Merry berkeleying christmas, what car thread.....

Christmas was good for me and the GF, She got her 55" TV to play fallout and watch movies on, I got my much needed Macbook and all was well, this is until we got to baltimore.....

Yep totaled the girlfriends car (GF is a collision estimator so she totals cars every day) Long and short the road was wet were mid apex and hit an oil slick and spun before I could do much of anything, we are alright and back in VA, most I had was some airbag burn on my left shoulder but feel fine now.

Luckily she has great insurance and we are rolling around in a Volvo S60 rental (super nice btw!!) but this opens an unwanted question, requirements follow...

1. Automatic, unfortunate I know, but its her car.
2. Under 15k
3. No hondas, subaru, fords
4. Hatchback preferred unless you can find a good 350/70Z (she is deeply in love with them)
5. 07+
6. She is 6.1" on a normal day so space is needed.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Volvo c30?

Just curious, is this mostly totaled from airbag expense?
Damage otherwise does not look that bad.

Yeah, is there damage on the otherside? Looks wheels and some suspension bits mostly. Buy back the salvage if you like the car. I wouldn't bother replacing the side bags, but thats just me.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Just curious, is this mostly totaled from airbag expense? Damage otherwise does not look that bad.

Yep, would need the airbag assembly, new controller, new headliner, and whatever the suspension needs, keep in mind this car is only worth $4.5k on a good trade. She loves the car but we don't have the time or resources or space to buy back or work on it, Also I don't think my RX8 could tow it back to richmond from Baltimore lol.

I don't know about your car, but I just spent 3 hours trying not to pop the side airbags on the Saturn while fixing the sunroof drains. They are passive with a strap running down the a-pillar, no electronics. Yours might be the same. I vote have a shop fix it with the insurance check anyway, looks minor.

Mazda 3.

In reply to Javelin:

It was because the seat buckle deployed the airbags, we hit the curb hard enough to pull the buckle past the tension point to blow the curtains.

Saw worse at an autocross (similar hit) on a FRS. Owner had it repaired for around 5 grand

FOLKS LOOK....

This is what the insurance care about!

I get it, if I did not live in a space restricted apartment, and had a garage to work out of absolutely this would get fixed, I DONT.

Remember as well in the state of VA if your vehicle is under 10 years old and under 125k it can total at 75% of its value as well as yes you can get parts cheap but its also labor in an insurance approved shop.

JtspellS wrote: 6. She is 6.1" on a normal day so space is needed. Any suggestions are appreciated!

On an abnormal day is the Girlfriend taller or shorter? I would recommend a Fiat, ours was a hair over $15k new but at 6'1" I doubt it will work.

A sharp utility knife will fix that in about 5 minutes.

2013+ RAV4.

Chevy Volt.

pres589 wrote: Mazda 3.

With that description thats what i read.

And having dealt with cars that have taken curb strikes like that, pads on fixing. There's so much hidden that can be damaged, even if you think its fixed, its not. I know jtspells already said nofix, and im with him. If its a 2zz car, someone needs to get the carcass for an excocet though.

In reply to mndsm: Unfortunately it's a 1zz, but has plenty of good parts and probably will be in Baltimore area yards, we will see some time this week.

probably doesn't want something as "cheap" out as was I've got ... but my Chevy Sonic Hatch has been pretty nice ... and for '16 Chevy has the Cruze Hatch coming

I'm getting 40+ on summer gas, and upper 37-38's on our crappy winter gas ... I also am 6'1"+ and have PLENTY of room ...

EvanB wrote: Volvo c30?

pres589 wrote: Mazda 3.

Good ones, get the Focus awesomeness (depending on year) and gets around the B.S. "no Fords" point.

In a nut shell if she likes what she had, repeat it. Ford dominates in the great small hatch area (Fiesta/Focus) with strong competition from the Honda Fit, VW Golf, Subaru XV/Imprezza/Forester, and the newer (Post C1 architecture, which is the Focus, Mazda 3 and Volvo C30/S40 chassis) 2014+ Mazda 3.

So other than the 3 or VW (which if you are looking for reliability, low maintenance and low costs HA!) you are looking at brands you have ruled out.

Just go back to the Corolla hatchback she had or get a hybrid.

At 6'4" my list is very short C30 (I like the funky styling), Focus, or Mazda 3 (notice a pattern with that C1 platform? It really is that good.)

I'd like to try a Fit, just because, even if she did say "no Honda's". Maybe she's scared of Honda's being stolen but I don't think that's really an issue with the Fit. When I bought my SX4, I really should have tried harder to check out the Fit, but I wanted to keep my payment lower. Nothing local was cheap enough to keep the monthly payment where I wanted it.

Otherwise, yeah, Mazda 3 of some sort. Like this thing; http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/656261201/overview/ for $13k with less than 1,000 miles.

Kia Spectra5 or a Forte5. I am 6'2" and I fit in both.

Kia_Racer wrote: Kia Spectra5 or a Forte5. I am 6'2" and I fit in both.

Ive been shopping the elantra 5 door as well for swmbo 2.0. Theyre sharp little rigs.

Subaru

I can clarify with no ford or Honda, her last shop was right next to a ford Honda dealer and she saw them every day for the past 5 years and funny part is where she is at now used to be a ford body shop but they still get all the dealers work, does this justify anything? Not in the least but it's her requirements.

Is your punishment for wrecking the car to find her a new one?

Otherwise, I'm not sure why you're asking about this here. Go to CarMax, find something she likes, do paperwork, go home.

Elantra GT/Forte 5 would be the first on my list.