With great power comes great responsibility.

 

IMO you'd be better off to get a quote from a body shop than asking people who haven't even seen the damage in person.

 

Sounds to me like the $699.73 estimate is from a body shop that has seen the damage.

As far as going through insurance... If it's this close to your $500 deductible definitely not. Also, consider that insurance is a LOT more lenient after your first accident/speeding ticket than they are after the second in regards to rate increases.

VDC: I always leave in ON in the rain, but on dry pavement I have it off most of the time because it seems to intervene a lot when I drive as "spirited" as I do. Particularly accelerating coming off of turns where an experienced driver will know his limits and slide slightly, VDC always seem to want to cut in and be a hero, even though it's not needed. HOWEVER, until you're comfortable with your car's limits don't drive it to its limits on public roads. I definitely don't want to sound preachy though - glad you're safe and good luck with the repair.

Some of the best/hardest lessons I've learned in my life have been through making a mistake myself, no matter how many people have warned me. Sometimes the only way to learn is to make your own mistakes.

 

Use your insurance..... definitely.

That's what it's there for. And, it's unlikely to change/go up with a small claim.

I've had 2 claims (not my fault) for myself and 1 for my wife in the last 6years. None of them (including the $8500 claim that had my wife at fault) raised our insurance.

I'm 27 and pay $76/month for full coverage/ $500 deductable for the G35.

 

im 24 and im paying 186

 

where are you located? if near me I can help more...

hopefully you didnt damage the ducting infront of the radiator etc...

 

Once you round that corner at age 25 insurance is a whole lot nicer to you...

 

VCD on is boring ... do what you want

 

I had the same thing happen to me, BUT instead it was a little deer that ran out in front of me. The bumper looked the same, and it costed about $1400 to fix everything. My radiator support bracket broke though and from what i understand they break pretty easily...did yours break or is it all just bumper damage?

 

Figured I'd cap this thread off with the official damage report. Total out-the-door cost of $1,026.77, so went ahead and filed a claim. Only minor damages other than the bumper cover. Lesson learned.

Anyone else in the Memphis area, Millennium Body does excellent work.

Picked the G up yesterday, and it feels great to have it back. Was starting to feel homesick.

 

^Great to hear you've got the G back.

 

Not really anymore. It probably has more to do with where you live. I'm in a midsize town in Florida.

Even when I was 22, the most I paid for an 02 Trans Am was $105/month. And at age 27 with the same car, I paid $97.

 

$97/month for an '02 Trans Am? Wow that's rough. Any accidents or tickets on your record?

+1 on insurance being a great deal more expensive than even 5 years ago. Right now I'm lucky to be paying a somewhat reasonable rate despite living in the DC metro area, but it's a lot more difficult to be inconspicuous in a G Coupe than it was in my college beater (1997 Rodeo), so probably only a matter of time before my next ticket. *Knock on wood*