Baja down!! ARHGHGGH!!!

BrunoShield · 05-30-2012, 04:17 PM

So, I want to go get my grandsons' prescriptions and pick up something for supper. We have recently removed the 8 and 10 year old from their mother's house due to a lot of screw-ups by her. So the 8 year old gets in the front seat and the 10 year old hops into the back. "Put on your seat belts boys" and I put the Baja into reverse. And suddenly the whole trip stops with a bang.

The 10 year old didn't close the back door and I hit the porch with it!! So the passenger's side back door is folded, bent, wrinkled and trashed. The front passenger's door won't open, so the pillar is bent.

I have full coverage but a $500 deductible. I just hope it includes a rental car. I'm guessing a new rear door, fixing the pillar, and a repaint will be about $3-$5,000.

I have to admit, for backing into a solid 4 by 4 porch set in concrete and all, that a bent door and some minor pillar shifting is pretty amazingly small damage. But I don't like my baby being bent. The kids just spent the last hour cleaning my garage so I could park inside for tonight. I'd put the 10 year old on gruel and water but that wouldn't do much good.

With luck I'll get a claim number from my insurance company tonight and start the repairs tomorrow. This sucks!!!!

But the strength of the Baja is sort of amazing. The last time I did something even close to this the door ended up being ripped off my Ford. And the car was totaled.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Ahzlon · 05-30-2012, 10:44 PM

DAMN... hope your girl comes out ok. Keep us posted.

optikul81 · 05-30-2012, 10:52 PM

I can also attest to the strength of the baja! My wife got ran off the road when a guy in a lifted F250 pulling a trailer decided to change lanes without looking. She ended up taking a cement guard rail at 50mph. No one was injured and very little damage to the right front of the car. Didn't have to replace anything engine related and has been running like a champ three years later.

Luckily the drivers behind her pulled over and told the cops exactly what happened...

I am definately keeping my baja till the wheels fall off!

Good luck with the insurance company! Keep us posted.

BrunoShield · 05-31-2012, 07:11 AM

Ah the joys of a good insurance company! Claim number and all the rest within 45 minutes. Rental car in the drive within two hours. My baby goes in today as soon as the wifey gets home for lunch. It's a long way to walk back from. The Baja managed to get into the garage, which is good since it rained all night and probably most of today. I ended up having to disconnect the battery since I couldn't turn off the door lights with a door jammed open. One nice thing I guess, my baby will probably get a new paint job. The last time we used that shop they just repainted the whole car instead of trying to match the fender and door of the Sable. I wouldn't mind the Baja looking all sweet again. It's picked up a lot of little nicks and scratches over the years. I use it like a truck and it's going to happen. At least no one was hurt and I guarantee you the grandson will NEVER leave the door open again!!!

BrunoShield · 06-01-2012, 05:53 PM

Good news. The fix is a total of $1960. Far less than I figured. New rear door. Straighten the B pillar, fix the latch and hinges, repaint. For that money I should do this more often!!! OK, NOT!!! My rental is a Chevy HHR. God what a pig. NO, I mean NO visibility. The A pillars have air bags in them so they are thick enough to hide a semi at an intersection. The windows are high and narrow. The B and C pillars are the size of large trees. A 747 could be heading at you and you wouldn't know it. If I wanted a shrunk down 1950 Chevy Suburban that would be great. I don't. My baby should be back, clean and pretty, by Tuesday at the latest. And I can't wait to hear that piston slap in #1 piston and the feel of it hitting 105 mph in third gear. After all these years and miles there is nothing that replaces a Baja!!! Oh yes. The porch came out fine. A nick. One miserable nick at the corner post. It's not even worth fixing. Like I told the insurance woman, I would have rather knocked the porch down. It's wood. I can fix that. I can't fix a bent door and body. Oh well, my baby will be home soon. A wash, a hand wax, some premium fuel, and all is good with the world once again. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32962271@N05/7309616250/

tibug · 06-01-2012, 05:55 PM

Come on, you should have checked to make sure the doors were closed...

Marioshi · 06-01-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibug

Come on, you should have checked to make sure the doors were closed...

Yeah...I didnt want to be the first to say it but it sounds like it was completely avoidable...

Glad to hear your insurance is taking care of you. Everyone makes mistakes I suppose and thats why we are required by law to carry insurance. Hope your premium doesnt shoot up too much.

tibug · 06-01-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marioshi

Yeah...I didnt want to be the first to say it but it sounds like it was completely avoidable...

Yes, and while the ten year old should have shut the door, it's not like he should have all the blame place on him. Making him clean the garage is punishment enough (good punishment, IMO); the rest of your angry feelings should be at yourself, not him. I certainly would feel like a giant doofus if I didn't realize a door was open and started driving.

Oh, and do you back up without looking behind you?

BrunoShield · 06-06-2012, 10:39 AM

Baja back and looking perfect. New door, new hinges, new weather strip. 3 hours on the frame straightener. Repaint. And it all works and looks perfect.

As for the back up incident: A I have two broken backs and can't turn to look over my right shoulder. I'm parked in my own driveway that is 100 feet long with an 8 foot wide Maple on one side and a solid wooden back porch on the other, so clearance is tight. We had JUST walked up the driveway 30 seconds earlier and I know for a fact there's nothing behind the Baja. The one grandson was blocking the right side mirror even if I could have turned to see it and the other mirrors were clear. And the oldest grandson in the back seat knew for a fact that closing the door and putting on his seat belt before I move is absolutely required.

So the boys live and the Baja lives again. But I guarantee you they will NEVER not close the door before we set off.

edesign · 06-27-2012, 04:22 PM

My mom did something similar when I was a kid. Nearly ripped the door off the ol' Dodge Aries K wagon. Awful car BTW. I can't think of a more awful car right now.

Don't remember who left the door open. Could've been me, my brother or her.

Samirr76 · 06-28-2012, 09:54 AM

Bajas sure can take a beating. Good story bro.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
6/2/12 Coming down to Central jersey for a cook out. 3-4 Tuning slots available.	PhatBotti Tuning TKR	Tri-State Area Vendor Classifieds	56	08-31-2012 09:16 PM
FS : KS: 2004 Baja Turbo	rookrex	Private Vehicle 'For Sale' Classifieds	7	07-05-2012 09:01 AM
Baja down. Did I diagnose it properly?	BrunoShield	Baja Forum	12	08-28-2011 01:21 PM
Baja down	deadlydave	Baja Forum	20	07-11-2009 10:08 AM
Who'd I see down yonder near da Baja Fresh	J Colman	Mid Atlantic Impreza Club -- MAIC	30	09-26-2001 11:17 AM

05-30-2012, 04:17 PM	#1
BrunoShield Scooby Newbie Member#: 155944 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kenosha Wisconsin Vehicle: 2003 Baja Black Granite Pearl	Baja down!! ARHGHGGH!!! So, I want to go get my grandsons' prescriptions and pick up something for supper. We have recently removed the 8 and 10 year old from their mother's house due to a lot of screw-ups by her. So the 8 year old gets in the front seat and the 10 year old hops into the back. "Put on your seat belts boys" and I put the Baja into reverse. And suddenly the whole trip stops with a bang. The 10 year old didn't close the back door and I hit the porch with it!! So the passenger's side back door is folded, bent, wrinkled and trashed. The front passenger's door won't open, so the pillar is bent. I have full coverage but a $500 deductible. I just hope it includes a rental car. I'm guessing a new rear door, fixing the pillar, and a repaint will be about $3-$5,000. I have to admit, for backing into a solid 4 by 4 porch set in concrete and all, that a bent door and some minor pillar shifting is pretty amazingly small damage. But I don't like my baby being bent. The kids just spent the last hour cleaning my garage so I could park inside for tonight. I'd put the 10 year old on gruel and water but that wouldn't do much good. With luck I'll get a claim number from my insurance company tonight and start the repairs tomorrow. This sucks!!!! But the strength of the Baja is sort of amazing. The last time I did something even close to this the door ended up being ripped off my Ford. And the car was totaled. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

05-30-2012, 10:44 PM	#2
Ahzlon Scooby Specialist Member#: 45216 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Essex, Vermont Vehicle: 2005 Baja Turbo Silver	DAMN... hope your girl comes out ok. Keep us posted.

05-30-2012, 10:52 PM	#3
optikul81 Scooby Newbie Member#: 248698 Join Date: Jun 2010 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Silverdale, WA Vehicle: 2005 Baja Turbo Blue	I can also attest to the strength of the baja! My wife got ran off the road when a guy in a lifted F250 pulling a trailer decided to change lanes without looking. She ended up taking a cement guard rail at 50mph. No one was injured and very little damage to the right front of the car. Didn't have to replace anything engine related and has been running like a champ three years later. Luckily the drivers behind her pulled over and told the cops exactly what happened... I am definately keeping my baja till the wheels fall off! Good luck with the insurance company! Keep us posted.

05-31-2012, 07:11 AM	#4
BrunoShield Scooby Newbie Member#: 155944 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kenosha Wisconsin Vehicle: 2003 Baja Black Granite Pearl	Ah the joys of a good insurance company! Claim number and all the rest within 45 minutes. Rental car in the drive within two hours. My baby goes in today as soon as the wifey gets home for lunch. It's a long way to walk back from. The Baja managed to get into the garage, which is good since it rained all night and probably most of today. I ended up having to disconnect the battery since I couldn't turn off the door lights with a door jammed open. One nice thing I guess, my baby will probably get a new paint job. The last time we used that shop they just repainted the whole car instead of trying to match the fender and door of the Sable. I wouldn't mind the Baja looking all sweet again. It's picked up a lot of little nicks and scratches over the years. I use it like a truck and it's going to happen. At least no one was hurt and I guarantee you the grandson will NEVER leave the door open again!!!

06-01-2012, 05:53 PM	#5
BrunoShield Scooby Newbie Member#: 155944 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kenosha Wisconsin Vehicle: 2003 Baja Black Granite Pearl	Good news. The fix is a total of $1960. Far less than I figured. New rear door. Straighten the B pillar, fix the latch and hinges, repaint. For that money I should do this more often!!! OK, NOT!!! My rental is a Chevy HHR. God what a pig. NO, I mean NO visibility. The A pillars have air bags in them so they are thick enough to hide a semi at an intersection. The windows are high and narrow. The B and C pillars are the size of large trees. A 747 could be heading at you and you wouldn't know it. If I wanted a shrunk down 1950 Chevy Suburban that would be great. I don't. My baby should be back, clean and pretty, by Tuesday at the latest. And I can't wait to hear that piston slap in #1 piston and the feel of it hitting 105 mph in third gear. After all these years and miles there is nothing that replaces a Baja!!! Oh yes. The porch came out fine. A nick. One miserable nick at the corner post. It's not even worth fixing. Like I told the insurance woman, I would have rather knocked the porch down. It's wood. I can fix that. I can't fix a bent door and body. Oh well, my baby will be home soon. A wash, a hand wax, some premium fuel, and all is good with the world once again. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32962271@N05/7309616250/

06-01-2012, 05:55 PM	#6
tibug Scooby Specialist Member#: 273906 Join Date: Feb 2011 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Little House on the Prarie Vehicle: 1831 Conestoga Wagon My oxen all died.	Come on, you should have checked to make sure the doors were closed...

06-06-2012, 10:39 AM	#9
BrunoShield Scooby Newbie Member#: 155944 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kenosha Wisconsin Vehicle: 2003 Baja Black Granite Pearl	Baja back and looking perfect. New door, new hinges, new weather strip. 3 hours on the frame straightener. Repaint. And it all works and looks perfect. As for the back up incident: A I have two broken backs and can't turn to look over my right shoulder. I'm parked in my own driveway that is 100 feet long with an 8 foot wide Maple on one side and a solid wooden back porch on the other, so clearance is tight. We had JUST walked up the driveway 30 seconds earlier and I know for a fact there's nothing behind the Baja. The one grandson was blocking the right side mirror even if I could have turned to see it and the other mirrors were clear. And the oldest grandson in the back seat knew for a fact that closing the door and putting on his seat belt before I move is absolutely required. So the boys live and the Baja lives again. But I guarantee you they will NEVER not close the door before we set off.

06-27-2012, 04:22 PM	#10
edesign Scooby Newbie Member#: 323591 Join Date: Jun 2012	My mom did something similar when I was a kid. Nearly ripped the door off the ol' Dodge Aries K wagon. Awful car BTW. I can't think of a more awful car right now. Don't remember who left the door open. Could've been me, my brother or her.

06-28-2012, 09:54 AM	#11
Samirr76 Scooby Guru Member#: 4835 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Fl33tw00d, PA Vehicle: 2003 Baja 5MT Yellow w/ 220,000 miles	Bajas sure can take a beating. Good story bro.