on. On the other hand, he says Ford trucks might have the GM trucks beat in some ways.
What say you? Should I defect and become a complete Ford-fleet company?
Michael
I'm caught in a bit of a dilemma and since I know I can always count on th ClubLexus community, I figured I'd ask your opinion.
Last Summer, I bought a 1997 GMC Suburban with 186k miles. It only had a bad AC leak (which was taken care of). On the 10th day I owned it, I was rear-ended at about 35mph (her airbags deployed). I was third from a stoplight and the crash pushed me, a friend in the truck, the 6,000lb suburban and 2 other cars into the intersection. The driver was lucid, but sketchy. She maintained that she was hit by a hit and run driver and she was in an equally bad position. The good news is that no one was hurt and the damage to my suburban was cosmetic. The problem - I bought it for $3,500 and only had liability coverage. Last I checked, if you rear-ended ANYONE, you were at fault. Both her insurance and my insurance companies let her walk away and leave me with a busted-up truck. Lesson-learned!
In doing the math (no work has been done yet), I noticed the cosmetic repair estimates were getting near to the 2007 and up Ford Expedition EL SUV pricing. I was wondering if I should jump ship. I've had 2 work vehicles that were high-mileage Fords and I've only had one $535 repair on one of them in 6 years. My 2000 Chevy Blazer was bought for $5,500 in 2012 but I've basically had everything replaced on that truck at east once. The Suburban is comfortable, but for work purposes, I can not afford to have one of my trucks down for long.
My mechanic tells me to stay with GM trucks because there is an abundance of parts and they're easier to work on. On the other hand, he says Ford trucks might have the GM trucks beat in some ways.
What say you? Should I defect and become a complete Ford-fleet company?
Michael
05-01-15, 06:38 AM
#2
I could see moving up to a newer vehicle with less miles, IF you are very confident of the maintenance history of the vehicle. You know the GMC and if your mechanic is comfortable with engine, tranny, etc that would be a plus to me. As an aside, my 2000 Chevy 2500 is at 198k and still going strong.
I am surprised that the driver did not get cited. Was there damage on her car to support her allegation of hit and run driver.? I can see that with no exposure to collision coverage, your insurance company would not push, but I would have thought your insurance agent would have assisted.
I have also seen in accidents like yours where the insurance limits of the individual that caused the accident was not sufficient to repair all vehicles damaged.
I am surprised that the driver did not get cited. Was there damage on her car to support her allegation of hit and run driver.? I can see that with no exposure to collision coverage, your insurance company would not push, but I would have thought your insurance agent would have assisted.
I have also seen in accidents like yours where the insurance limits of the individual that caused the accident was not sufficient to repair all vehicles damaged.
05-01-15, 07:53 AM
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I could see moving up to a newer vehicle with less miles, IF you are very confident of the maintenance history of the vehicle. You know the GMC and if your mechanic is comfortable with engine, tranny, etc that would be a plus to me. As an aside, my 2000 Chevy 2500 is at 198k and still going strong.
I am surprised that the driver did not get cited. Was there damage on her car to support her allegation of hit and run driver.? I can see that with no exposure to collision coverage, your insurance company would not push, but I would have thought your insurance agent would have assisted.
I have also seen in accidents like yours where the insurance limits of the individual that caused the accident was not sufficient to repair all vehicles damaged.
I am surprised that the driver did not get cited. Was there damage on her car to support her allegation of hit and run driver.? I can see that with no exposure to collision coverage, your insurance company would not push, but I would have thought your insurance agent would have assisted.
I have also seen in accidents like yours where the insurance limits of the individual that caused the accident was not sufficient to repair all vehicles damaged.
Ironically, she did not get cited but she seemed nervous when a police car came to take the report. She stated her version of the "facts" and congregated with 2 other females. She looked nervous the entire time throughout. A witness to the hit was a very nice woman who was on foot. She asked me if I had the radio on in the car. I answered "no, it was such a nice day that I had the windows open and radio off". She then asked if I heard the screeching of tires just before impact. I answered no to that as well. She politely told me that it was because she could see that the driver was texting and driving. How do you like that? I told the officer about this, but since the witness had already left, my story was regarded as here-say. Lastly, there was absolutely no damage to the rear of her Jeep Wrangler whatsoever...not even a scratch!
It's been a while but I feel like I want to take this to small claims court or seek another form of recourse. I love the comfort of the Suburban and my wife prefers the ride of the Suburban to the more taught feel of the '07 Expedition EL. Time will tell but i just wanted to get some unbiased feedback from CL.
Michael
05-01-15, 07:53 AM
#4
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Some things here sound like they aren't adding up. First, was a police report made? Second, where was this "truck" and "friend in the truck" in relation to your Suburban?....the description is unclear. Third, if you were rear-ended at 35 MPH by a woman who claims she was hit (or rear-ended), that statement alone, on her part, doesn't make much sense either.
Were there any witnesses to the hit-and-run driver...or vehicle info/license-plate noted? I'd like to help and give some advice, but from the description, there doesn't seem to be much to go on.
That said, though, your mechanic is probably correct about older large Ford and GM SUVs and trucks. For older models (say, 2007 and before) I'd probably go with a Ford also. Older GM models were notorious for brake problems and frequent brake-repairs, and often, even when the brakes worked as designed, required excessive pedal-pressure, making them difficult to stop in an emergency (and the three-ton weight didn't help, of course). GM addressed that problem (and the problem of plastic-crap interiors) for the 2007 redesign.
OK....just as I posted this, I see you added a simultaneous reply that a police report was made..and that the there were witnesses). Still doesn't completely describe what happened, but it sounds like you have someone whose testimony, if it got to small-claims court, could be significant, especially if the texting was noted in the police report.
Were there any witnesses to the hit-and-run driver...or vehicle info/license-plate noted? I'd like to help and give some advice, but from the description, there doesn't seem to be much to go on.
That said, though, your mechanic is probably correct about older large Ford and GM SUVs and trucks. For older models (say, 2007 and before) I'd probably go with a Ford also. Older GM models were notorious for brake problems and frequent brake-repairs, and often, even when the brakes worked as designed, required excessive pedal-pressure, making them difficult to stop in an emergency (and the three-ton weight didn't help, of course). GM addressed that problem (and the problem of plastic-crap interiors) for the 2007 redesign.
OK....just as I posted this, I see you added a simultaneous reply that a police report was made..and that the there were witnesses). Still doesn't completely describe what happened, but it sounds like you have someone whose testimony, if it got to small-claims court, could be significant, especially if the texting was noted in the police report.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-01-15 at 08:01 AM.
05-01-15, 08:04 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm caught in a bit of a dilemma and since I know I can always count on th ClubLexus community, I figured I'd ask your opinion.
Last Summer, I bought a 1997 GMC Suburban with 186k miles. It only had a bad AC leak (which was taken care of). On the 10th day I owned it, I was rear-ended at about 35mph (her airbags deployed). I was third from a stoplight and the crash pushed me, a friend in the truck, the 6,000lb suburban and 2 other cars into the intersection. The driver was lucid, but sketchy. She maintained that she was hit by a hit and run driver and she was in an equally bad position. The good news is that no one was hurt and the damage to my suburban was cosmetic. The problem - I bought it for $3,500 and only had liability coverage. Last I checked, if you rear-ended ANYONE, you were at fault. Both her insurance and my insurance companies let her walk away and leave me with a busted-up truck. Lesson-learned!
In doing the math (no work has been done yet), I noticed the cosmetic repair estimates were getting near to the 2007 and up Ford Expedition EL SUV pricing. I was wondering if I should jump ship. I've had 2 work vehicles that were high-mileage Fords and I've only had one $535 repair on one of them in 6 years. My 2000 Chevy Blazer was bought for $5,500 in 2012 but I've basically had everything replaced on that truck at east once. The Suburban is comfortable, but for work purposes, I can not afford to have one of my trucks down for long.
My mechanic tells me to stay with GM trucks because there is an abundance of parts and they're easier to work on. On the other hand, he says Ford trucks might have the GM trucks beat in some ways.
What say you? Should I defect and become a complete Ford-fleet company?
Michael
I'm caught in a bit of a dilemma and since I know I can always count on th ClubLexus community, I figured I'd ask your opinion.
Last Summer, I bought a 1997 GMC Suburban with 186k miles. It only had a bad AC leak (which was taken care of). On the 10th day I owned it, I was rear-ended at about 35mph (her airbags deployed). I was third from a stoplight and the crash pushed me, a friend in the truck, the 6,000lb suburban and 2 other cars into the intersection. The driver was lucid, but sketchy. She maintained that she was hit by a hit and run driver and she was in an equally bad position. The good news is that no one was hurt and the damage to my suburban was cosmetic. The problem - I bought it for $3,500 and only had liability coverage. Last I checked, if you rear-ended ANYONE, you were at fault. Both her insurance and my insurance companies let her walk away and leave me with a busted-up truck. Lesson-learned!
In doing the math (no work has been done yet), I noticed the cosmetic repair estimates were getting near to the 2007 and up Ford Expedition EL SUV pricing. I was wondering if I should jump ship. I've had 2 work vehicles that were high-mileage Fords and I've only had one $535 repair on one of them in 6 years. My 2000 Chevy Blazer was bought for $5,500 in 2012 but I've basically had everything replaced on that truck at east once. The Suburban is comfortable, but for work purposes, I can not afford to have one of my trucks down for long.
My mechanic tells me to stay with GM trucks because there is an abundance of parts and they're easier to work on. On the other hand, he says Ford trucks might have the GM trucks beat in some ways.
What say you? Should I defect and become a complete Ford-fleet company?
Michael
05-01-15, 09:57 AM
#6
Lexus Champion
I thought NY was a no-fault state? If so, unless there the injuries are significant, I don't think you can claim against the other driver's insurance.
Not the point of the OP, but for those asking about the other driver's "fault".
Not the point of the OP, but for those asking about the other driver's "fault".
05-01-15, 12:10 PM
#7
As to the OP, well, since you only had liability insurance, your insurance company would only be interested in covering the damages of the car you rear-ended which you said doesn't seem to be much at all. I don't know why her insurance didn't pony up to cover the damage to your car.
Anyway, I'd stick with GM especially if the Ford models you're pondering includes the triton engine (which it most likely does since it was so ubiquitous).
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05-01-15, 12:21 PM
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Check out the 100 series Land Cruiser or LX 470 ( 1998 - 2007 ) get the cleanest one with lowest miles you can find in your price range.
Excellent build quality, very comfortable, very reliable and really durable/capable. Don't know though if it will be big enough for you but it is a pleasure to own and drive.
Excellent build quality, very comfortable, very reliable and really durable/capable. Don't know though if it will be big enough for you but it is a pleasure to own and drive.
Last edited by UZJ100GXR; 05-01-15 at 12:28 PM.
05-01-15, 02:05 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Check out the 100 series Land Cruiser or LX 470 ( 1998 - 2007 ) get the cleanest one with lowest miles you can find in your price range.
Excellent build quality, very comfortable, very reliable and really durable/capable. Don't know though if it will be big enough for you but it is a pleasure to own and drive.
Excellent build quality, very comfortable, very reliable and really durable/capable. Don't know though if it will be big enough for you but it is a pleasure to own and drive.
05-01-15, 07:18 PM
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Some things here sound like they aren't adding up. First, was a police report made? Second, where was this "truck" and "friend in the truck" in relation to your Suburban?....the description is unclear. Third, if you were rear-ended at 35 MPH by a woman who claims she was hit (or rear-ended), that statement alone, on her part, doesn't make much sense either.
Were there any witnesses to the hit-and-run driver...or vehicle info/license-plate noted? I'd like to help and give some advice, but from the description, there doesn't seem to be much to go on.
That said, though, your mechanic is probably correct about older large Ford and GM SUVs and trucks. For older models (say, 2007 and before) I'd probably go with a Ford also. Older GM models were notorious for brake problems and frequent brake-repairs, and often, even when the brakes worked as designed, required excessive pedal-pressure, making them difficult to stop in an emergency (and the three-ton weight didn't help, of course). GM addressed that problem (and the problem of plastic-crap interiors) for the 2007 redesign.
OK....just as I posted this, I see you added a simultaneous reply that a police report was made..and that the there were witnesses). Still doesn't completely describe what happened, but it sounds like you have someone whose testimony, if it got to small-claims court, could be significant, especially if the texting was noted in the police report.
Were there any witnesses to the hit-and-run driver...or vehicle info/license-plate noted? I'd like to help and give some advice, but from the description, there doesn't seem to be much to go on.
That said, though, your mechanic is probably correct about older large Ford and GM SUVs and trucks. For older models (say, 2007 and before) I'd probably go with a Ford also. Older GM models were notorious for brake problems and frequent brake-repairs, and often, even when the brakes worked as designed, required excessive pedal-pressure, making them difficult to stop in an emergency (and the three-ton weight didn't help, of course). GM addressed that problem (and the problem of plastic-crap interiors) for the 2007 redesign.
OK....just as I posted this, I see you added a simultaneous reply that a police report was made..and that the there were witnesses). Still doesn't completely describe what happened, but it sounds like you have someone whose testimony, if it got to small-claims court, could be significant, especially if the texting was noted in the police report.
The woman who struck me had another woman in the car. They both were about my age (I'm 35). My first objective was to see if the driver of the car was lucid or impaired. She was very well-spoken and began to make offers to repair my truck and pay cash for the damage (not happening)...especially since the other affected (or impacted) motorists began making their way towards her. She maintained that a white sedan had rear ended her, managed to back off from her and speed passed all of us in the left lane. To be clear - HER airbags deployed, not mine (I'm not sure about the others but I doubt it). My wife came to the scene and my friend and I rested against the wall. My shin was bleeding from hitting the emergency brake but I was mainly dizzy. I refused medical attention because I rationalized that I could not afford to be out of commission (maybe not the brightest idea because I did experience some minor memory loss that lasted about 6 weeks (couldn't remember what year my sister was born, would forget to return calls to friends and family, etc.). No one accepted medical attention. The woman who hit me clearly didn't want the police there (for God-knows-what-reason) as she was suggesting a litany of "easier" ways of "settling this". My passenger just wanted to wrap things up and I just wanted my truck fixed.
The police arrived and I gave my statement first. The witness that stopped on foot had already gone on about her business. I suggested that it would seem like the operator of the vehicle that struck me was texting and driving. It wasn't recorded in the report since I hadn't actually seen this occurring before impact. We all exchanged info every which way and no tempers flared or anything of that nature. I left the scene last with my wife following in her car (the suburban was and still is completely operable). I left thinking "what a miserable day, but since she struck me from behind, it's on her insurance to fix my truck" Right? WRONG! Her insurance (All-State) sent me a prompt notice telling me she was exempt from any liability being that her vehicle was struck by this phantom car that nobody can account for. In kind, my insurance company (Geico) echoed All-State's sentiments. I have the truck parked outside my house but I don't drive it because I look like a drunken driver that smacked into a tree and reversed into 14 other cars along the way. As of right now, this woman has me beat!
Michael
05-01-15, 07:22 PM
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I would love to. They hold their value so well though and I put my truck's interior's through such deplorable conditions (especially come pool season - which is in 3 weeks).
If Toyota ever built an extended-length Sequoia as a Suburban fighter, I would drive no other truck. I may buy it used, but I would buy no other truck!
Michael
If Toyota ever built an extended-length Sequoia as a Suburban fighter, I would drive no other truck. I may buy it used, but I would buy no other truck!
Michael
05-02-15, 07:26 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
OK, Thanks, Rolex...a much better explanation than in the OP. First, of course your body and health are more important than any vehicle. I'm not a doctor, but, at your age (35), it's not likely that your memory loss was due to any brain injury (especially since it was only temporary, and you were able to remember what happened later and write the details) but simply from the shock of the event......that can have a profound impact on one's shot-term memory and thinking. Younger people, in general, can absorb shocks of this kind better than older ones. Of course, if you are concerned about any long-term brain injury, (especially if your health insurance will pay for it), you could see a specialist and have some tests done). You may (?) have also gotten a minor neck-whiplash (depending on how the headrest was set), which is common in rear-impacts.
One thing that helped you, of course was being in that big tank of a Suburban...its three ton weight itself probably absorbed much of the impact. The probable reason the air bags in the vehicle behind you went of and yours didn't was that her car was doing 14 MPH or greater when it hit.. That's the threshold for most front air-bag sensors...the G-forces of a 14-MPH impact. So, this woman must have hit the back of your Suburban with a pretty good impact......especially if it pushed your Suburban forward into the minivan in front of you.
You say you heard two bangs from two impacts. If the woman behind you had actually been rear-ended as she claimed, there would have been three impacts...her getting rear-ended, her hitting you, and you hitting the minivan in front. That's why I'm not sure I buy her story...if SHE had gotten rear-ended hard enough to hit YOU and push YOU forward into the minivan in front, the car that rear-ended HER would probably not ben drivable, and could not have pulled out and sped away. I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like that woman might be trying to make an excuse for to paying attention to the road.....which was probably also why she didn't want the police there. Was there any damage to the back of her vehicle to substantiate that claim? She apparently was able to convince Allstate (and GEICO) that she was rear-ended and not at fault, even if (?) that wasn't the case.
How much will it cost to get your Suburban fixed?...........or, since the damage is minor enough that it is still operable, can you can live with it, as long as it will pass a state inspection (if applicable)? If you want it fixed, I'd consult an attorney with some experience in this type of case, explain exactly what happened as you remember it, and see if you may have a civil case in small-claims court for your truck. Insurance companies or private-parties cannot refuse to settle a claim if ordered to do so in court, although they can appeal the decision.
I once served as the Jury Foreman, BTW, on a civil-case involving a three-car rear-impact, not a whole lot different from this one, where, by the end of the case, it was clear that one side was trying to distort facts and get some easy money that they weren't really entitled to. But, in your case, it sounds like you have some credible info on your side.
Good Luck.
One thing that helped you, of course was being in that big tank of a Suburban...its three ton weight itself probably absorbed much of the impact. The probable reason the air bags in the vehicle behind you went of and yours didn't was that her car was doing 14 MPH or greater when it hit.. That's the threshold for most front air-bag sensors...the G-forces of a 14-MPH impact. So, this woman must have hit the back of your Suburban with a pretty good impact......especially if it pushed your Suburban forward into the minivan in front of you.
You say you heard two bangs from two impacts. If the woman behind you had actually been rear-ended as she claimed, there would have been three impacts...her getting rear-ended, her hitting you, and you hitting the minivan in front. That's why I'm not sure I buy her story...if SHE had gotten rear-ended hard enough to hit YOU and push YOU forward into the minivan in front, the car that rear-ended HER would probably not ben drivable, and could not have pulled out and sped away. I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like that woman might be trying to make an excuse for to paying attention to the road.....which was probably also why she didn't want the police there. Was there any damage to the back of her vehicle to substantiate that claim? She apparently was able to convince Allstate (and GEICO) that she was rear-ended and not at fault, even if (?) that wasn't the case.
How much will it cost to get your Suburban fixed?...........or, since the damage is minor enough that it is still operable, can you can live with it, as long as it will pass a state inspection (if applicable)? If you want it fixed, I'd consult an attorney with some experience in this type of case, explain exactly what happened as you remember it, and see if you may have a civil case in small-claims court for your truck. Insurance companies or private-parties cannot refuse to settle a claim if ordered to do so in court, although they can appeal the decision.
I once served as the Jury Foreman, BTW, on a civil-case involving a three-car rear-impact, not a whole lot different from this one, where, by the end of the case, it was clear that one side was trying to distort facts and get some easy money that they weren't really entitled to. But, in your case, it sounds like you have some credible info on your side.
Good Luck.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-02-15 at 05:05 PM.
05-02-15, 04:10 PM
#13
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might be worth talking to an attorney about this... seems like you're getting screwed for doing nothing wrong while the real cause is lying and getting away with it.
05-04-15, 08:54 AM
#14
I agree with the idea of speaking with an attorney. Allstate is going to deny coverage, particularly with your company not pursuing. What about any damage to the rear of her vehicle to support her claim? Are there any pics of her car to support her claim?
05-04-15, 11:04 AM
#15
I echo the others, get an attorney. I don't know what Allstate is talking about. My father was involved in a three car accident, he was first in line and got rear-ended. His insurance company went after the car behind him (the middle guy) and that guys insurance went after the last car for the rear end damage and to recoupe the cost of damages to my father's car.
She rear-ended you, her insurance covers damages to your car, case closed. Even if a phantom car rear-ended her, Allstate is still responsible for the damages to your car.
Allstate is trying to get out of it, and your insurance seems to be taking a 'don't care' attitude since you only have liability coverage with them.
She rear-ended you, her insurance covers damages to your car, case closed. Even if a phantom car rear-ended her, Allstate is still responsible for the damages to your car.
Allstate is trying to get out of it, and your insurance seems to be taking a 'don't care' attitude since you only have liability coverage with them.
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