The Conservative Cave

Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 04:53:14 PM

Title: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
I didn't know where else to put this and didn't want to overshadow the dead of a members friend in the more appropriate forum.

Well...as of this afternoon, my trusted Nissan 2000 Frontier was effectively totaled. I will post photos when available.

Since my wife had chemo this morning, she was not in any real condition to take our son to his orthodontist appt. so, even though I have been sick, felt good enough to at least try to do that. On my way to the school to pick up my son, a woman ran the red light at highway speed as I pulled out. She hit the front left corner of my truck at at least 50 MPH.

WHen my truck (or what was left of it) came to rest, I was not hurt and I could see the car of the woman that hit me. I went to her car to see if she was OK. She frantically was trying to dial on her cellphone and kept saying, "I tried to stop!"  I told her to worry about that later and asker her if she was hurt. She was not coherent so I ran with the assumption that she was hurt and started to call 911. At that time, there was already an off duty policeman on the scene that said he had already called for help. This is good because my adrenaline rush kicked in about that time and I would have had trouble making a truly coherent 911 call. I told all of this to the deputy.

An ambulance was called for the other driver. The EMT asked me if I needed one which I didn't think so. The EMT checked me out a little bit and I signed a form stating that I didn't request ambulance. A state trooper showed and gave us both breath-alyzers. The EMT told me that he didn't think that the other driver was hurt but still taking the ambulance. I don't think that she was drunk. I think that she was talking on her cellphone and missed the light but I don't know that fior sure.

The deputy told me that several eyewitnesses corraborated my account of being hit as I moved through the green light and she ran the red light.

Needless to say, I called my wife so that she could get our son. She said that she felt good enough. By the time she got home, I could tell that she was ready to veg out. She is a tough little woman. I refer to her as "Azizam" (= My Dear in Farsi).

Monday is going to be a busy day and an expensive one for the woman's insurance company. They are going to have to pay for my time off of work to go get the police report, remove over $1,000 of ham radio gear from my soon to be totaled truck while in the wrecker yard, and the rental car that I have already reserved. I will have to assess the ham radio gear for damage when I get it home.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 04:57:02 PM
Damn, that sucks.

Good luck.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 05:08:09 PM
Damn, that sucks.

Good luck.

Thanks. I bought it new in 2000. I wanted to drive it until I had to take it out and shoot it. It was paid for which is the best kind of vehicle. If I'm lucky, the insurance company will send me a check for ~$4K which is the top Kelly Blue Book Price.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 07:14:01 PM
What an overall crappy day for you. :(

How much longer does you wife have chemo?
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Dori on February 01, 2013, 07:22:34 PM
Dang...sorry about all your bad luck today  :(
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 07:26:11 PM
What an overall crappy day for you. :(

How much longer does you wife have chemo?

Every three weeks until may. She is in her third phase of chemo. It's not as rough on her but it does catch up with her later in the day and over the weekend. I told her that we will be buying a new vehicle much sooner than planned. The trick is for me to find a new one that she will like so that I can take over her Dodge Quad cab 4WD.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 07:31:31 PM
Every three weeks until may. She is in her third phase of chemo. It's not as rough on her but it does catch up with her later in the day and over the weekend. I told her that we will be buying a new vehicle much sooner than planned. The trick is for me to find a new one that she will like so that I can take over her Dodge Quad cab 4WD.

What kind of cancer does she have if you don't mind me asking?
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 07:39:04 PM
What kind of cancer does she have if you don't mind me asking?

She was diagnosed with Breast cancer last March. SHe had surgery in late march and began Chemo in late April..

I posted about it http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,82577.msg1017205/highlight,chemotherapy.html#msg1017205here (http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,82577.msg1017205/highlight,chemotherapy.html#msg1017205).
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Lacarnut on February 01, 2013, 07:56:58 PM
I would check out Kelly Blue Book & NADA retail on the truck. NADA is usually a little higher. Also, insist that they pay you the sales tax on the amount of the settlement. Since it is the other driver's fault, you should get top dollar for your truck plus the sales tax. If they jack you around, you suddenly might have neck and back pain and in need of a orthopedic doctor for an MRI and other tests.

You were damn lucky that you were not T-boned on the driver's side. Good luck with the truck settlement. 
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 08:07:47 PM
I would check out Kelly Blue Book & NADA retail on the truck. NADA is usually a little higher. Also, insist that they pay you the sales tax on the amount of the settlement. Since it is the other driver's fault, you should get top dollar for your truck plus the sales tax. If they jack you around, you suddenly might have neck and back pain and in need of a orthopedic doctor for an MRI and other tests.

You were damn lucky that you were not T-boned on the driver's side. Good luck with the truck settlement. 

I've alrady checked KBB. Thanks for reminding me about salestax. If I were T-Boned, I wouldn't be posting right now that's for sure.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 08:09:11 PM
I don't know how I missed that.  I was taking weekly methotrexate (15 mgs) once a week for auto immune issues and it made me sick the day after every week. It sucked. I feel for your wife.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 09:25:02 PM
I don't know how I missed that.  I was taking weekly methotrexate (15 mgs) once a week for auto immune issues and it made me sick the day after every week. It sucked. I feel for your wife.

That sounds crappy.

The first phase of chemo was the worst. 4 times every two weeks. we had to take her in the next morning for shots to suppress nausea and other bad reactions and then a couple of days after that for fluid replacement directly through her port.

The second phase was weekly for 12 weeks--not as tough but more often. By the end of that, her hair started growing back. She is now in Zumba classes.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 09:26:08 PM
My sister went through that last year.  She had ovarian cancer but finished her treatment and is cancer-free.

I got to visit her shortly after.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Lacarnut on February 01, 2013, 09:30:39 PM
I've alrady checked KBB. Thanks for reminding me about salestax. If I were T-Boned, I wouldn't be posting right now that's for sure.

I retired as a sales tax auditor and have seen insurance companies try to avoid this liability.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 10:02:03 PM
That sounds crappy.

The first phase of chemo was the worst. 4 times every two weeks. we had to take her in the next morning for shots to suppress nausea and other bad reactions and then a couple of days after that for fluid replacement directly through her port.

The second phase was weekly for 12 weeks--not as tough but more often. By the end of that, her hair started growing back. She is now in Zumba classes.

Buy you wife something beautiful when she is finished. She deserves it.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 10:03:00 PM
My sister went through that last year.  She had ovarian cancer but finished her treatment and is cancer-free.

I got to visit her shortly after.

Texas again?  If so I'll come up and see you.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:06:25 PM
Texas again?  If so I'll come up and see you.
No, she was done with her treatment when I visited in September.

That damn trip wore me out... I did way too much driving and not enough relaxing.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Eupher on February 01, 2013, 10:07:46 PM
Relieved to hear that you're okay, CL - getting clobbered like that is definitely a shaky situation all the way around.

Sales tax. Yeah - the yapper on the phone needs to pony up for that one. Along with everything else, including the ham gear.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:08:31 PM
Did you have new tires on the truck?  Bill 'em.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:10:30 PM
Did you have new tires on the truck?  Bill 'em.

THey were about half tread
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 10:16:23 PM
No, she was done with her treatment when I visited in September.

That damn trip wore me out... I did way too much driving and not enough relaxing.

Come to Austin, I'll wait on you.  :-*
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:16:38 PM
Tires are expensive. :(

I paid almost $1500 for two sets of tires, one for my Camry, the other for the MGB.  My brother spent $2300 on one set of tires for his Chevy.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 10:17:05 PM
THey were about half tread


No they weren't.  :p
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:17:34 PM
No they weren't.  :p
:rofl:
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:19:02 PM
Tires are expensive. :(

I paid almost $1500 for two sets of tires, one for my Camry, the other for the MGB.  My brother spent $2300 on one set of tires for his Chevy.

THe tires that I used on this truck were about $110 each.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:19:50 PM
You got off cheap.  The Yokohamas I put on my Camry were about $800, but they handle beautifully.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:20:49 PM
No they weren't.  :p

Oh yeah...You're right. :-)
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:22:12 PM
You got off cheap.  The Yokohamas I put on my Camry were about $800, but they handle beautifully.

FOr $800 each, they had better be the best tires ever.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:24:30 PM
$800 for a set of four. :rofl:

The day I spend that kind of money for one tire, I'm buying a Ferrari F430.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:30:32 PM
$800 for a set of four. :rofl:

The day I spend that kind of money for one tire, I'm buying a Ferrari F430.

I still say the same at $200 each.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:33:05 PM
Texas again?  If so I'll come up and see you.

Uncanny. I just now worked a guy on the radio (1.93 MHz). He was Mobile in Gonzales Co., TX.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:43:34 PM
I still say the same at $200 each.
These things stick like glue and corner beautifully.  I only wish the Yokohamas were available for my MG, but they weren't available in that size.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:45:34 PM
Come to Austin, I'll wait on you.  :-*
My next vacation is going to be a cruise.  I'm going to be a fat, lazy bastard.  Which basically means that I'm going to be my usual self, only I'm doing it on a boat.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 10:54:08 PM
My next vacation is going to be a cruise.  I'm going to be a fat, lazy bastard.  Which basically means that I'm going to be my usual self, only I'm doing it on a boat.

I like being a fat, lazy, bastard. The trouble is, no one lets me be lazy. :bawl:
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 10:54:48 PM
I like being a fat, lazy, bastard. The trouble is, no one lets me be lazy. :bawl:
I'm terminally single and have no children.  Being lazy is not a problem.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BEG on February 01, 2013, 10:57:49 PM
My next vacation is going to be a cruise.  I'm going to be a fat, lazy bastard.  Which basically means that I'm going to be my usual self, only I'm doing it on a boat.

You must be the ghey   
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 01, 2013, 11:01:25 PM
You must be the ghey   
I see what you're doing.  It's not going to work. :couch:
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 01, 2013, 11:03:00 PM
 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 02, 2013, 08:38:59 AM
I see what you're doing.  It's not going to work. :couch:

Even a devout bachelor needs to let himself fall into the clutches of a woman every now and then. :-)
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 02, 2013, 08:46:54 AM
Hey! This thread is supposed to be about the horrible demise of my truck.

It sucks but I'm rolling with it. Anything to keep my blood pressure down.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 04, 2013, 08:05:26 PM
THe front end is pretty much demolished.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/bfam1/003_zpse741d032.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/bfam1/004_zps075cadaa.jpg)

With the Hood Up. It was hanging on one hinge.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/bfam1/013_zps27a2ddf1.jpg)
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Chris_ on February 04, 2013, 08:54:37 PM
Huh.  That engine looks like the same one Nissan was putting in the 300ZX back in the mid 80's.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 04, 2013, 09:06:31 PM
Huh.  That engine looks like the same one Nissan was putting in the 300ZX back in the mid 80's.

I don't know. My truck is(was) a 2000 year model.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: BattleHymn on February 04, 2013, 09:26:46 PM
Huh.  That engine looks like the same one Nissan was putting in the 300ZX back in the mid 80's.

The early Z had a VG30, later replaced by a VG30DE (twin cam). 

His truck would have had a 3.3, not the 3.0.  I'm not sure what model designation it would be. 
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Eupher on February 05, 2013, 11:37:54 AM
The truck looks down for the count, that's for sure.

T'is a shame, but I hope something good comes out of the whole thing.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 07, 2013, 07:40:54 AM
Yesterday, I removed all remaining items from the truck. It was like saying goodbye to an old friend.

All of my Ham radio gear works just fine.

I should receive an offer to settle from the 'at fault' party's insurance company today.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 07, 2013, 05:46:29 PM
Well...the adjuster didn't call. The meter is still running on the rental car.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 07, 2013, 06:58:12 PM
He finally called. We agreed on a settlement. I should receive the check next Tuesday. I'm not signing the title over until I see the check.

Goodbye my old friend.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Lacarnut on February 07, 2013, 09:10:08 PM
He finally called. We agreed on a settlement. I should receive the check next Tuesday. I'm not signing the title over until I see the check.

Goodbye my old friend.

You can buy the truck back for a small amount if you want it. Don't know if it would be worth fixing; a mechanic friend bought my totaled sports car and rebuilt the front end and came out smelling like a rose.   
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 07, 2013, 09:22:36 PM
You can buy the truck back for a small amount if you want it. Don't know if it would be worth fixing; a mechanic friend bought my totaled sports car and rebuilt the front end and came out smelling like a rose.   

No. I don't want it. The frame or whatever it is these days is bent bad. I'm not a gear hear or a body guy. I don't have the time to deal with it either. It is time to move on.

I will buy a new vehicle for my wonderful wife and I will take over her Dodge Quad cab. It is older, paid for, and she won't freak out when I install my ham gear in it.
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Eupher on February 07, 2013, 09:24:08 PM
Glad it worked out well for you, CL, and I'm especially glad you weren't injured in that wreck. Could've been a real bad one.  :panic:
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 07, 2013, 09:39:19 PM
Glad it worked out well for you, CL, and I'm especially glad you weren't injured in that wreck. Could've been a real bad one.  :panic:

Thanks. That's definitely true. If I had been T-boned instead of the front end being hit, I may be dead.

The only real probem with all of this is that my wife and I were planning to buy a new vehicle next year and keep the old truck and a third vehicle. My son and niece were ready to fight over it. :-)
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Lacarnut on February 07, 2013, 09:51:53 PM
No. I don't want it. The frame or whatever it is these days is bent bad. I'm not a gear hear or a body guy. I don't have the time to deal with it either. It is time to move on.

I will buy a new vehicle for my wonderful wife and I will take over her Dodge Quad cab. It is older, paid for, and she won't freak out when I install my ham gear in it.

I like new anyway. Just bought an Infiniti G37 hardtop convertible. 
Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: rich_t on February 08, 2013, 06:31:14 PM
You can fix that with a toilet plunger and a roll of duct tape.

Title: Re: My beloved truck is dead!
Post by: Conservative Libertarian on February 08, 2013, 08:15:46 PM
You can fix that with a toilet plunger and a roll of duct tape.



 :-) :lmao: :rotf::lol: