Car actually gets hit... with no body damage! (pics)

[JingChuan]

I'm still scratching my head about this one... but I was there to see it. Actually, there to feel it. I'm in the left turn lane about 2 hours ago, waiting for an opening in oncoming traffic. Then, out of nowhere, to the tune of screeching tires, I get tagged in the driver's side quarter, spinning me enough to be facing a different direction than I was a few moments before. Yes, I was "HIT" tonight. Contacted at a certain rate of speed by a car moving in a perpendicular direction to the direction in which my car was facing. Naturally I assumed the worst, immediately vented at the driver of the other car, and limped through the (now completely motionless) intersection. I jumped out of the car when I was off the road and right away made a few quick phone calls, first to the person I was supposed to be meeting at a local establishment known for wings and scantily clad waitresses. I was sure that my car would not be safely mobile for the trip home - which of course would be after the trip to the aforementioned establishment. Anyway, after the remaining necessary calls, I braced myself to look at the damage and... where was it? I knew I just got hit. But the sheet metal was shaped and colored the way it was when I first bought the car! Huh? No body damage? Not even a scratch in the paint or a rub in the generous amount of Chicagoland road salt covering the Black Mica finish. That's not to say there wasn't any damage though. Somehow, this precision driver managed to only hit the rear DS 17" Mazda3 wheel I had recently mounted for winter duty. Only the wheel! Of course, this wheel is now pushed in 2" more at the top than it should be, which gives it almost as much negative camber as most of the "tuner" Civics in the area, but that is beside the point. I'm dreading to find out what happened to the suspension though. I hope it isn't too bad. We'll see what the repair shop - and insurance adjuster - has to say about it. But in the meantime, check these out. I gotta say, from what I can see, this is a tough little car.

 

[bgibb68]

that is crazy man.....the gods are smiling on you my friend. even if it screwed up the suspension it'll be in the shop for a day after they get needed parts and that's it....GO BUY A LOTO TICKET LIKE NOW

 

[joe's_speed3]

I know my camber in the rear looks pretty close to yours. and i've never been hit.

Damn these cars really do hold up though.

i was driving at like 2:30 in the morning one day and this dog jumps out of the darkness right in front of my car. i was doing like 60 mph. couldnt avoid it. hit the front corner of my bumper. never saw the dog after. must have been able to run. hit hard though.
When i got home and really checked there was no damage at all.

 

[ND4MSP]

Same thing happened to me. I had a 85 mustang, I got hit in the drivers side rear making a left onto a busy street. There was a huge bush and a bunch of cars parked in my vision. So anyway the car that hit me slammed on the brakes hard enough to were the front end dipped and hit the rear wheel and nothing else. The dude split instantly but his front license plate fell off, lol.

 

[bgibb68]

Same thing happened to me. I had a 85 mustang, I got hit in the drivers side rear making a left onto a busy street. There was a huge bush and a bunch of cars parked in my vision. So anyway the car that hit me slammed on the brakes hard enough to were the front end dipped and hit the rear wheel and nothing else. The dude split instantly but his front license plate fell off, lol.

wow....damn sucked to be him...AH HA...JUSTICE

 

[NCZ13]

your strut is probably bent, and realistically is a cheap fix.

 

[mdavis]

car wash?

 

[714ms3]

car wash?

Would you wash your car when it is raining outside? Obviously not captain stupid
For that same reasoning he won't be washing his car whilst it is snowing of there is road salt all over the roads.

Note: I am just giving you a hard time about coming into the post, not reading the text, seeing the pic of the dirty car, and then making a flawed assumption. I don't really think you are stupid.

 

[kickniteasy]

actually, even in the winter you should at least rinse off the car once a week to prevent build up and to take off the crap before it does damage to the paint. Anyway, back on topic, you might want to wash it to check the paint, even if it didn't do any visible damage if he hit the panel at all odds are he cracked the clear coat, which may not "show" for a while and will only get worse with age. This is what happened when someone hit me from behind. I took a check from him to get it fixed as he didn't want insurance involved and at this point in my car's life there was no way I was going to get my rear bumper resprayed so I just pocketed the check, especially since there was no visible damage. A few weeks later the spider webbing started in the center of the bumper, now months later it's spread all the way across the bumper and I'm sure will start peeling at some point. Just a heads up, glad you/the car came out ok in the end!

 

[robin2660]

actually, even in the winter you should at least rinse off the car once a week to prevent build up and to take off the crap before it does damage to the paint.

Even if it never gets above freezing? [yes, I know you're in FL]

 

[JingChuan]

Repair estimate update

UPDATE

Lucky for me: the insurance co. of the driver that hit me was prompt and responsive (and more importantly: responsible!) and will be paying for the repairs and a rental in the meantime. My MS3 has been waiting at the repair shop of my choice since Saturday, and, with the ins. co.'s approval, they have started repairs. A detailed inspection of the area around the rear wheel confirms what I thought to begin with: no body damage. A bit of good luck in an otherwise unfortunate scenario. Now the bad news. The wheel is gouged and bent, as one would expect. That did apparently take the entire impact, after all. Also, the estimator found a crack in the "rear suspension cradle" as he called it. That, and it's associated hardware, will also be replaced. I've asked them to closely inspect the rear shock for potential damage as well. The car will then receive a 4 wheel alignment, and I should have it back on the road early next week. I will do my best to test the handling for now, but with Chicago weather being what it is, it might be a little tricky to do a detailed analysis for the moment. Hopefully though, the damage is limited to the items noted above, and we'll be back to 100% soon.

 

[mdavis]

Would you wash your car when it is raining outside? Obviously not captain stupid
For that same reasoning he won't be washing his car whilst it is snowing of there is road salt all over the roads.

Note: I am just giving you a hard time about coming into the post, not reading the text, seeing the pic of the dirty car, and then making a flawed assumption. I don't really think you are stupid.

for the record, i read the entire thread.

there could be some damage that was not visible when a BM is covered in salt and grime. get her nice and clean and there may be a different story.

stop being a dick

 

[Fenrir]

As for your "tough little car" comment, this is what happened to me today:

Was driving through a business center in Chicagoland from one work location to another, going maybe 10-15mph. There's a small s-curve before an on-ramp to a smaller highway that I take every day. Apparently, it's illegal in the state of Illinois to plow anything after snow. Ever. -.- So after going around the right bend of the s-curve, I turn the wheel to the left to finish the rest of the turn, only to find that nothing happened. Just kept on going straight where I was headed before. What should be in front of me, but a massive street lamp. One of a kind, completely out of place and not another in sight in any direction. Everything goes in slow motion and I slide straight towards in, to be greeted with the most sickening crunching sound I have ever heard. Now, like I said, I was driving maybe 10-15mph before I hit this turn, and at the point where I started to slide I compensated and lightly applied the brakes which began to slow me down a bit. Unfortunately, the beloved Potenzas which have gotten me 'round the local track so very well last summer just didn't want to give me any grip. I reckon I was moving at 7-8mph when I actually hit the pole, but the damage was catastrophic. The entire passenger side front corner is destroyed. Looked like crumpled paper. My alignment is completely shot, and I barely was able to limp the car home.

Now, before I get flamed for not having winter tires and being a horrible driver, I'd like a chance to defend myself. I've taken winter driving courses several times. I've lived in the snow for 23 years, and driven in it for almost 8. I'd have snow tires, but I can't really afford them at the present. Even $400 for a cheap set - that will probably offer better grip than the Potenzas - is out of my budget right now. The best part is, after insurance deductible, I'll have to pay $500 (not sure total cost of the damage yet, I'm waiting to hear back from the shop, but insurance covers it all, which is a relief to say the least).

I really blame myself for it. I shouldn't have been driving it at all in the snow with those tires, but I don't really have access to another car and I need to work. I really hope the damage isn't all that bad. I'd hate to lose overall performance because of the only streetlamp for 50 miles. Le sigh.

(p.s. All that said, I wouldn't trade my MS3 for anything. I don't regret buying it, and I'll do whatever it takes to get her back up and running smooth again. My car is my baby, and I don't take kindly to things that hurt my baby. Pics of what I did to the pole sometime later this week )

 

[FrancoNemo]

broooo we had the same type accident lol
easiest fix ever man! your going to be glad!!!
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123726660
mine was worst though lol must likely just the lateral link!

 

[bgibb68]

broooo we had the same type accident lol
easiest fix ever man! your going to be glad!!!
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123726660
mine was worst though lol must likely just the lateral link!

but yours was do to you and your friend there holmes....and i've had similar off a curb pullin a u'y but i ain't lucky enough to be hit by a car and have no body damage

 

[FrancoNemo]

but yours was do to you and your friend there holmes....and i've had similar off a curb pullin a u'y but i ain't lucky enough to be hit by a car and have no body damage

yeaa truee but the damage is very similar but his is minimal! i said its just the laterlat link


easy fix
that piece only cost 33.95 at your local mazda dealer and chaning it out is super easy!

 

[DARK R3]

car wash?

(rlaugh)

 

[kickniteasy]

Even if it never gets above freezing? [yes, I know you're in FL]

yep.....I may live in florida now, but I've lived all over and started taking care of my car (see also, turning 16) in NE. It's not the snow/slush that hurts the paint, it's the salt/whatever synthetic your area uses that can and often will hurt the paint/cause rust. I used to go to a local "spray and wash" type place (since the outdoor faucets would have been blown out to prevent freezing damage) and at least rinse my car once a week, not necessarily to make it pretty, but to get all the stuff off.

 

[MS3Pilot]

yep.....I may live in florida now, but I've lived all over and started taking care of my car (see also, turning 16) in NE. It's not the snow/slush that hurts the paint, it's the salt/whatever synthetic your area uses that can and often will hurt the paint/cause rust. I used to go to a local "spray and wash" type place (since the outdoor faucets would have been blown out to prevent freezing damage) and at least rinse my car once a week, not necessarily to make it pretty, but to get all the stuff off.

+1 ^^
In NE I used to wash my car at least once a week in winter to get that corrosive s*** off. (It used to make me happy as water froze on the car during the wash)