--->>> Rear Ended!::::::::::

[BNM449]

Yep. Dead-stopped at a traffic light, a '99 Mercury piled into my rear bumper.
Fortunately the bumper hinged downward, tearing away, and the bodywork was completely untouched.

My insurance provides a rental: I have a Kia Spectra5 automatic hatch to drive, a pleasant transportational appliance but not too exciting ... I'll keep us posted on progress, Kia impressions etc.

~N~

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by BNM449

Fortunately the bumper hinged downward, tearing away, and the bodywork was completely untouched.

so a Mercury ran into you and did no body damage?

[RobD1517]

glad to hear all is ok and the bumper is the only thing messed up (that we know of.) If anything, im curious to see how long it takes you to get the new one and painted. good luck!

[nicolas_p]

That really really sucks, and they gave you a KIA. One thing i would never accept is a non american car as a rental, and I really hope that you can get your astra back quickly and not wait for months until the bumper finally gets to you.

[Teh_Freak]

Ah that sucks, at least only the bumper was affected.

Originally Posted by nicolas_p

That really really sucks, and they gave you a KIA. One thing i would never accept is a non american car as a rental.

Heck, when I got in my little wreck my rental was a Mazda3, felt a bit cheap inside but was fun as hell to drive. Then again, this is a KIA we're talking about... As far as non-American cars go, I'll take a modern Audi or a Jaguar any day over a Saturn.

[outtafocus]

I would probably choose a non american car any day over some of the crap they build here.

I definitely dont count the Astra as a North American car.
Only bought the Astra because Ford doesnt sell the Focus ST over here.

Sorry to hear about the accident. Was the person who ran into talking on a cell phone by any chance?

I have some pics some where in a drawer around here from my old Saturn SC when it got rear ended by a dump truck. I will scan them and up load.

[afk123]

I'm still waiting for my 1st ding.... don't want to imagine getting slammed

[Astra La Vista!]

Originally Posted by nicolas_p

One thing i would never accept is a non american car as a rental...

Why? His Astra ain't American either.

[nicolas_p]

Oh come you can't see what i meant, that being said. I meant cars that are sold under NA companies like GM,Ford, and well I can't really think too hard this late at night, but don't get me wrong give me audi/porsche/bmw/mercedes i would drive them too.

[germ]

Sorry to hear about your luck, it bites to be without your car. I just got mine back! I wouldn't be surprised if they replace more, or this is more damage then your bumper. Unless they weren't going very fast when they hit you.

[BNM449]

Yeah, they check it over very thoroughly for hidden damage, they're even detailing the entire interior because my passenger's coffee went flying all over.

Where I live the Astra is very common, I see several every day, I think there should be lots of spare parts brought in along with the vehicles.
As I mentioned, I live in the same town as the Autoport where they come in to Canada.

The 2009 Kia Spectr5 they rented me is basically a 2002-level Hyundai or Daewoo, with a fancy radio. ( USB & Aux in. Big deal.)

The only two things I like about it are:
1: No ABS . I don't like ABS and would disable it in the Astra if I could.
2: An actual throttle cable. I dislike the DBW even though it is more modern, the cable makes a punchier response.
It also has a nice left-foot dead pedal. That's about all I can find to praise.

It's a field of cheap white plastic, with screws and bolts showing everywhere, but it runs fine. Steering and suspension are good too.

I will keep posting here as my repair progresses. Thanks for the well wishes.

BTW, the other driver's car, a 1999 Mercury, didn't suffer much external damage but something let go inside and he was leaking fluid rapidly.
He definitely has an expensive day on several levels!

~N~

[kbg1]

Originally Posted by BNM449

Yeah, they check it over very thoroughly for hidden damage, they're even detailing the entire interior because my passenger's coffee went flying all over.

Where I live the Astra is very common, I see several every day, I think there should be lots of spare parts brought in along with the vehicles.
As I mentioned, I live in the same town as the Autoport where they come in to Canada.

The 2009 Kia Spectr5 they rented me is basically a 2002-level Hyundai or Daewoo, with a fancy radio. ( USB & Aux in. Big deal.)

The only two things I like about it are:
1: No ABS . I don't like ABS and would disable it in the Astra if I could.
2: An actual throttle cable. I dislike the DBW even though it is more modern, the cable makes a punchier response.
It also has a nice left-foot dead pedal. That's about all I can find to praise.

It's a field of cheap white plastic, with screws and bolts showing everywhere, but it runs fine. Steering and suspension are good too.

I will keep posting here as my repair progresses. Thanks for the well wishes.

BTW, the other driver's car, a 1999 Mercury, didn't suffer much external damage but something let go inside and he was leaking fluid rapidly.
He definitely has an expensive day on several levels!

~N~

hi
who is doing your work?
saturn halifax recommends chapmans on agricola street.
we had our 2005 ion there three times(deer/old guy/me)
they did really good work,i liked them so much that i took a non insurance claim to them.rental was a breeze as they picked you up and dropped you back off when job was finished.

the ion took more hits in the first six months than any other car we have owned.
so far the astra is accident free(knocks on wood)
jeff

[BNM449]

I have a guy out in Ketch Harbour that has done fantastic work, ( Dave Gray) but they gave me a list of 4 shops where I could take it, no estimate required, and McPhee Pontiac/GM on Portland was on the list, so I picked them.

They're only a block from Saturn, and right on my work route, so it was convenient all 'round.

Chapman's is an excellent shop, I agree. GOOD LUCK with your Astra, I love mine!

~N~

[kbg1]

Originally Posted by BNM449

I have a guy out in Ketch Harbour that has done fantastic work, ( Dave Gray) but they gave me a list of 4 shops where I could take it, no estimate required, and McPhee Pontiac/GM on Portland was on the list, so I picked them.

They're only a block from Saturn, and right on my work route, so it was convenient all 'round.

Chapman's is an excellent shop, I agree. GOOD LUCK with your Astra, I love mine!

~N~

hi
live about 3km from ketch harbour and went to school with david.
he fixed up a 72 charger and a pinto(barf) for me.
did a few for family and friends also.
did not realize that he still does bodywork as i do not see him advertise anywhere.



jeff

[BNM449]

You wouldn't believe the job he did on my fender when I snagged it on a guy wire buried in the snow ... I was shocked when he told me he did it without removing the fender!
Real nice guy too, very fair prices.

Update: I put the Astra in the shop Sept22, they have the bumper on now and it's being painted.
Monday's a Holiday here ( Thanksgiving), so I expect to get it back Wed/Thur, ( 14th/15th) so I guess not counting weekends and holidays, it took 15 days.

Considering the state of supply parts/ Saturn in general, that doesn't seem too bad to me. What do you guys think?

~N~

[L200Pilot]

Originally Posted by BNM449

Considering the state of supply parts/ Saturn in general, that doesn't seem too bad to me. What do you guys think?

That's about what it took me when I got rear-ended. Of course, they tried to first sand out the bumper, then they ordered a new one when they found out they couldn't do it. So it probably would've taken a little less if they had just put a new bumper on in the first place. Whatever; they did a great job. The new bumper only came from LA, so it took only a day to arrive.

When mine was in, I was given a choice of a Mercury Grand Marquis or a Kia Rondo for a rental. I have a small garage, so I chose the Kia. Wrong decision. Ugly, uncomfortable, horrible performance. The one good thing was it had unlimited miles, so I went every place in AZ I hadn't been to in a while. Put like 1500 miles on that car

[Tom S2]

Originally Posted by L200Pilot

When mine was in, I was given a choice of a Mercury Grand Marquis or a Kia Rondo for a rental. I have a small garage, so I chose the Kia. Wrong decision. Ugly, uncomfortable, horrible performance. The one good thing was it had unlimited miles, so I went every place in AZ I hadn't been to in a while. Put like 1500 miles on that car

reminds me of when my rx7 converitble was in the shop for a scratched bumper and the other guys insurance gave me a red cavalier rental for the week. i was driving the convertible because my winter beater skyhawk needed water pump.

i dropped the buick off at the mechanic for the water pump, and my buddy and i strapped the ski rack on the roof and went to vermont for a week even though the policy said i wasnt supposed to take it out of state.

it was dry in ny the week i had the car. the car came back dirty salt white with wet carpets from the ski boots.

[BNM449]

They called me last Friday after I posted; ( 9th), but when I got there I found body-tape residue, a new chip in the paint, and they had neglected to detail the interior ( specified because of coffee spill in accident), and the hadn't washed the vehicle.
So I left it there over the weekend plus thanksgiving Monday.
They finished it Tuesday, I picked it up Wednesday night 14th.

They did a good job, new bumper etc., but I feel that their QC and attention to detail was lacking and I would not recommend them to anyone.
MacPhee Pontiac on Portland Street, Dart. NS.

It was a real eye opener driving it again after three weeks in a Kia Spectra5.
The brakes! The DIC display! The steering! The ride! The quality interior! No rattles!
Like night and day.
Although the Kia was a year newer, 2009 model, it felt, looked and drove like a 2002 car. Like a Hyundai or Daiwoo... cheap.

The other surprise is how nice the engine sounds compared to the somewhat agricultural quality of the Kia's.

Nice to have my baby back.

~N~

[L200Pilot]

Originally Posted by BNM449

and I would not recommend them to anyone.
MacPhee Pontiac on Portland Street, Dart. NS.

Tell the world: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/macphee-ponti...llac-dartmouth