My Focus ST is dead -- Hit head on at a stoplight

"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/13/2015 at 17:50 • Filed to: None

I was sitting at a light waiting to turn left when an elderly gentleman swerved from the other side of the road and smashed into me. He claims that there was a car pulling into the intersection that he was trying to avoid, but I didn't see anything — not that I was paying super close attention or anything. Everyone was alright, it was a glancing blow, so my car was pushed backwards quite a bit, and it didn't hurt at all. Just a hell of a shock seeing a car barreling straight at you like that. Just had time to grip the steering wheel and yell "SHIT!"

Could have been a hell of a lot worse.

Sorry for the terrible pictures. The rest are on my other camera which I don't have with me right now.

I'm pretty sure it will be totaled, and the officer agreed. If you look at the different sides of the car, you can see that one wheel is straight while the wheel that got hit was tugged way off to the side. The suspension on that side is totally torn apart and even the passenger door isn't lining up correctly.

So. What do I get next?

Might be a good excuse to get out of a car payment and get into something cheaper. I lost my job a little while back and am not making what I used to at my new job, so this could be a good opportunity to get something cheaper but (hopefully) just as fun.

DISCUSSION (79)

44444444444 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:52

Volvo S60 T5 manual? I'd suggest an S60R but they are kinda pricey to fix, even you can wrench on them yourself.

briannutter1 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:52

Sorry to hear it. Glad you're ok. I switched to paid in full sub $5k cars a while back and I think I like not having the stress of payments in uncertain times. They key is to find something semi-classic that moves you and has at least predictable maintenance.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:54

Damn, that sucks. Here's hoping it's totaled. I wouldn't want to deal with the loss of resale on a previously wrecked enthusiasts car. Get prices on what they go for used to begin arguing with your insurance company on what it's worth.

Any requirements for a replacement vehicle suggestion?

RallyWrench > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:54

Glad you're apparently ok, but wait a day or two before you say it didn't hurt at all. Whiplash is like that.

HammerheadFistpunch > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:54

Glad to hear there were no injuries. Sorry about your car, I guess it wont be eating any spicy foods for a while.

ly2v8-Brian > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:54

Most importantly you are ok. The car did it's job.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:55

FiST?

A little smaller a little cheaper.

Unless you want to go used, which opens up a whole other door for you.

citizennick > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:55

glad you're ok fellow ST brother. And it's obvious you should now wait for the RS. This is God telling you to get an RS!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:56

There's always the FiST

Funktheduck > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 17:57

Sorry to hear. Glad you're ok. More evidence that old people need to be retested frequently for their license. I've had way too many close calls because of old people.

FiST? Used mazdaspeed3? Regular mazda3?

Garrett Davis > citizennick
01/13/2015 at 17:59

Haha! I wish, it will be far out of my budget I'm afraid.

Garrett Davis > Funktheduck
01/13/2015 at 18:00

The only reason I didn't have a FiST in the beginning was because it was too small. I might be thinking a used WRX wagon...

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:01

The car saved you. Now you owe it to Ford so buy another! This time get the Fiesta to save on cost.

Garrett Davis > The Real Dacia Sandero
01/13/2015 at 18:03

I'm not looking forward to haggling with them on that, but it's not even a year old with just over 10k miles on it, so hopefully it won't take too hard of a hit.

I'm pretty open on suggestions, I need a moderate amount of room, hence why I got the Focus instead of the Fiesta ST. I would like something above 20 mpg, but I've really been itching to get back into a Jeep. A used WRX wagon sounds fun too though...

Garrett Davis > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
01/13/2015 at 18:04

The only reason I didn't go for the Fiesta was the lack of space. I might have to go and check one out again.

Garrett Davis > 44444444444
01/13/2015 at 18:05

Interesting. How is maintenance on those? I know expensive if Volvo does it, but are they unreliable?

Garrett Davis > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
01/13/2015 at 18:06

The Fiesta was a little small for me. Definitely looking used, I'm not too broken up about getting out of this car payment.

Funktheduck > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:07

Solid choice

Garrett Davis > ly2v8-Brian
01/13/2015 at 18:07

Thank you!

Garrett Davis > HammerheadFistpunch
01/13/2015 at 18:07

Thank you! That poor girl, I hadn't even named her yet.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:09

My sympathies. "Now kiss" with a Honda is not the fate to be wished on any enthusiast's car.

Garrett Davis > RallyWrench
01/13/2015 at 18:09

Thank you! And good point. I don't think it will be an issue, I think the car being taken backwards so far really helped. My seat belt and the Recaros held me tight, and along with my bracing against the steering wheel, I really didn't feel much of an impact. Just sort of knocked backwards. Less extreme than any roller coaster jerkiness.

But I agree, I'll wait and see.

Garrett Davis > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
01/13/2015 at 18:10

Yep. Killed by the epitome of beige.

Thank you.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:11

this is why we can't have nice things.

Dsscats > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:11

Used 2007 WRX wagon. Should be able to find a very nice one for under $15k and it looks fantastic.

RallyWrench > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:13

I'm thinking of your neck in that kind of impact, but hope there's nothing that comes up. The insurance companies will immediately ask if there are any injuries, and it's easy to say no without thinking about it for a sec, but you don't really know yet. If you said "no", you get to pay the chiropractor. If not, they do.

44444444444 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:14

They are reliable (at least anything 2004 and newer) and easy to wrench on.

The big items for a non-R S60/V70 (same car just in wagon) are the timing belt every 10 years or 120k miles ($250 parts), PCV system every 100-130k miles (it varies based on driving style, $300 in parts), coil packs every 100k miles about ($40 each), and lower control arms every 50-75k miles, the bushings wear prematurely ($350 parts, you really gotta buy OEM LCAs, or swap to poly bushings).

They also go forever. My V70R has 280k miles on it, and I DD a 99 V70XC with 246k miles on it.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:15

You should look into the Saab 92x Aero. It's a Subaru WRX wagon with a bit more mature styling. It has the steering rack from the STI, plus a few other upgrades.

Don't know what your price range is, but they go $8-12k. Finding the right one is difficult, but attainable.

Garrett Davis > 44444444444
01/13/2015 at 18:16

I guess my main problem right now is living in an apartment, I don't have much of a place to work on my car anymore, which sucks. I'll see if there are any decent ones in my area, would probably only go for the R.

Garrett Davis > RallyWrench
01/13/2015 at 18:17

They told me I have 30 days to report any pain and they'll take care of the visit, which is good.

Garrett Davis > The Real Dacia Sandero
01/13/2015 at 18:19

I would loove one! You're right, they are difficult to find, especially in decent shape. If I found a good one, I'd jump on it.

carcrasher88 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:20

Kinja'd!!!

Dang, I feel horrible seeing another wrecked ST, but very glad you're alright.

I did notice one thing, though, regarding this Accord.

I put the license plate number in the Bureau of Automotive Repair's place search...it comes back as a 2005 Accord COUPE, when it's clearly a sedan.

http://www.bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Ve…

Strange, isn't it?

RallyWrench > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:20

Good deal.

Tohru > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:21

just between us, how much did you swear at the other driver and tell him he should surrender his license?

44444444444 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:21

The R only adds 3 things and they only occur about every 75k miles, 120k miles, and 100k miles respectively.

Angle gear collar every 75k miles about ($120 parts)

Clutch/Clutch slave every 100k miles (the slave starts leaking) ($500 parts)

4C struts every 120k miles (they start leaking) ($1200 parts)

Garrett Davis > carcrasher88
01/13/2015 at 18:26

Hmm. That's interesting. Hope it's just a mistake.

jkm7680 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:26

Glad you're alright!

Mk7 maybe?

Garrett Davis > 44444444444
01/13/2015 at 18:31

Might have to see what's in my area. Thanks!

44444444444 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:33

No problem! Glad your Focus did its job.

Garrett Davis > Tohru
01/13/2015 at 18:33

I barely said anything more than I had to. He was an old Indian guy, didn't speak English very well. I kind of felt bad for him.

I don't think he should be driving, though. Someone easily could have been killed with this guy crossing into head on traffic. It's a 50mph road and if someone was going straight at the same time, that accident would have been terrible.

Garrett Davis > jkm7680
01/13/2015 at 18:33

Hmmm...

carcrasher88 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:38

Probably.

Also, I noticed something else...

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It appears it was due for another emissions test pretty soon, since CA law mandates cars under 25 years old to have a test done every two years.

Garrett Davis > 44444444444
01/13/2015 at 18:39

She paid for my life with hers. I didn't even get to name her yet... Damn.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:41

Kinja'd!!!

Glad to hear you're okay. What about a Volvo C30 T5? The Baby Volvo that's got back!

deekster_caddy > Funktheduck
01/13/2015 at 18:42

I'm a huge proponent of license retests, written and driving. Would get more people to stop driving who shouldn't be...

Hey, y'all, watch this! > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:46

Hey, my XJ can get 19 highway (downhill, with a tailwind). That's practically above 20. You should totally get a Jeep.

(You should probably not listen to me; I am the bad advice fairy.)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:48

Hell yea!

Garrett Davis > Hey, y'all, watch this!
01/13/2015 at 18:51

I had an XJ for years. I miss it like crazy.

Garrett Davis > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/13/2015 at 18:51

Says the guy with WRX in his name ;)

thebigbossyboss > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 18:59

Sorry to hear, glad you're alright. Car or no car, it's the other drivers fault, so you're looking forward to a payday!

thebigbossyboss > Funktheduck
01/13/2015 at 19:00

I know. My driveway is like 3 ft from a stop sign on a busy road. So sometimes, I back out when cars are stopping at the sign, because otherwise there is few breaks in traffic. One day I am backing out and this altima goes flying behind me. I catch up to him thinking it's some punk. Nope. 85 year old grandpa.

Garrett Davis > thebigbossyboss
01/13/2015 at 19:01

Thanks! True, just hope they don't try to lowball me on my car's worth.

thebigbossyboss > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:02

I have had two wrecks, and got "fair prices" but who knows man I am in an entire nother country. I did get $1080 for a ford tempo in like 2008 though. That was awesome. There was no way a Ford Tempo was worth that much.

 V8 Rustler > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:07

Kinja'd!!!

2013 Mustang V6.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:20

may I suggest this as your replacement:

Kinja'd!!!

Garrett Davis > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
01/13/2015 at 19:23

They need to hurry up with the Speed version! Those look fantastic.

Funktheduck > thebigbossyboss
01/13/2015 at 19:31

Drives me nuts. They're either driving at or below the speed limit in the left lane or they're driving like they're trying to kill themselves and any others to go with them.

My step mom's dad (since passed from unrelated issues) was so scary to my dad I was told I was never allowed to ride with him. My dad only rode with him twice and he ran multiple red lights. My dad would go out of his way to never ride with him again.

Funktheduck > deekster_caddy
01/13/2015 at 19:34

Yup. My thoughts are retests every 10 years. Retests mandatory at 65, 70 and every 2 years after 70.

j.davism5 > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:41

sorry to see it like that, glad you are ok. Although, I dont think they will write it off. It looks to have no airbag deployment, and so long as the A pillar is not bent, they can put it on a jig and pull it straight, even with monocoque construction. Down here a write off is a repair that costs 70% of the value of the vehicle or the vehicular saftey cell is no longer servicable. Airbag deployment often gets cars written off not on the damage sustained by the body, but by the cost of the airbag replacement and dashboard repairs/headliner repairs. If there is no airbag deployment, there may still be hope for repair, as they have 70% of vehicle value to play with. A single airbag can be anywhere from 2000-8000k to replace, so if the airbags deployed, you may get a statutory write off as opposed to structural. See how it goes. In the mean time, take it real easy and be wary of back and neck pain. At the first sign, see your gp. People often don't realise they have displaced/damaged vertebrae in the first 12 hours, until they sit or sleep the wrong way, and you can do irreparable damage.

WhiskeyGolf > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:47

After my fire, I know what it feels like to lose a vehicular friend. If you can save anything, make a plaque !

This is also my fear when I eventually buy a custom ordered new car: I'll be sitting stationary and get my car totaled through no fault of my own. Will definitely have a dashcam!

Glad you're OK and the engineering did its job!

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 19:58

I like them, but I do think that they are a little bigger than they need to be.

Architect > Garrett Davis
01/13/2015 at 20:00

I will corroborate! Current owner of your exact FoST (in black, no less), and years ago I had a 2004 WRX wagon. It was phenomenal, and you will be happy with it if you liked your ST. Very similar "spunky/hilarious" feeling from both.

So sorry about your job and now your car! Things will get better, I'm sure.

thebigbossyboss > Funktheduck
01/13/2015 at 20:18

Holy fuck dude.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Architect
01/13/2015 at 20:26

architect for real? did you see the rest of the name?

Architect > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/13/2015 at 20:36

I guess not. Neat! Yes, I'm an architect (intern, though I'm midway through the licensing exams) in the Hampton Roads area. Glad to make your acquaintance.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Architect
01/13/2015 at 20:48

thats cool. what type of work do you do? I started the license tests too. they suck. I work for a Residential architect. typical work is 3,000 -8,000 sq ft houses and the occasional 15,000 sq ft house. 3 car garage is typical. Most of the work is in costal towns south of Boston

Architect > OPPOsaurus WRX
01/13/2015 at 20:59

Wow, I love residential, though I've not gotten the chance to do much of it... I worked for a while at a pretty small, generalist practice, and did some DoD, healthcare, commercial, etc. Now I'm with a larger firm doing mainly higher-ed, student housing, university educational kind of stuff. It's so cool to find other people on Oppo who do what we do!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Architect
01/13/2015 at 21:21

yea its pretty cool. I had someone @ home depot mention how we were both left handded and I said I bet ur artistic. she said not really but i'm going to school for architecture. I thought that was pretty cool.

i've done a little of that stuff at an earlier job. UCSB houses, a ceramics museum, and a federal court house. Also did shitload of retail. got laid off during the recession, did some construction then got the residential job, bought a house and ripped it apart and rebuilt it. it was a lot of fun.

Funktheduck > thebigbossyboss
01/13/2015 at 22:07

I know, right.

Garrett Davis > Architect
01/13/2015 at 22:11

Nice! Good to know I won't be missing out if I switch over to a WRX. I'm gonna miss the hell out of my ST though. Tons of fun every time I got in it, even if it was just going to the store. Never had a car that gave a feeling like that before.

Garrett Davis > WhiskeyGolf
01/13/2015 at 22:14

Ouch, just read through that thread. Sorry about your car, man.

I know right? I always thought that I'd be OK since I (like to think) am a good driver, but when someone can come along and wreck your pride and joy like that with no way to prevent it, it's kind of depressing. Shit, what if I was driving a one of a kind show car, or something rare? Terrible.

Thanks, man! I'm just glad the airbag didn't deploy. I don't need that headache.

Garrett Davis > j.davism5
01/13/2015 at 22:19

Right, the airbag didn't deploy. Hmm, I really hope they total it, I don't want a car that has had that sort of damage, not to mention the hit on resale. The fitment of the passenger side door was definitely affected, it didn't open and close with the same tightness it did before, you could feel that it was tweaked when opening and closing it, like something didn't quite line up anymore.

I guess we'll see. Thanks for the input.