GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

For the past year and a half I've been letting my daughter drive my perfect rustless Neon SXT that is now paid for.  (yeah, I'm either a great dad or a sucker depending how you look at it) She's now a college sophomore, gets good grades, holds-down a job, never gets in trouble, and she tells me about the idiot boys in her life who make her want to stay single until she's 30.  These things make me think she deserves my benevolence.  Last December we had a blizzard.  During that blizzard a delivery truck pulled out of a business in front of her and she T-boned him, destroying the front end.  100% the other guy's fault.  Damage: $7500, totaled, but since it didn't set-off the airbags I was able to get fixed properly for two grand less.  Last week some kid at the gas station backed-up into the front of her car. (same place the damage was the last time)  Damage:  $796.  I'm left thinking three things.  First, my lovely baby girl is blameless.  Second, the damage is getting less severe.  But thirdly, my really nice car keeps getting wrecked.

For now I gave her my Ranger while the car is being fixed.  I'm debating whether or not to keep it that way.  I bought the truck as secondary transportation and to transport bikes or other stuff when needed.  Since that doesn't come-up often, and my pickup is much harder to damage, I'm thinking of having her continue to drive the truck.  I know that may not go over well with her, but I can't help being logical.  It's a curse I was born with.  Almost nothing happens to vehicles in my care, just sayin'.  I have 30+ years of history to prove it.  Worst thing that ever happened to me in a car I hit a deer.  The pickup is fully functional with a new transmission, no rust holes, even the A/C works, but of course it's not nearly as sweet as the sporty Neon, especially to a youngster.  I'm leaning toward keeping the car no matter what she says.  By my way of thinking I have less at risk that way, but none of what's happened was her fault, so I'm torn in half.  I really don't know what to do, although I'm leaning heavily toward keeping the car which, when fixed, is worth twice as much.

Other.

Enroll her in a defensive driving course.

I would just let her keep driving the car...chances are the next accident (if there is one...gotta stay positive here :embarrassed: ) would take out your truck just when you need it...plus the neon is better on gas, and college students are usually strapped for cash as it is...the other thing is that the car is probably safer in a crash with the airbags etc...I have three daughters myself, safety first DAD... :thumb:

Later.

PS...talk to her about in car cell phone/texting use...just because it is someone elses error doesn't mean she couldn't have avoided it...just sayin...

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Aren't neons worth about $2-3 grand on the used market now? Yours has a totaled title now right since u took the 7 grand money but fixed it for 2.

Looks like a tough choice, I'm not a parent per say but I would put her in the neon. The accidents might not be her fault at all but she might of been able to avoid them. That neon isn't worth much now, you dont want a worthless ranger as well.

That ranger might get her into trouble if it's rwd and she is in rain/snow. 

Sent from my Nexus One

Quote from: LEMON8 on July 17, 2011, 05:39:04 PM
Aren't neons worth about $2-3 grand on the used market now? Yours has a totaled title now right since u took the 7 grand money but fixed it for 2.

Looks like a tough choice, I'm not a parent per say but I would put her in the neon. The accidents might not be her fault at all but she might of been able to avoid them. That neon isn't worth much now, you dont want a worthless ranger as well.

That ranger might get her into trouble if it's rwd and she is in rain/snow. 

Sent from my Nexus One

IMHO the neon would be safer. but consider enrolling her in a defensive driving course. never hurts. plus can garner her/you an insurance discount too

I'd let her keep the Neon and keep on rolling.  Defensive driving class is always a good idea.

Answering questions, the other party's insurance paid me directly both times.  My company was not involved.  In the second accident our car was not moving.  Can't get more defensive than that!  Even though the car was totaled in the first accident the damage wasn't that bad.  I know that sounds crazy, but insurance companies are totaling anything with significant damage these days.  The damage turned-out to be less extensive than the estimate, and no, I don't know the guy who did the estimate!

My brother had a similar problems. His Altima was totaled, twice. Both times it was front end damage from some idiot pulling in front of him so it was never his fault. The car was basically a gift from a family friend, so we paid next to nothing for it. He took the insurance $$ both times, and ended up covering the cost of the car since we used a cheaper body shop then the quoted price.

Give her back the Neon when it gets fixed and be thankful she wasn't damaged in any of the accidents.

My daughter was in an accident in her (my) 2001 Plymouth Neon in January 2005.  Guy turned in front of her and the skid marks she left told me there was nothing more she could have done to prevent it.

(http://www.scootercat.net/images/WreckedNeon4_sm.jpg)

Bought a 2005 SXT SE to replace it, which she's still driving.

(http://www.scootercat.net/images/NeonSXT.jpg)