She’s totaled.

[BMWburner]

Today is a bad day for Ben Shockley. On my way home this rainy afternoon, I chanced upon a rusty, decrepit, mid 80's Buick stalled in the fast lane of dense traffic. You know the car I’m talking about, we’ve all seen them, barely worthy of the road. I couldn’t merge to the right to go around him because traffic was really dense so I stomped into the ABS and stopped about three car lengths behind him. Before I was even really stopped I looked into my trusty auto dimming rear view mirror and filled with terror. The young Asian woman behind me an Eagle Talon was not so quick to react. She stomped her brakes into a lock up on the wet pavement about a hundred feet behind me, the rest is history.

I was thrown into a spin as she didn’t hit me squarely and I almost hit another car as I spun across traffic. To add insult to injury this was in a construction zone. I stopped just before I flew into some decent size construction equipment. I was actually quite safe and comfortable despite the G-forces I endured.

My car is pretty bad off, I haven’t heard back from the girl’s insurance company yet but it’s likely totaled. The trunk can’t latch and the bumper molding is destroyed, as are the lights, and the mufflers are mangled into the rear suspension. One of the A arms is damaged pretty badly, yet the struts still work pretty well. I think the car could be repaired, I managed to drive it off the free way to safety, but the repairs would be astronomical in cost. There are a few impact related mechanical problems, but it still runs well enough. Hell, the Talon was barely recognizable, so cheers to any car that can get hit dead on by a car going 40 miles per hour and drive away from it.

I’m unhurt, as is the young woman, but the car will be left to die. I love that car, no one else understands. My parents we're like "You're OK, you get a free rental, and your car replaced, what's the deal?" You guys will understand, even if others don't. I feel bad, I’ve had a lot on my plate this semester or I would have been on these forums more. I feel like I haven’t contributed much around here. The past six months have been great, and I’ve developed quite a bond with my Cadillac and the brand in general. I’ve enjoyed learning everything about them on here and will try my best to replace my STS with another Caddy. I doubt I’ll be able to find an STS as clean as mine was for whatever I get for it, but that’s life. I’ll stay with a Caddy if for no other reason than the safety factor, I can speak worlds of these cars’ safety now. I hope to god none of you ever find out, but these cars’ safety and rigidity is as impressive as the power plants under their hoods.

–Ben

P.S. Buckle Up! You never know who might ram you!

[Scotty]

Hey Ben, I am glad you are OK that is what is important! See my post in the For Sale section, its NOT an STS, but an SLS for $3850, cheap enough. I have seen it and will go back and look it over closely and drive it if you want. I saw it last night and its still available. It has the same mileage are yours. Fly to New York and I will take you to it, Mike

[canadian95sts]

Ben,

That really sucks, but at least no one is hurt. I too have had to suffer the loss of a Caddy in the recent past, its not fun. But all you can do is move forward and start the search for another.

Matt

[Regis]

Ben,

That is such a sad "Cadillac" ending story. Glad to hear that you're alright. Yes you've had quite a year haven't you? Be thankful that you're still here for the finale. Although it's "just a car" most of us appreciate what you are saying. I too have a bond with my caddy that my wife one day hopes to supersede . Obviously you can tell she is in the other room. If you're really considering another caddy and yours can't be reasonably fixed then I would consider Scotty's offer. Heck you might even get a free dinner out of it (sorry Scotty LOL). I was just telling him early today that if I was in the market for another Caddy I would jump all over that 95SLS. Good luck.

[BMWburner]

Thanks Mike. That car looks EXACTLY like mine. Same color, same interior, same wheels...wow. Take the icky black SLS trim off the body and I would swear that was my car. No joke. I'll likely get between six and seven grand out of the deal and might opt for a newer model depending on weather or not I'd be willing to thow down a grand or two. However if that thing is still there in a couple of days after I have some idea of what to expect I'll think about it. I do have a problem with leather wear but that thing is clean, you can always die the leather.

Thanks

--Ben

[Scotty]

The seats were very good but the steering wheel and shifter were shot. You might be able to pull them off of yours! Let me know I will go by and take some interior photos, Mike

By the way, I HATE driving in the rain! That is why I throw my tires away after 40K miles.

[sprucegoose]

Hey Ben, glad you are OK after that ordeal! I have been there myself, and I know how you feel. I'm sure you'll come out OK, just be glad that you are not seriously injured. I keep telling myself that, after that ordeal I had.

There have been a number of fatal accidents in my region recently, and it sure make me glad I had the solid, safety-designed Caddy that I had when it counted. My 98 Riviera isn't quite as big or solid, but it is pretty close. There is no way I could see myself stepping into some econo-box car everyday out there when I have a 120 mi. commute every day.

Hope that something good comes out of this for you... Good luck!

[Ranger]

God I hate these stories. Glad to hear you emerged unscathed.

[Julio]

Yeah man that sux! Don't let it get the best of you, I'm sure there's another nice ECT with a spoiler or a nice STS that needs a good home out there waiting for you!!!

[tjtjwdad]

Glad to hear you're OK. It's easy to get attached to your rides, but there are others out there.

Good Luck!

Jim

[epricedright]

Sorry to hear about your caddy! My wife was in an accident similiar to yours years ago, and she suffers to this day with neck problems from the whip-lash she received. So although you lost your caddy, consider yourself really lucky that Talon didn't cream you any harder to give you injuries you'd feel for a lifetime. You'll find another caddy to fall in love with again I'm sure. I'm just glad to hear you're ok!

[CadiKing]

Ben,

I have three letters for you... STS

Do NOT settle for an SLS... Your story illustrates how well that car handles in an accident situation! I almost totalled a brand new Deville a few weeks ago because I was out of control and so used to my '99 STS while driving like an idiot!

Get a Newer ('96 - '01) STS.

Nuff Said...

[sprucegoose]

My drive in this am reminded me again of this thread... 4 rear-ender accidents in 60 mi! The worst one closed I94 both ways as the flight for life chopper extracted a victim who was pinned beneath a semi-tractor trailer!

I forgot to mention in my original reply Ben... Yes, that seatbelt will do you a great service. I truly believe this kept me from flying out my passanger side window (which was open) the day I was slammed. Last week there were 3 people that were all thrown from their Nissan Xterra here and they all died...

[BMWburner]

Well my local Cadillac dealer's collision center is fighting hard to get my STS back on the road. Apparently the service guys seem to think that the car is in far too good a shape to total, and should be salvageable. That’s fine by me, I'd perfer to keep the car, however getting that done for the pittance that the insurance company is willing give them could prove to be a problem, but they are willing to be flexible on their rates to help me out. Bette’s is such a classy operation, and they do such good work. I hope to god that they don’t find anything else or I’m going to lose her for good. They also informed me that the fuel rail recall had yet to be performed, which I was unaware off, so it will be convenient to have that done at the same time. I’m somewhat worried that I’ll get my car back and it won’t be the same, but with a little luck it will be better. Hell, I was going to have my rear bumper painted this winter anyways because of some chipping above the heat shields. Additionally I have never been able to get my exhaust tips clean, they’re so caked with carbon and now I’ll have shiny new ones. And I had the typical after car wash fog in one of my tail light lenses, I can’t complain about that getting fixed either. The glass needs to stay half full, I shall not yield such a fine vehicle on poor merit.

--Ben

[Scotty]

Glad you are moving forward good luck. Did you ever post a photo of your car?

[StinkinLincoln]

Yeah it would be great to see a before and after pic once you get it all fixed back up.

[epricedright]

If they do total it, see if you can buy it from the insurance company for cheap. You could part it out on ebay, or here on the board and make some money. My wife totalled our minivan and they let us keep it for an extra $100.00. I was cut a check for $6000.00 (only paid $5500.00 for it originally) and kept the vehicle, which worked out great, as we're still driving it today. It cost me $500.00 in parts, and with my labor, you cannot tell it was totalled. Only the title is evidence of that. After a vehicle is totalled, the insurance company usually only gets what the vehicle is worth at the salvage yard. So whatever the yard is willing to pay for it should be what you could buy it for from the insurance company. Just food for thought if you're so inclined.

[BMWburner]

Well the damage to the suspension was too severe. We’re all aware of the expense in repairing the suspension on these cars. So I’m in the car market again. I would like to stay with an STS. I actually drove a DTS and loved it, however it was a little out of my budget. I drove a 98' Eldorado, and while a fine vehicle, didn’t stack up for handling or speed. It just didn’t feel as brisk even though it’s similar in power. I’m also accustomed to the low final drive ratio on the STS, you never touch the gas, I’ll miss that if I don’t get another one. I’d be happy with anything but I think I’d like to get a 98' STS if I can find one I can afford. I have a god awful Saturn to drive in the mean time to remind me of why I need to get another Cadillac. Shopping is really not one of my favorite things even if it’s for a car. Oh, well.

–Ben

I’ll go snap a picture of the remains in the morning when I go to steal my stereo back out of the car in the morning, plus my sunglasses are still in there. They don’t want me to take the stereo out of it, but it’s a 400$ Alpine deck with infinity Kappas in the doors. That would be a wet dream for any junk yard and I can’t allow such.

As far as buying the car back in concered, I have no place to put it, otherweise it would be a gold mine for anyone on here that needs anything for their car. Many new parts. I thought about it but I doubt could keep it too long.

[epricedright]

Maybe just sell it as a whole as a "salvage vehicle" on eBay. That shouldn't take too long. It would be worth it if you could buy it from the insurance company at a good price. Whatever you could make in addition to the check they cut you will be a bonus for your new caddy. In regards to the radio, they are taking in consideration the radio's value as they compute the value for your vehicle, but I guarantee they aren't giving you any where near it's true replacement value. I'd guess an extra $50-100.00. So if you can keep it without paying much for it, I would. If they want a radio, throw in on the front seat the original factory radio maybe.

If you decide to not buy it back, atleast find out from them what they would take for it, I'm just curious.