Hit a deer on the way to work... [Now with Update at Bottom]

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 09/30/2019 at 09:00 • Filed to: hit deer, ponitac, junkyard, grand prix

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I hit it dead-on too, which is why the grill is no more. Admittedly, I’m more annoyed than angry. When I got the Town & Country a little bit ago, I change the grand prix from ‘full insurance’ to ‘bare minimum’ to save us money in the long wrong. Naturally I only have towing on the grand prix now.

Right after I hit the deer I turned the car off and popped the hood to check the internal damage. It all seemed good, mostly the plastic was shattered and thrown about, so I proceeded to remove anything that was busted during the accident and throw it into the trunk (which is why the headlight is now missing in the later pictures, the mounts broke). I then turned the car on and let it run for a bit to see if anything odd happens. It appears to be functional, but since this is my daily driver I drove it to my local mechanic to assess the damage.

From me, a amateur car person, assessing it, it seems like the front bumper took the brunt of the hit. If the mechanic says nothing functional got damaged, I’m going to start believing that the grand prix is a tank.

Update: the mechanic called, all damage is cosmetic, which in of itself is a miracle honestly. The damage was localized to the hood, the front bumper, the headlight, and the headlight bracket. I now need to price out the two priorities, the bracket and headlight, to make the car drive-able in the dawn of the morning.

E90M3 > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:04

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It looks like the damage is superficial, probably just replace the front clip and you’ll be good to go. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:06

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replace the headlight, front bumper assy complete, hood and you’ll be good to go

honestly, just grab any colour you can and not worry about it

zeontestpilot > E90M3 09/30/2019 at 09:07

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I agree, but looks can be deceiving. Just waiting for the mechanic to do a more thorough inspection to verify the damage. I mean, it did dri ve pretty good.

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:09

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any devices on the market that supposedly scare away deer?

down here we have the Shuroo

just wondering if anything equivalent for deer?

Arrivederci > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:09

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That’s a bummer - a deer hit me in my old Miata and that wasn’t a fun experience.  Fortunately your damage seems isolated to the bumper, hood and passenger headlight in the pictures, so hopefully it’ll be an easy fix.

zeontestpilot > pip bip - choose Corrour 09/30/2019 at 09:09

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Oh, I was thinking maybe black for a new front bumper. Make it look like it has a beard if anything.

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:12

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that would work too

nerd_racing > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:13

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ALWAYS say the deer hit you if you are making an insurance claim.  They could potentially screw you if they wanted if you say you hit the deer. 

Grindintosecond > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:13

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Be the Magnus walker of Pontiacs....renegade grand prize.

Or Renegrade

punkgoose17 > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:15

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I last year punted bambi into the ditch with the front right of the car. I know your relief . I fixed the car for far less than the deductible .

zeontestpilot > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 09:15

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If the damage isn’t deeper than how the pictures depict it, it should be a easy fix. The hood might be the priciest thing, but I’m thinking maybe I can bend it back so it can properly shut? The headlight needs to be replaced, the bumper might be usable as is, would have to get a better look when I get the car back.

zeontestpilot > pip bip - choose Corrour 09/30/2019 at 09:17

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They have those ‘whistles’ for the car. But I’ve heard they either do or don’t work... depending on who you ask. Been living in this area for ~ 5 years now, first deer I hit... ever. I’ve had close calls too. I think this is more like the exception, not the rule.

shop-teacher > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:17

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Well, that sucks.  Luckily you should be able to fix this fairly cheaply, with junkyard parts.

PartyPooper2012 > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:20

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pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:21

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https://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2/product/xp3-deer-hornet-deer-repeller-electronic-sonic-v-120-black/12v-sonic-deer-repellers/1094/1094.aspx

try this perhaps?

zeontestpilot > shop-teacher 09/30/2019 at 09:26

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I was thinking the same thing. Just waiting to get the list of “what’s broken” from the mechanic to start assessing what takes priority in repairs. One of my concerns is having loose parts (or parts that catch the air way too much) while on the highway.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:26

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Did you put the deer in the trunk too?

zeontestpilot > punkgoose17 09/30/2019 at 09:29

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After slamming on my brakes and pulling off to the side, I walked where the accident happened. There was no way I could have known some deer would jump out. Both sides of the road had heavy foliage on it. That gave me some relief because it means it couldn’t have been avoided.

Also, the deer I hit flew into a ditch as well. One-shot kill, apparently.

zeontestpilot > PartyPooper2012 09/30/2019 at 09:32

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He didn’t even hit the deer, did he? What a wuss.

zeontestpilot > Grindintosecond 09/30/2019 at 09:34

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I would love a newer grand prix, but....

zeontestpilot > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/30/2019 at 09:40

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Nope, since I have no way to skin it or a place to keep it. I just verified it was dead. Why, want it?

Wacko > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:40

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Free deer meat

Arrivederci > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 09:43

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My Dad got either a hood or bumper for his G6 (can’t remember which) that came painted and relatively inexpensive.  Let me know if you want me to ask him where he got it from.  The paint match was actually pretty good for a 13 year old car.

facw > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 10:06

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That sucks, but I’ve seen deer do far worse to cars. Hopefully the repairs aren’t too expensive.

zeontestpilot > facw 09/30/2019 at 10:14

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I seen worse too, i t’s just my first deer hit ever. Plus, I’m just really annoyed by it.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 10:15

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Stuff like this is why I just pay the little extra to keep full coverage, no deductible on my vehicles.

The extra $10-20/month is totally worth it when something happens.

I look at it this way, if you can’t afford proper insurance, you sure as hell won’t be able to afford it if something happens.

Hopefully this is just a bumper cover, headlight, and hood ( which if you don’t care about cosmetics, you could just “straighten” with a pliers/adjustable wrench and call it good enough ). Shouldn’t be too hard to find color matched parts at a local junkyard cheap.

Urambo Tauro > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 10:35

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Saw a deer in the road just yesterday on my way home. Caught it early enough t o drop into neutral and rev the engine a little to scare it off. I’ve had three deer strikes in my driving career and I don’t want a fourth.

Urambo Tauro > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 10:36

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Check the header panel too. Make sure there’s something for the new headlamp to attach to.

vicali > pip bip - choose Corrour 09/30/2019 at 11:18

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Some aussie roo bars would work better;

zeontestpilot > Urambo Tauro 09/30/2019 at 11:20

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Been driving since 15, so in 17 years this is my first deer hit. Not a bad record honestly. Still, I prefer not to go for a neighborhood ‘high score’ in deer hits.

zeontestpilot > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 09/30/2019 at 11:25

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If the bumper, hood, and the headlight are the only things messed up, i fully intend to just bend the hood back into place. New headlight for sure, can’t reuse what i had before. For the front bumper, I’d like to reuse it if possible. but might have to just replace it. Would prefer a black one over another color though.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 11:50

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If you're not too worried about the paint, maybe you could find some OK replacements at the local pick and pull yard?

zeontestpilot > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/30/2019 at 13:59

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let’s what I’m thinking of doing. my main focus is to get it operational. if it looks good thats a bonus.

CB > zeontestpilot 09/30/2019 at 14:46

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How much deer shit on the side of the car? Every single one I've been to has had a load of feces and blood on the side of the vehicle.

zeontestpilot > CB 09/30/2019 at 14:54

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no no no, its not on the side of the car, the deer crap is across the radiator and anyway between the radiator and front bumper. yeah... i’ll be taking a hose to it soon....

pip bip - choose Corrour > vicali 09/30/2019 at 19:00

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nothing probably exists like that in the states tho?

vicali > pip bip - choose Corrour 09/30/2019 at 19:15

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I can imagine the wave of lawsuits if you ever bumped someone.. Some people swear by the whistles;

pip bip - choose Corrour > vicali 09/30/2019 at 19:31

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some people swear at them for being useless

:D

i’ve heard people say good and bad things about them for kangaroos

vicali > pip bip - choose Corrour 10/01/2019 at 09:51

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I’m more in the big lights to see the deer camp myself.