yeah - definately keep shopping around..

 

THAT CAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SMASHED AND LEFT THERE TO GET ROLLED ON AGAIN.

 

I used to say that too, until taking the same action cost me my TTE lip...well, at least for the first of three times...lol

 

My condolensces to the parent of this thread, but it makes me sick that I own the same car as many of you.

 

I am a professional driver. I used to, and still do sometimes, drive the big rigs, which here in Canada can be up to 128,000 pounds GVW.
The reason that GS is damaged is that it mounted and/or hit a curb. That's where the people are usually, and signs, and other large roadside objects like trees and poles. Suspension damage from such a hit is bad enough - every year people kill themselves, their passengers, and pedestrians, while "swerving" to avoid small and large animals, rags, cardboard boxes, and so on.
In the interest of safety, and I am speaking of people here, not cats, it is a wise idea to train one's self to resist the impulse to "swerve". It is not an easy thing to do, but such reactions lead to all sorts of injuries and damage to property.
I will leave you with this. Those experts who train professional drivers, and I have met a few, make it very clear to us what the appropriate reaction is to an object or even a car, in the path of a heavy vehicle. "Stay in your lane, brake as you can under the road conditions at that time, and drive into whatever is in your path. Do not swerve or change lanes. Do not lay the truck down. When the accident is over the only evidence in your favour will be the last position of your vehicle, and it must be in your lane."
I would not take pleasure in killing someone's cat or dog, or a family on vacation in the family car. But I will not swerve a 65 foot 22 wheeler and kill myself for them. I am going home at the end of the shift.
So EyesOnly it might be that you should sell your car. And don't cut me off on the highway.
My apologies to the moderator for continuing the thread against his admonition.