Goose, were going down!!

[KHE]

Wow goose! That's an incredible story and I'm glad to hear you're in one piece. I see people run red lights everyday. It's disgusting. I got all sick to my stomach reading your post. Ugh....that beautiful eldo..... yeah I hope you find that bum. I would call the local news station and report it and the details of the car/driver that took off. It makes for good news and they might air it in the hopes someone knows the idiot that did it. Just make sure you have the police report/case number on hand to give them. They'll want to verify the story, of course, before airing it.

In west Michigan, red light/stop sign running has become an epidemic...and the police do little or nothing to stop it. All they want are speeders and drunks.

I travel on a 2-lane road to work and see 3-4 drivers each day each way roll up to an intersection at 20 MPH or so and run the stop sign....I am getting so disgusted over it that I am going to write a letter to the sheriff's department.

[sprucegoose]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune,glad to hear you walked away alright. You have the same tastes as me I noticed, a black eldo and a Thomson contender. do you also have a shovelhead Harley in the garage?

Thanks CaddyPete! Nope, no Harley in the garage. No room for one, too packed with all my GMs and the spare parts! I had to laugh when I looked it over the other day. Two Pontiac 400's sitting on engine stands and a spare 3.1 v6 on a skid. No wonder I can't get my snowmobiles in there anymore!

You know the Eldo is actually Polo Green, but even a neighbor that has seen me driving it for the last year and a half just said "Hey, I thought that car was black!" Especialy in pictures, it appears to be black in overcast lighting.

So what barrels do you have for your Contender? I have a 22 cal. for target plinking and small game, and a 30-30 cal. Super-14" with a 3x scope for deer hunting and serious target shooting. I can't believe the accuracy of that gun. I can pick a can off a log at 200 yds if I have a good rest!

[growe3]

Hey Sprucegoose,

darn shame about your Eldorado, glad you are OK.

It seems like Cedarburg isn't that big of a city; chances are that the car that hit you will feel safe in a few days and start driving around again. Keep your eyes open, and try to get a license number to give to the police. I wouldn’t confront the person, at this stage of events, even if you feel that you could wipe the floor with him. Be smarter than the jerk that ran away, let the police pick him up, get him brought up on the appropriate charges, and sue the coward.

While the odds are you won’t get much, I would make it a point to recover as much as possible for your damage expenses and what ever you can, for pain and suffering.

-George

[Jason15036]

Thanks for the reply, Im glad you made it out ok. Who knows maybe you will find the driver that hit you. Mines totaled but I think Im gonna stick to another Caddy, just because they seem to hold up good in wrecks, look we both walked away from ours. Good luck on your car.

[caddypete]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune,glad to hear you walked away alright. You have the same tastes as me I noticed, a black eldo and a Thomson contender. do you also have a shovelhead Harley in the garage?

Thanks CaddyPete! Nope, no Harley in the garage. No room for one, too packed with all my GMs and the spare parts! I had to laugh when I looked it over the other day. Two Pontiac 400's sitting on engine stands and a spare 3.1 v6 on a skid. No wonder I can't get my snowmobiles in there anymore!

You know the Eldo is actually Polo Green, but even a neighbor that has seen me driving it for the last year and a half just said "Hey, I thought that car was black!" Especialy in pictures, it appears to be black in overcast lighting.

So what barrels do you have for your Contender? I have a 22 cal. for target plinking and small game, and a 30-30 cal. Super-14" with a 3x scope for deer hunting and serious target shooting. I can't believe the accuracy of that gun. I can pick a can off a log at 200 yds if I have a good rest!

I have a 22 in 14 inch, the 44 mag 14in, 223 in 16 inch and my favorite 45/70govt in 14in magna ported and thompson scoped alot of fun and accurate, but gets rough on the wrists after 4or 5 rounds

[sprucegoose]

Hey Sprucegoose,

darn shame about your Eldorado, glad you are OK.

It seems like Cedarburg isn't that big of a city; chances are that the car that hit you will feel safe in a few days and start driving around again.  Keep your eyes open, and try to get a license number to give to the police.  I wouldn’t confront the person, at this stage of events, even if you feel that you could wipe the floor with him.  Be smarter than the jerk that ran away, let the police pick him up, get him brought up on the appropriate charges, and sue the coward.

While the odds are you won’t get much, I would make it a point to recover as much as possible for your damage expenses and what ever you can, for pain and suffering.

-George

Thanks George,

No, this didn't happen in Cedarburg. It was in a pretty rough neighborhood in Milw. just a few blocks from where I work. I know the chances are very slim of me ever finding this character down there, but I'm gonna try. Yeah, I wouldn't try and confront them myself. (the Contender will stay at home) That would just be stupid. You never know what you may run into that way. I'd let the Police and the system handle it from there.

Pretty sore today, the stiffness has really set in... especially in the middle back area. I suppose it was the twisting/whipping going on and then the abrupt jamb as I hit the pole. Will post the pics of the scene when I get them from the witness tomorrow.

I really hope that I can figure a way to fix this car, but the priority is pretty low considering the circumstances right now. Will you guys posted on that. Good luck with your car searching to Jason15036!

If for some reason I do have to let it go, another Eldorado or an STS is at the top of the list. Next to my 70 Firebird, this is the most favorite car I have ever owned. It just plain honked, and was such a sharp looking car!

Pete, my Dad had a 45/70 barrel for his Contender a while back. I shot that thing a few times... WOW what a load! The palm of my hand was numb for 10 minutes after that!

[AaronM]

I am very sorry to hear about your Eldo! At least you are okay! My brother and I had similar experience, but not as severe. We went to Target to get some things and came back out to find our car smashed all down the side . At least it was his old beater Escort! But, the person hit and ran, which is not cool! People these days, haha! I hope everything turns out okay!

[TDK]

Sprucegoose,

All things considered - I would feel the same as you - dang glad to be alive!

Too bad about the damage - but that's exactly what a good friend (or car) is supposed to do. In this case - it took the bullet for you (absorbing and disapating the multiple impact energies - resulting with deformed steel). No doubt about it!

If it was on the driver's side with your open window and all - then your head would have been thrown out the window (into their front end) or at least knocked into the door post.

It seems that neither front air bag deployed with the side hit (as they are not designed that way) is that correct?

You did have your set belt on right?

Regarding "Hit & Runs":

There are commercial video/audio "flight recorders" that mount in front of the rear-view mirror and record the last few minutes including speed, braking etc on an "endless loop" chip. These devices are used by trucking companies, taxis etc, to exhonerate/incarcerate their drivers. So I was thinkin...

Why not have a 360-degee lens (or multi-cam input) into a device that records your vehicle's suroundings and actions. Obviously, it would be used in accident reconstruction and criminal charges in the case of hit and run - including parkling lot side swipes by other vehicles and "keying" by low-lifes. This is very feasible technology with off-the shelf parts.

Folks, any thoughts? How much would you pay for this option new or aftermarket ?

Sprucegoose, too bad but glad you're around to write about it.

If the Goose goes...then..."The [old] Goose is dead, long live the [new] Goose!"

[gygmy]

TDK that is an intersesting idea about the camera/recorder thing. With the stuff that is out there now I do not see why that a system that you described could not be feasible. How about a continual recording of info that keeps resetting and then recording again that would be "fixed" by the input of info such as airbags deployed, security system activated etc. Sort of like the black box on an airliner but with digital cameras incorporated into it.

[BuickLeSabre1960]

Ive thought about doing that except for a part of an alarm system

[sprucegoose]

It seems that neither front air bag deployed with the side hit (as they are not designed that way) is that correct?

You did have your set belt on right?

TDK,

Oh yeah, I had the belt on... never drive without it!

The airbags won't deploy unless you have a good hit in the front end, as far as I understand. I wonder if the guilty party's car had air-bags, and whether the were fighting that punching bag as they sped away. I'll bet it didn't have them as it was a mid 90's economy car, and that wasn't really standard equipment yet at that point...

With that in mind, I at least hope he suffered a good knock on the noggin against the steering wheel. He sure deserved at least that!

Great idea with the Capture Cam at the accident sequence time. The alarm capture cam is a good idea too BuickLeSabre1960!

[davedog]

THIS SUCKS!!! I am so sorry to hear about "The goose" man! Such a pretty cadillac! I always liked your eldo, and would keep up with any of your posts since we have almost identical caddies! Polo green and everything....yeah and I get that "isn't your car black" thing all the time too.

I'm just gad to hear you are ok! Hope everything turns out good. Keep us updated, I post those pics when you get em!

[KHE]

So it seems as many have said; your girl came through for you and saved your life.

I would settle your muscles and aches for a few days and then take a hard look at saving hers too. The body damage is really minimal considering your experience and the floor can be fixed too. The pipe and such can be cut out and joined with new stuff. Check her out carefully and take her to a shop to measure for twist and square of the subframe parts.

If it all checks out favorable then give her a facelift and get her cruisin' again.

You are a lucky man and quite obviously chose the best car in the world to have this bad experience with.

Take care...

MP

Thanks MP! Yes I do feel quite fortunate, I know that is weird hearing me say that, but this car took an amazing hit for so little damage. Especially on that pass. side! If I wouldn't have wailed into that pole it would be really easy to fix. I'll have her checked out pretty good, and make a good educated decision on what to do with "The Goose". I really would have a tough time letting her go. One thing for sure, it wouldn't take much to get her in shape for the drag-strip!

I had actually planned on doing that soon, and had just spoke to my son about it yesterday as we were cruising along. We were on the way home from a rather serious Dr. visit (just found out my 18 yr. old son has a heart arrythmia cond.) and we needed something to put a smile on his face. Man, am I glad this didn't happen yesterday with him in that passenger seat...

Sprucegoose,

You should be able to find a decent Eldorado in the '98-'99 model year range. for about the same money as what it will cost you to repair your '94. I would definitely look into that route vs. expending a lot of labor and money for parts repairing your '94.

I was faced with a similar situation in January with my snowmobile. The engine leaned out and burned one of the pistons. The cost of all the parts (with me doing all of the labor) was $940 (it needed a reman crankshaft). It was a '91 Ski-Doo Mach 1 that I owned since it was three years old and was in mint condition with 5800 miles on it. Not that I would have... but I would have been lucky to sell it for $1000 before the engine puked. There was no way I was going to put $940 into a $1000 sled so I parted it out on ebay and cleared $1600. I found an incredible deal on a 2003 Ski-Doo Mxz for $3000. By putting the money I would have spent repairing my existing machine plus the money made bu parting out the old one, I moved up 12 years for $460.....

[sprucegoose]

Sprucegoose,

You should be able to find a decent Eldorado in the '98-'99 model year range. for about the same money as what it will cost you to repair your '94. I would definitely look into that route vs. expending a lot of labor and money for parts repairing your '94.

Well, I don't know about being able to find a decent '98-99 Eldo for $3,700... That's what the first body shop estimate just came in at. That didn't include fixing the exhaust or replacing any rear suspension components if it needed that he said. Would cover 4 wheel alignment though. That is using used parts also.

I agree with the moving up in years vs. fixing old cars if at all $ possible. There is one problem here... Without anybody forking over the cash besides me, it isn't going to happen right now. I had already drained my "Firebird-fund" money to pay for the GP, and the soon-to-follow new motor. I would have to sell the Eldo, or part it out before I could buy anything else right now. I'm bummin' man...

Time to hit the northwoods right now. We're camping on a beautiful island on the Chippewa flowage, puttin' down some brews, and slaying some walleyes. That will help you forget your troubles for a while!

[KHE]

Sprucegoose,

You should be able to find a decent Eldorado in the '98-'99 model year range.  for about the same money as what it will cost you to repair your '94.  I would definitely look into that route vs. expending a lot of labor and money for parts repairing your '94.

Well, I don't know about being able to find a decent '98-99 Eldo for $3,700... That's what the first body shop estimate just came in at. That didn't include fixing the exhaust or replacing any rear suspension components if it needed that he said. Would cover 4 wheel alignment though. That is using used parts also.

I agree with the moving up in years vs. fixing old cars if at all $ possible. There is one problem here... Without anybody forking over the cash besides me, it isn't going to happen right now. I had already drained my "Firebird-fund" money to pay for the GP, and the soon-to-follow new motor. I would have to sell the Eldo, or part it out before I could buy anything else right now. I'm bummin' man...

Time to hit the northwoods right now. We're camping on a beautiful island on the Chippewa flowage, puttin' down some brews, and slaying some walleyes. That will help you forget your troubles for a while!

I am surprised that the damage amount is only $3700....with the hit in the front end damaging the suspension. Was there any damage to the transaxle from the impact?

I hear 'ya on the brews and walleye fishing though - sounds like a good time.

[sprucegoose]

Finally got the pics from the witness. Not the best (a little over-exposed) so i tried to darken them a little. Here is the beached Sprucegoose, along with one of the cops trusty steeds!

[sprucegoose]

Along with a view of the on-ramp and the investigating cop...

[sprucegoose]

A rear view. Shows how the rear was hanging up off the ground...

[sprucegoose]

Drivers side view... Boy, I was lucky i didn't hit that pole further back on the door. I'm sure i would have been injured.

[sprucegoose]

Last one of the drivers side impact area.

[lxndrtg]

Hey, sprucegoose...I saw her twin sister...it is the same, right down to the dark green paint. Two days to go and currently below $1300:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...sspagename=WDVW

[Oldgamer]

I'm glad you are Ok. The most important thing.

[sprucegoose]

Hey, sprucegoose...I saw her twin sister...it is the same, right down to the dark green paint. Two days to go and currently below $1300:

Well, not quite the twin... That one has the 4.9L (despite the ad saying Northstar V8!) and and not in nearly as nice cond. as mine once was... Not sure why you said 2 days to go, auction has ended, and there wasn't any bids at all.

[sprucegoose]

I'm glad you are Ok. The most important thing.

Thanks Oldgamer, I couldn't agree more!

[lxndrtg]

Hey, sprucegoose, I checked again on the eBay ad and the seller ended the auction early due to "errors in the listing" which is why you saw the zero bids. The errors in the listing must have been the engine not being a NS. The car has been relisted but, as you said, it obviously isn't equal to your wounded goose. Please keep us posted as to what you decide to do with her. Good luck.