obishawn ([info]obishawn) wrote,
@ 2005-10-13 02:07:00
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Current mood: sick
Entry tags:h-wing, life

Totaled!
After a hopeful message from the estimator this morning ("I think it's around $900 in parts"), it looks like the H-Wing is totaled. Repair costs look to be $4K, and the blankety-blank AAA tow yard says they incurred $1K in towing and storage.


The shop estimator says I need at least (His ballpark prices attached):
Bumper ($325)
Bumper Supports ($120)
Radiator ($225)
Radiator Supports ($225)
Headlights ($360)
Aux lights ($60)
A/C compressor ($300)
Sand guard ($180)
plus a few other incidentals, and then labor.

So I have some decisions to make. Do I:
Buy it back and go to a different shop?
Buy it back and rebuild it myself with the help of my more mechanically-inclined friends?
Buy a new Del Sol and start over?
Buy a completely different car and start over?
Get Pontiac to donate a Solstice to me?
Regardless, I'm not giving up.





(13 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]okojosan
2005-10-13 09:26 am UTC (link)
Poor H-wing! I hope you're able to figure something outld hate to see it auctioned off for parts. I lost my beloved Camry last year. It sucks to hear those words, that your car is totaled.

That Solstice is a nice car...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]obishawn
2005-10-13 09:37 am UTC (link)
I'll get something worked out.

One good thing, I guess.. It's got me writing in LJ again... :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]therrin
2005-10-13 09:44 am UTC (link)
Why a solstice? To make it look more like an A-wing since it has a wider wheel base?

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[info]obishawn
2005-10-13 10:22 am UTC (link)
Nope. It just looks fun, but I think it would make a lousy carfighter. Too James Bond.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]therrin
2005-10-13 10:51 am UTC (link)
At least it would give you an excuse to install ejection seats.

I hope you manage to get the H-wing fixed, if there is any car that should be maintained until the metal rusts, it's a Model T. The H-wing is a close second though.

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[info]darrelx
2005-10-13 04:42 pm UTC (link)
With the H-Wing having somewhat of a celebrity status, have you thought of contacting one of those shows that make tricked-out cars and see if they will help with the rebirth?

It wouldn't be too hard to gather together some photos, video references (like the news footage at the Ep3 premiere) and put together a proposal to send to various shows to see if they'll bite.

"Overhauling" (USA network) and "Pimp-my-ride" (MTV) are two shows that come to mind... but there are others as well. "Monster Garage" (Discovery Channel) might even tackle the problem, although their focust is on the mechanics competing for tools, not on the vehicle owners.

...just a thought.

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[info]asimovberlioz
2005-10-13 06:18 pm UTC (link)
Sorry.

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[info]smartwatermelon
2005-10-13 06:20 pm UTC (link)
Sorry to hear that.

I suppose you can't remove the props and stuff unless you it back?

I like the Solstice, but I think I agree with you about the look. I really like the suggestion of seeing if one of the TLC/Discovery Channel shows might help you rebuild it.

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[info]mistahbojangles
2005-10-14 01:39 am UTC (link)
Man I wish I knew how best to go from here. While I'd really like to see the car brought back from this part of me wonders if you might be able to take the insurance money and start something new that would in the end be just as much fun to work with as the H-wing ever was. At this point I think the question would be better answered by how much life would be left in the car if it were refurbished... decorations and personal investment aside, would the money be better spent on a different vehicle that might be newer and run longer?

Maybe you could tap the multitude of fans out there and see about receiving donations to repair it?

(Reply to this)


[info]rsheslin
2005-10-14 04:21 am UTC (link)
I second (third?) the suggestions about trying to get donations, etc. from the H-Wing's fanbase to help out. I admit that I'd be a little concerned about trying to rebuild it yourself, though, due to possibility of as-yet-unidentified damage that might make it unsafe.

(Reply to this)


[info]glittercat13
2005-10-15 09:48 pm UTC (link)
As long as the frame is solid and not bent, I vote for "buy it back" and then decide how much to do yourself/ask for help from friends with/farm out to "professionals." Considering how many modifications you'll lose otherwise, besides the car which, it would appear, is driveable once the damage has been fixed, that's what makes sense to me.

(In fact, as long as it's got functioning lights and such and is street legal, some of the damage might be better unrepaired - after all, it IS battle damage, right?) :)

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Get a sponsor
(Anonymous)
2005-10-16 07:26 am UTC (link)
I know the car's been a labor of love up until now but I'm betting you could pull in a sponsor for the repairs (I'd start with either Honda USA or your local Honda dealer who can donate parts and labor to get the car back up and running to the point where you can take over again.) Probably the best you would want to offer them is space on a placard you would take to the charity events (Something like "Special Thanks to XXX Honda for their assistance.")

If not a car company sponsor, maybe Lucas :).

If you decide to start over, you might be able to get someone to pony up the base car (decide what you want and contact the PR branch of whatever car company, find out who handles their product placements, they all have that these days.)

-Phil

(Reply to this)


[info]trinker
2005-11-18 05:03 am UTC (link)
GAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I didn't know you had an LJ until tonight, and then only because Colleen mentioned your LJ username in passing.

Haven't had time to read all the updates, and it's midnight here so I'll have to do it tomorrow, but I'm heartbroken to hear that H-Wing got damaged at all.

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