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The Lexus dealership was kind enough to lend me an ES 300h while they were inspecting my new-to-me LS 600h L. It was a nice car. Kudos to Toyota/Lexus on their new infotainment system. It's better than anything they've ever had before, and I would argue it's class-leading at this point.
Unfortunately, the car met its demise early Saturday morning, when I hit a deer at 70 MPH on the interstate. I had no time to stop; it was just there in a flash. It was tossed about a hundred feet backward, into the grassy berm. The majority of the airbags in the ES 300h deployed. I am uninjured, apart from a sore on my thumb where the airbag burned it, as I was holding the wheel.
It's a safe car. It may have even been drivable. It displayed a "Hybrid System Malfunction" error and wouldn't move, but a lot of cars cut the fuel pumps with an inertia switch or a relay in accidents like these, so that could be it. The telematics system also worked well, dialing a call-center employee who dispatched emergency services.
The Lexus dealer was cool about it, too. It'll be covered under my comprehensive policy and therefore will be a not-at-fault. I suspect it's totaled due to the cost of replacing everything. I'll just have to pay my deductible.
The ES 300h, looking very sorry for itself. Most of the airbags deployed
The doe was likely dead on impact
This was earlier this morning; I had the tow company retrieve my sunglasses and USB cable
November and December are the most dangerous times for deer accidents since mating season. Thank God you are okay and did not panic and hit something else. So many times you read stories where a deer will run out in front of a car they'll swerve and then end up hitting a tree or another car head-on etc.
The airbag was released in a real accident. 99% it is totaled.
The relevant figure I have read is that a car is likely to considered "totaled" if the repairs exceed 70% of the vehicle's value. The front end doesn't look that bad, relatively speaking, and being new this may not reach that threshold. It all be up to the insurance carriers, of course, but it might be fixable. Then again, being business owned rather than private, they may use a lower threshold.
The relevant figure I have read is that a car is likely to considered "totaled" if the repairs exceed 70% of the vehicle's value. The front end doesn't look that bad, relatively speaking, and being new this may not reach that threshold. It all be up to the insurance carriers, of course, but it might be fixable. Then again, being business owned rather than private, they may use a lower threshold.
I think here in Oklahoma, 60% is the threshold. This is a $50K car, realistically a $47K one after being pressed into loaner duty with 4,500 miles on it. There's probably $10K worth of parts and labor in just the front end. Replacing the airbags, seatbelts and associated panels could be another $10K, and more if the seat airbags deployed (I cannot recall if they did or not). The fuse for the traction battery will have to be replaced, too. I'm told it's a pyrotechnic fuse that blows if the airbags are deployed, to disconnect the battery...especially important for Li-Ion batteries, which the ES switched to using in 2021. If there's anything else mechanically wrong with it, that could take it over the edge.
It's gonna be close.
The thing is, my insurance company told me that ordinarily the dealerships do their own assessments and appraisals--since they have body shops--determine what needs to be fixed, do so, and then send a demand letter to the insurance company. So this might be a case where the dealership decides to fix it, where an insurance company would total it. At the same time, I don't know why the dealership would do that. They'll then be stuck with a car that no one wants.
Glad to hear you're OK. I am sorry for the young deer.
I don't understand how can they total cars like that.
How is the feeling of driving the ES300h after the bigger brother? Comfort? Quietness?
The ES 300h wasn't nearly as powerful or quite as quiet, but it was 80% of the comfort experience at a substantially lower (new for new) price. I think it's a great car.
The Lexus dealership was kind enough to lend me an ES 300h while they were inspecting my new-to-me LS 600h L. It was a nice car. Kudos to Toyota/Lexus on their new infotainment system. It's better than anything they've ever had before, and I would argue it's class-leading at this point.
Glad to hear you survived this experience in good shape. Are you saying that the sound system in the ES is significantly better than the LS?
11-13-23, 01:53 PM
Totaled a 2023 ES 300h Loaner
