So 10 days ago my beloved germexican mistress and I went through a traumatizing event. Friday, Nov 7 at ~4:35 AM and 217,007 miles, while winding down for the night and allowing a regen to finish, a big blur of of brown leapt out at us from the right side of the road. It was instantaneous and I'm so annoyed I couldn't see it coming. I reactively stood on the brake until the motor cut out, but it wasn't enough. A sickening thud, a moment of bewilderment followed by the sight of a deer skidding down the street in front of me as it scrambled to get to it's feet. My heart sank, I felt sick, I feared to look. Unbelieveably, this cocky prick stood in the center turning lane and stared at me for a full minute while I cursed him out with every naughty word I know before he ran off. God did I feel sick.
Stupidly, I know, the first thing I did was restart the car. Amazingly the lights worked and there were no warning lights on the dash, but I knew of course I wasn't going to like what I would see. I pulled over a few feet to an adjacent parking lot to get out of the road, inspect the damage and look for leaks, which there appeared to be none. The evidence was there, but I was astounded at how minimal it was.
I called it in and took an obligatory photo of the location, and drove her home. In my over-lit garage, I took more photos, called Oilhammer in a panic for advice and slept off the depression and nausea until the world was awake enough to start getting me answers.
When I was done with that, I had that hopeful moment it was a bad dream, which went away immeditately. So I got it together and set off to the body shop Oilhammer recommended, getting flagged by a fellow motorist on the way who was kind enough to tell me my hood was open. At the body shop I met a nice lady named Judy, who efficiently whipped up an estimated $1731 hit to my wallet, with the not-unexpected "subject to change after we take it apart" clause. At this point in the story I am anticipating your questions and therefore shall tell you that insurance is not an option in this circumstance for reasons far too complicated to explain than I care to.
Estimate in hand, I go to the cab company, and seek out my friend the president who tells me first thing that when he heard, he prayed for me. I don't know him to be a particularly religious man one way or the other but it was nice to hear. I explained to him I already had my estimate and plans to repair my car that had no mechanical damage whatsoever with working lights and everything in the hopes I could still work in the car at night, in the dark, (as I often do anyway) during the upcoming weekend in order to afford the repair. He reminded me of what I already knew, which was in these circumstances as an owner/operator, I had the option to use one of their gas-guzzlers for an extra $30 per day. To which I replied that that idea was, no offense intended, abhorrent to me as now I am spoiled rotten after 3 1/2 years working in my baby. He cheerfully agreed with me, and said "let's go out and take a look."
Fingers crossed and expecting her to be deemed too much a blight for the company image, he says "I'm going to say you can absolutely use this car until you can get it repaired, this is the least deer-damaged cab I have ever seen." Relieved, I shake his hand and feel most of the weight lift off me. Now the mission course was clear, all I had to do was drive my tail off. I took her home, gave her a tender bath by hand and set off.
My wonderful, wonderful car heroically drove 1100 miles in that state to fund her own repair without skipping a beat. Damn I love her. Amazingly, not one customer noticed or said anything about my crinkled car.
I gave the body shop notice on Friday afternoon after I got word my car was cleared for the weekend. The parts would be in Monday, my wife was off Tuesday, so that was the drop-off time I selected. They said if I was there when they opened, I should have it back Wednesday afternoon. I sweet-talked them into begining paint work on the hood before I showed up with the car and the 50% deposit, to placate to my desire of maximum cure time. (Also, I had been wanting to have a window retinted for a while due to minor damage from being clawed at for 3 years by drunk people, and when the shop foreman did his best to remove a stubborn regulatory sticker from it but gave up when film began to tear, I siezed the opportunity of down time to have it corrected by DALO the original tinter first thing Monday.) When I stopped for coffee on the way to the body shop that Tuesday morning, a second person at the gas station thought to inform me of my open hood.
I met and made my pleas with the body shop crew to explain to them how much the car meant to me and I would bribe them with a box of doughnuts if I could go behind closed doors and photo-document the process. They were all very accomodating, pleasent professionals and I would use them again. Forgive the plug, but since someone is likely to ask, it was CarStar Collision at 9425 Midland Blvd in Overland, Missouri.
Since I took this job I quickly realized the unique dilemma of it, in that you live in a constant state of "I never HAVE to work, but I always CAN work." One constantly questions and debates whether or not to be lazy or ambitious, to call it a day or take one more fare because of the relentless potential opportunity of it being big money. Well, that is how it affects me anyway. So I found it to be a strange feeling to be away from a car, and thus this potential that I am never more than 300 feet away from 99% of the time. However, I did my best to use this experience to enjoy a true night off.
Miraculously, the amended parts list after taking off the broken bits only added a $51 piece of plastic something or other. I do have a new small tear in the bumper cover, which I cheated on as it is rather negligable. The shop kindly reinforced it with some fiberglass for me. They also had to add in the 3 underhood stickers I insisted on in my desperate attempt to keep her as original, proper and correct as I could afford. The revised bill: $1884.84 The repair was performed at 218,117 miles and I got her back Wednesday afternoon as promised and of course, put her right back to work. This was 1390 miles ago.
Here are the invoice highlights:
Grille: $155
Headlamp, right side: $320
Hood: $440
Radiator deflector: $51
A/C Label: $6
Warning Label: $12
Emission Label: $60 (I know right? Apparently because they are custom-printed to the car)
Paint & Materials: $179
Labor: $558
So, while I have much better things to blow 1900 bucks on, I know it all could have been far worse, and I am pretty grateful for that. She is fully recovered and lives proudly to fight on, albiet with a tiny scar from that 200 pound rat I will always resent. A war wound I guess. By all accounts, this car ain't meant to be tough, but I wouldn't
dare tell
her that.
Now, without further ado, the moment you all have been waiting for, gory pictures!
Below is the scene of the crime. This is the 7800 block of Gravois Rd. I was in the right lane, a mistake in hindsight as that would have possibly made the difference. Car is facing direction of travel, ahead within a half a mile is the St Louis City Limit. There is 10 miles of St. Louis County suburbia behind me. He came from the parking lot through those trees. This area is lined with buildings very near the road. To the left is a cemetary, where one would be more likely to expect a deer I guess but our theory is he was scavenging the trash cans. Notice there are no street lamps, and don't be fooled by my trick photography, it is very dark here. Everyone in the know is amazed that this happened here where deer are much more rare than the territory I frequently romp in, where my "deer-dar" is far more active. I admit is was down due to the location.
Here are some shots in the repair shop:
The impact dented my 2Micron filter. It didn't leak obviously but it is being replaced at next service. This means finding out how long it takes to clog has been delayed, as 28k miles of testing go down the drain.
Well, there you have it. I might love the car more than ever and I don't care who knows it or how irrational that seems. If she spontaneously combusted tomorrow, the good times and her loyalty thus far cannot be taken away or questioned, but she seems to want to live on despite the odds of the harsh destiny I have thrust upon her.
I'm sorry guys, (sob) I just get a little emotional, but I just want to hug this thing sometimes!