I'm no expert on these matters but I'm thinking they won't total it. We'll see.
Yeah, with luck, most of that will actually be bolt-on stuff. Hood, fascia, lights, fender, and two doors. You said it got the back door too, right Lemko?
On my Intrepid, they put too much stuff outside the actual structure of the car, and just thinly protected by the fender, fascia, etc. The wiring harness and windshield washer reservoir, for example. On the passenger side, in front of the wheel, is where they stuck the battery. So if it had been hit on that side, it might have contacted with something and shorted out!
On the night I first went to check out my 2000 Park Ave, I made a note of where stuff like that was located, just in case it happened again. At least on the Park Ave, they put all that stuff in the engine bay area, where it's more protected. I'd presume the LaCrosse was similar.
Lemko, I'm going to guess between $5K-$7K repair. As long as the chassis is OK, that is. Looks good form the pix you posted but could be something lurking beneath.
She credits her escape from injury due to the car's size and construction. She was saying if she were driving anything smaller, she'd have been badly injured or killed. My wife would make an excellent Buick spokesperson as she talks about her LaCrosse as if it were an upscale Mercedes or BMW and is constructed as solid as an M-1 Abrams tank!
She credits her escape from injury due to the car's size and construction. She was saying if she were driving anything smaller
You'd be surprised how safe smaller cars are. In 03 I was driving my '01 Nissan Pathfinder in an unfamiliar area, to make a long story short. I was going about 35, ran a red light and t-boned a lady in a Grand Am. I hit her in the drivers door. Put it this way. I saw the whites of her eyes. She walked way w/o a scratch and minor bruising, having to exit her car from the passenger side. Her Grand Am was totaled and my Pathfinder was not drivable with almost 7k in damage (all front end with frame damage).
Back in '87, I was hit head on in my '85 Mercury Lynx (ford escort) by a Ford Econoline full size van at a 5 way intersection. Both of us were going under 30, and I didn't have a seat belt on (that was the last time I ever rode in a car w/o a seat belt. I ended up with a gash on my head and minor whiplash. My car was totaled. The engine was pushed back to the firewall. Though I was definitely dazed and confused, had to be removed from the car, I walked out of the emergency room with a bandage on my head and a neck brace.
Unfortunately, I have lot of experience with car accidents. I was my dad's insurance agent worst nightmare. I think I wrecked every car I had as a teenager. Most of them were in small cars. So if small cars = death trap, I would have been dead a long time ago.
Unfortunately, I have lot of experience with car accidents. I was my dad's insurance agent worst nightmare. I think I wrecked every car I had as a teenager. Most of them were in small cars. So if small cars = death trap, I would have been dead a long time ago.
I hear ya .. it got so bad for me that my folks bought me a trophy that had a gorilla with a crash helmet holding a steering wheel. The inscription stated "World's Greatest Driver".
Many of my accidents were also in smaller cars, but I've been lucky not to have suffered a serious injury in any of them.
I was too afraid of my Dad to crash any cars when I was a teen. Any injury suffered in an accident would have paled compared to my Dad's wrath! :surprise:
Two times that I got into an accident with a smaller car, it was actually my car that took the worst of the impact! Back in college, I rear-ended an '82 Cavalier with my '80 Malibu when the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes because she thought she heard a siren. My car nosedived under the Cavalier, and it pretty much smashed out everything that the header panel held...grille, headlights, turn signals. The hood was crimped slightly. The driver's fender was pushed just far enough back into the door that it rubbed when you opened it. And the fender buckled slightly at the top of the wheel arch.
The Cavalier? The impact pushed in the rear bumper, but it popped back out. The plastic endcaps were messed up, and one of the taillights broken.
Now, if it had been the other way around, with that Cav going up under my Malibu, I'm sure that Cav would have been sitting there in a disfigured heap, while my Malibu might have gotten a few scratches on the bumper. Still, I have a feeling the occupants would have survived.
The second time was when a teenager in a 1992 Ford Tempo ran a stop sign and t-boned my '86 Monte Carlo. The impact smashed the fender, bent the rim, tore a chunk out of the tire, but not enough to pop it, bent the hubcap, gouged the passenger side door, pushed the A-pillar in enough to crack the windshield, and even gouged the rear quarter panel under the opera window.
I got rushed to the hospital, and was disoriented, plus it was night time, so I didn't get a good chance to look at the Tempo. It was smashed in front I remember, but I don't think it was too bad.
That accident was actually a bit embarrassing, because that little Tempo really did a number on my Monte. But, it was also the strongest part of that car hitting the weakest part of mine. Cars, even big ones, really haven't gotten that good with side impact protection until relatively recently. And again, I have a feeling that if it was this Tempo getting t-boned by my Monte, the results would have been a lot worse. Probably enough to easily total the Tempo, possibly injure the passenger, and it probably would have STILL totaled my Monte, simply because it was 12 years old, had 192,000 miles on it, and only had a book value of around $2500.
I was once in a bad luck crash like that...in 1996 I was riding with my uncle in my grandmother's 10 year old low mileage mint Olds 98. Going about 30...a 1987 MB 300E ran a stop sign going about 20. and hit the Olds right where the passenger door and front fender meet (I was in the passenger seat). A-pillar bent, windshield cracked, front wheel/suspension was bent, it really messed up the car, easy total loss. But, I was unhurt. My grandmother loved that car, she was heartbroken. The MB? Was able to drive away with a broken grille and cracked headlight, barely seemed damaged.
Horrible time for my uncle, as he was driving her car because the transmission in his Taurus failed the previous day!
GM is helping Japan with $500,000 to the Red Cross.
Very gracious people toward Japan in a time of crisis.
DETROIT, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation today approved an immediate $500,000 contribution to the American Red Cross relief fund to help earthquake-stricken Japan. GM also has provided a direct web-link that employees can conveniently access from their desktop work stations to contribute personally to the Red Cross disaster fund. Today's donation is in addition to the GM Foundation's earlier contribution of $250,000 to the Red Cross as a supporting member of their Disaster Responder program.
"Humanitarian relief is an important part of the Foundation's work and we're answering the call for help in the wake of such terrible devastation," said John T. Montford, Chairman of the GM Foundation and Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Global Public Policy. "There is remarkable compassion among GM employees, and I know that same spirit will make a difference in helping the Japan relief effort."
For over three decades the GM Foundation has provided financial support to the U.S. and cities around the world rocked by natural disasters. Recent contributions have helped relief efforts toward the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Haiti and floods in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Since its inception in 2000, GM Global Aid has facilitated millions of dollars in donations for disaster relief worldwide. Through this program, GM and its national and international business units and the GM Foundation can quickly direct vehicles, services, or supplies, as well as monetary contributions, to charitable organizations assisting in local disaster relief efforts. An essential component of GM's disaster relief efforts is that which allows GM employees and others worldwide to contribute funds to disaster relief efforts. Donations from the GM Global Aid fund come from the GM Foundation, which was created in 1976.
About the GM Foundation:
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.
I finally got my wife's LaCrosse back at 4:00 PM this afternoon! I was kind of nervous driving it over to her workplace as I left the auto body shop. I was surprised I got it back this early. I wasn't expecting it for another week.
Looks good. This body shop always does good work. I got there a little early and the guy was just installing the side moldings. They used all genuine Buick parts. No junkyard parts and no aftermarket junk.
Here's hoping .. I think a Cruze h/b will be necessary to compete with the new 2012 Focus.
I'm not exactly sure how or when this happened, but for some reason people are starting to associate 'hatchback' with 'premium'. The Mazda 3 h/b is more expensive than the sedan. Ditto the Fiesta and Focus.
Perhaps the concept of the 'premium' hatch like the MINI or Volvo C30 is trickling down?
I think hatchbacks might cost a little more to build, as well, than a sedan, since they have to stiffen up the body to account for the rear opening, which is larger in a hatch than a sedan. Plus, don't hatchbacks usually have a cargo area that's finished off better than a sedan trunk?
When you get into smaller cars, a hatchback usually makes more sense than a sedan, anyway, since the hatch gives you more versatility and cargo space than a notchback with a trunk would.
Heck, maybe Chevy has finally built a small car this big car lover would want?
If I were you, I'd hold out for the Verano .. same car as the Cruze, but it will come with the 2.4L engine so will have more power than either of the Cruze offerings.
And, you're a Buick guy to begin with, so it's right up your alley!
Heck, maybe Chevy has finally built a small car this big car lover would want?
Part of it could be that the Cruze is a bit big for a compact car. In a way, perhaps it's sort of like the old Dodge Dart, which was marketed as a compact, but bigger in many dimensions than a lot of intermediate, and even some full-sized cars. For instance, a '68 Dart 4-door had more front and rear legroom than a '68 Impala 4-door, according to CR. My '68 and '69 Dart hardtops did have a bit more legroom up front than my '67 Catalina convertible.
They now cover the bottom with Chevy, middle with Buick, and the upper crust with Caddy..The Impala line uses old design in every respect dating back to maybe 1998, and Malibu is not a bad looking car but the 4 banger needs help and the 3.6 engine gobbles gas faster than my 260hp 3.8 S/C V-6 and has the top end limited to 112mph..
The Buick offerings are still being developed and do hold promise if the vehicle weight is held to around 3500 lbs and the engines along with the suspension are tuned to a "fast pace." I get worried when they start dumping "shoe box size" 4 bangers into bloated bodies and then brag about performance..A 4 banger Camry SE will probably shellac the Buick in performance and gas mileage..
Owned three new Caddies which I gave to the wife, 1991,1996, and 1999, all Devilles loaded and they weren't too bad, and pricing was reasonable, however the lastest lineup is a little on the pricey side with little value in the DTS series.. I drove the 2000 Deville at intro-time and quickly purchased a new left-over 1999 and put it in storage for 18 mos until the 96 reached 90k mi..The basic 2011 Caddy is same as the 2000..
The CTS is pricey and small..However I would buy a used one with the proper performance goodies..under 5k mi...
The truck end of GM is not my bag however it does well and my favorite one was the Trailblazer SS series which during the depths of our recession was bargain priced and I regret that I didn't pop for one.. The basic SS was going for around $22k-new..I couldn't find one within 50 miles that had a sunroof with cloth interior...They do slurp gas, but I really didn't care..
After owning 51 Big3 autos along with 2 Porsches I did support the GM heavily and my last Ford was a 79 T-Bird before I got connected with the 2010 Mustang GT, w/track pkg..I still have the Grand Prix 2006, yes, it is dated in architectural sense, but the S/C engine is willing and likes the open road.
GM lost me when the Govt. stepped in
Noticed the local Chevy dealer has a 2011 Camaro conv. on the lot...My 71 SS350 Camaro still my favorite Chevy to date, bought the wife an 82 Z-28, one lousy car, sold it to a friend and it finally expired due to an engine fire, only had 40k miles..
I haven't drven the Cruise. It looked decent at the auto. I think a problem may be that is is not only larger than say a Corolla, but seems to cost more. It looked like you could get into something like a Camry for only about $1500 more, where a Corolla is around $3 grand less. The new Focus may hit this price differential issue after its newness wears off as well.
Don't know about the convertible for the 71 Camaro. The thing about the 71 vintage Camaro and Firebird was the flow of the roof lines to the rear fenders, rear deck. Car magazines back then were very enthusiastic about the clean lines, styling and that GM had successfully copied elements of the best designed Italian sports cars of that era.
Had both a 71 Firebird Formula 400 and a 71 Trans-Am 455HO. Wish I had the garage space and resources of years ago to still have that Trans-Am - was white with blue stripe on hood, roof, deck lid.
I always liked the 70-72 (F bodies?). I particularly liked the grill on the that vintage Camaro. I thought they kind of started wrecking the lines around 74. I don't think they had a convertible the first few years. I'm not sure, but several years in I'm thinking they introduced a convertible, but it was done by an outside shop rather than on the production line?
There were a handful of '70-81 era F-body convertibles made, but they were outsourced. I caught an old episode of the Dukes of Hazzard a few weeks ago, and even spotted one there! It was a silver '79-81 era Firebird driven by two hot chicks that would've fit in well with Charlie's Angels if they could suppress the accent, and put on a few more clothes!
It actually wasn't bad looking, but they never did show it with the top up.
I haven't drven the Camry. It looked decent 3 yrs ago when it first started showing up in the parking lots. I think a problem may be that is is not only larger than say a Corolla, but seems to cost more. It looked like you could get into something like a Cruze for only about $1500 less, where a Corolla is around $3 grand less. The new Focus may hit this price differential issue if people stop buying it suddenly as well. Lets hope the Camry continues to thrill and nobody finds the Cruze affordable.
Comments
I'm no expert on these matters but I'm thinking they won't total it. We'll see.
Yeah, with luck, most of that will actually be bolt-on stuff. Hood, fascia, lights, fender, and two doors. You said it got the back door too, right Lemko?
On my Intrepid, they put too much stuff outside the actual structure of the car, and just thinly protected by the fender, fascia, etc. The wiring harness and windshield washer reservoir, for example. On the passenger side, in front of the wheel, is where they stuck the battery. So if it had been hit on that side, it might have contacted with something and shorted out!
On the night I first went to check out my 2000 Park Ave, I made a note of where stuff like that was located, just in case it happened again. At least on the Park Ave, they put all that stuff in the engine bay area, where it's more protected. I'd presume the LaCrosse was similar.
I like that color with those wheels. If the hood's good, fixing the rest of the things looks more like hanging two doors and the left fender.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
You'd be surprised how safe smaller cars are. In 03 I was driving my '01 Nissan Pathfinder in an unfamiliar area, to make a long story short. I was going about 35, ran a red light and t-boned a lady in a Grand Am. I hit her in the drivers door. Put it this way. I saw the whites of her eyes. She walked way w/o a scratch and minor bruising, having to exit her car from the passenger side. Her Grand Am was totaled and my Pathfinder was not drivable with almost 7k in damage (all front end with frame damage).
Back in '87, I was hit head on in my '85 Mercury Lynx (ford escort) by a Ford Econoline full size van at a 5 way intersection. Both of us were going under 30, and I didn't have a seat belt on (that was the last time I ever rode in a car w/o a seat belt. I ended up with a gash on my head and minor whiplash. My car was totaled. The engine was pushed back to the firewall. Though I was definitely dazed and confused, had to be removed from the car, I walked out of the emergency room with a bandage on my head and a neck brace.
Unfortunately, I have lot of experience with car accidents. I was my dad's insurance agent worst nightmare. I think I wrecked every car I had as a teenager. Most of them were in small cars. So if small cars = death trap, I would have been dead a long time ago.
I hear ya .. it got so bad for me that my folks bought me a trophy that had a gorilla with a crash helmet holding a steering wheel. The inscription stated "World's Greatest Driver".
Many of my accidents were also in smaller cars, but I've been lucky not to have suffered a serious injury in any of them.
The Cavalier? The impact pushed in the rear bumper, but it popped back out. The plastic endcaps were messed up, and one of the taillights broken.
Now, if it had been the other way around, with that Cav going up under my Malibu, I'm sure that Cav would have been sitting there in a disfigured heap, while my Malibu might have gotten a few scratches on the bumper. Still, I have a feeling the occupants would have survived.
The second time was when a teenager in a 1992 Ford Tempo ran a stop sign and t-boned my '86 Monte Carlo. The impact smashed the fender, bent the rim, tore a chunk out of the tire, but not enough to pop it, bent the hubcap, gouged the passenger side door, pushed the A-pillar in enough to crack the windshield, and even gouged the rear quarter panel under the opera window.
I got rushed to the hospital, and was disoriented, plus it was night time, so I didn't get a good chance to look at the Tempo. It was smashed in front I remember, but I don't think it was too bad.
That accident was actually a bit embarrassing, because that little Tempo really did a number on my Monte. But, it was also the strongest part of that car hitting the weakest part of mine. Cars, even big ones, really haven't gotten that good with side impact protection until relatively recently. And again, I have a feeling that if it was this Tempo getting t-boned by my Monte, the results would have been a lot worse. Probably enough to easily total the Tempo, possibly injure the passenger, and it probably would have STILL totaled my Monte, simply because it was 12 years old, had 192,000 miles on it, and only had a book value of around $2500.
Horrible time for my uncle, as he was driving her car because the transmission in his Taurus failed the previous day!
Very gracious people toward Japan in a time of crisis.
DETROIT, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation today approved an immediate $500,000 contribution to the American Red Cross relief fund to help earthquake-stricken Japan. GM also has provided a direct web-link that employees can conveniently access from their desktop work stations to contribute personally to the Red Cross disaster fund. Today's donation is in addition to the GM Foundation's earlier contribution of $250,000 to the Red Cross as a supporting member of their Disaster Responder program.
"Humanitarian relief is an important part of the Foundation's work and we're answering the call for help in the wake of such terrible devastation," said John T. Montford, Chairman of the GM Foundation and Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Global Public Policy. "There is remarkable compassion among GM employees, and I know that same spirit will make a difference in helping the Japan relief effort."
For over three decades the GM Foundation has provided financial support to the U.S. and cities around the world rocked by natural disasters. Recent contributions have helped relief efforts toward the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Haiti and floods in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Since its inception in 2000, GM Global Aid has facilitated millions of dollars in donations for disaster relief worldwide. Through this program, GM and its national and international business units and the GM Foundation can quickly direct vehicles, services, or supplies, as well as monetary contributions, to charitable organizations assisting in local disaster relief efforts. An essential component of GM's disaster relief efforts is that which allows GM employees and others worldwide to contribute funds to disaster relief efforts. Donations from the GM Global Aid fund come from the GM Foundation, which was created in 1976.
About the GM Foundation:
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.
SOURCE General Motors
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Here's hoping .. I think a Cruze h/b will be necessary to compete with the new 2012 Focus.
I'm not exactly sure how or when this happened, but for some reason people are starting to associate 'hatchback' with 'premium'. The Mazda 3 h/b is more expensive than the sedan. Ditto the Fiesta and Focus.
Perhaps the concept of the 'premium' hatch like the MINI or Volvo C30 is trickling down?
When you get into smaller cars, a hatchback usually makes more sense than a sedan, anyway, since the hatch gives you more versatility and cargo space than a notchback with a trunk would.
In olden days when I had that Saab 99 hatch it wasn't finished off better than a trunk but more recently I think that's the norm.
That Cruze looks great. I like it in that color.
(I seriously miss the Malibu Maxx. And the Pacer.)
I saw a Malibu Maxx SS a few weeks ago and it brightened my day!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If I were you, I'd hold out for the Verano .. same car as the Cruze, but it will come with the 2.4L engine so will have more power than either of the Cruze offerings.
And, you're a Buick guy to begin with, so it's right up your alley!
Part of it could be that the Cruze is a bit big for a compact car. In a way, perhaps it's sort of like the old Dodge Dart, which was marketed as a compact, but bigger in many dimensions than a lot of intermediate, and even some full-sized cars. For instance, a '68 Dart 4-door had more front and rear legroom than a '68 Impala 4-door, according to CR. My '68 and '69 Dart hardtops did have a bit more legroom up front than my '67 Catalina convertible.
The Buick offerings are still being developed and do hold promise if the vehicle weight is held to around 3500 lbs and the engines along with the suspension are tuned to a "fast pace." I get worried when they start dumping "shoe box size" 4 bangers into bloated bodies and then brag about performance..A 4 banger Camry SE will probably shellac the Buick in performance and gas mileage..
Owned three new Caddies which I gave to the wife, 1991,1996, and 1999, all Devilles loaded and they weren't too bad, and pricing was reasonable, however the lastest lineup is a little on the pricey side with little value in the DTS series.. I drove the 2000 Deville at intro-time and quickly purchased a new left-over 1999 and put it in storage for 18 mos until the 96 reached 90k mi..The basic 2011 Caddy is same as the 2000..
The CTS is pricey and small..However I would buy a used one with the proper performance goodies..under 5k mi...
The truck end of GM is not my bag however it does well and my favorite one was the Trailblazer SS series which during the depths of our recession was bargain priced and I regret that I didn't pop for one.. The basic SS was going for around $22k-new..I couldn't find one within 50 miles that had a sunroof with cloth interior...They do slurp gas, but I really didn't care..
After owning 51 Big3 autos along with 2 Porsches I did support the GM heavily and my last Ford was a 79 T-Bird before I got connected with the 2010 Mustang GT, w/track pkg..I still have the Grand Prix 2006, yes, it is dated in architectural sense, but the S/C engine is willing and likes the open road.
GM lost me when the Govt. stepped in
Noticed the local Chevy dealer has a 2011 Camaro conv. on the lot...My 71 SS350 Camaro still my favorite Chevy to date, bought the wife an 82 Z-28, one lousy car, sold it to a friend and it finally expired due to an engine fire, only had 40k miles..
My wife and I love hatches. I wish I could find one of these:
Drop a hot crate motor in it, swap in some Z/28 suspension parts, and you'd have a unique cruiser/track toy.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Agreed. Think that GM would have made better decision to base their new Camaro on the 71 body rather than the 69.
Had both a 71 Firebird Formula 400 and a 71 Trans-Am 455HO. Wish I had the garage space and resources of years ago to still have that Trans-Am - was white with blue stripe on hood, roof, deck lid.
It actually wasn't bad looking, but they never did show it with the top up.