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After reading this post I just felt the need to reply. I have always been one to keep my car in top shape mainly because it feels better to me driving it when it's clean and dent free, and also for resale value. I had a 1995 Volvo 850 sedan before my Aero and sold it to a couple for $9200 last May. That was the offer they gave me...they said they looked at about 12 Volvos and after they saw mine they were willing to pay more because of the condition and service history. It only had 88k miles on it, wasn't a turbo...but it was loaded and looked brand new.
Now...I also have what I call "Parking Lot Paranoia"...I just have a hard time trusting most people. I've seen a kid in an old beat up Ford pickup park over the line in someone else's space who happened to have a brand new Mercedes CL55 AMG...he just swung that door open and threw a crease in it that I could not believe. He closed it and walked away w/o even a thought of what he did. Seen many grocery carts laying against sides of cars, people leaning up against other's cars while talking to friends...even came out of a store once to see a few kids using my hood as a park bench. It can happen anywhere...even where and when you'd least expect it.
So here I am babying my brand spanking new 2003 Aero...cleaning it with everything from a q-tip to a chamois every weekend because I was so proud to finally buy my first brand new european performance vehicle. I bought it at the end of November 2002. I had neighbors coming over commenting on the car and even asking for rides...was such a great feeling.
So here comes the beginning of february...then all hell happened. The wife and I decided to take a nice little road trip from Denver to southern Utah in Bicknell to go visit her brother and sister-in-law. I was exstatic...first road trip in my Aero...let's have some fun and see how this car really drives through those canyons and twisty roads! Left the house with about 1875 miles from what I can remember. Now...in Colorado, they don't use salt and sand on highway roads because and I quote from a state worker "Oh...that stuff can rot and ruin your car." So what do they put down instead? GRAVEL!!! I had every #@$%@#$ pickup truck that was lifted about 10" not using mudflaps firing rocks at me from every lane (and there's tons of pickups in CO). Even holding back about 300 feet they were still bouncing off the windshield. Saw a couple little chips in the windshield, but nothing major...just kind of brushed that off and figured I'd get a new one after winter.
Got to my brother-in-law's place and the car was so dirty from the trip along with all the magnesium chloride they put down...I couldn't really see any damage. So...4 days later we head back...again, missled with rocks and sand...etc. Then *BAM* a big one hit and I had a nice 7" crack in front of me. UGH!!!$%$#% Got home...washed the car over and over because that Mag Chloride will stain easily...took a lot to get it off of the plastic on the front of the car. Then I took a close look at it...every inch of my car felt like sandpaper. From the lights, mirror assemblies, trim around windows, grill, bumper...etc. Adjuster came to look at it and he was in awe...put his hand on my shoulder and expressed how sorry he was. On his report he estimated over 300,000 chips on the car in total...there wasn't a square inch of space without one. Even the clear bra was just shredded. Turns out it was $7200 in damage in total.
I get the car redone in the spring and it looked perfect! I was so happy to have my brand new car back.
Three days later I go to Home Depot to pick up some bug spray...was parked in a nice end spot right next to the curb hoping to keep away from anyone. Was in the store for literally 5 minutes and came out to notice a dent the size of a softball on the edge of my hood. Someone dropped something right on it and took off. At this point...I don't want to go anywhere with it! My insurance company (Amica) was so sympathetic, that they covered that w/o me needing to pay the deductible.
My point being...you just never know when anything can happen. Here I am paranoid about city parking and crowded areas...but then take a nice road trip on an open country road/hiway and my car gets absolutely trashed.
I've finally learned to live with the fact that these things can happen...and that's what your insurance is for.
posted by 24.8.7...
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