CRASHED MY JETTA!">CRASHED MY JETTA!
Well, it happened. I wasn’t trying to make it happen, despite what some psychologists might insist, but it happened all on its own.
11-17-03, 11:45 A.M.: I waited for the light to change in downtown traffic. I got the green light and pulled into the intersection, heard the screech of the brakes, looked to my left, and saw the Honda careening very quickly right at my head. In that weird instant of super-clarity I assessed the situation and realized there was nowhere to go. I put my left arm up to cover my head (because it was about to get bashed in by a Honda) and then that sickening sound of metal and glass smashing while being knocked around with a force nobody could understand unless they’ve been there.
My head snapped left towards the window, my arm still “”protecting”" it, and then rebounded to the right. As the car stopped spinning I opened my eyes and saw smoke starting to whisp up around me. Though I had wanted to assess my injuries, I decided that fire was a very bad thing and I’d be better off separating me from it. I pushed on the door but it was smashed in – a few jabs with my shoulder and I was out, in the middle of the intersection, living that very odd moment where all the many drivers stopped at all 4 points just sat and stared waiting to see how bad the carnage was. I made my way to the other car and asked how the three ladies were – they seemed OK but were clearly displeased about being where they were at that point. I saw the baby seat in the back – thank God the baby was not with them at the time. All else suddenly mattered less.
This is where it gets sticky, at least for me. I started this site because of my sincere displeasure about the quality of my VW (note I didn’t say all VW’s!) and the refusal of VW to make good on it. But I’d be wrong if I didn’t add this:
The left curtain airbads deployed. When I smashed my head against it instead of hitting hard glass I hit a nice cushioned pillow. The seatbelt did what it was supposed to do, I’m told by the tow truck driver, and I walked away from it with just the usual tension injury because I braced for the crash and am just starting to feel the muscle aches. Say what you will about VW’s, they are incredibly safe in a crash (take my word for it – DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!)
Now I struggle with what’s next for this site – I still firmly believe in everything I wrote so far, and if there’s a God, the insurance company will total this car and I’ll soon be driving a different make. I’ll wait for the excitement to die down a little (it only happened 4 1/2 hours ago) and then talk to others involved with this project to decide what direction to take.
- Rick
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spifflifkin Said,
November 17, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- WOW! I’m glad you are ok! To bad for the car. What kind of car are you going to look at next?
peterd1965 Said,
November 17, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Glad you’re O.K. Rick!
C’mon get a 2004 VW and compare / contrast or I can check the availabilty of www – GMSucks, FordSucks, SaabSucks, HondaSucks, Toyo….!
Seriously glad you’re still around and I hope it all works out well.
Passat GLXer Said,
November 17, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Glad to see you’re OK. I to like the safety VW’s offer as about 10 years ago my 86 Golf got side blasted on the right side. The door was pushed into the seat but I was able to easily control the Golf and recover from being puished sideways. My Golf was totalled and she paid! I wasn’t hurt at all..
Meaghan Said,
November 17, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Thank GOd for the safety of your car! I hope it all goes your way and they do total the car. Take it easy the next few days!
mac Said,
November 18, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Well Rick, there you have it…glad they weren’t driving some huge, overweight SUV (etc: a Land Rover)…and I’m really glad you were ALONE!…
My old Rabbits and GTI’s were really some of the best cars I’ve ever had…So I’ve nothing to add to your most informative website
So now what, you ask?…well maybe insurance will get you a new VW in the color you REALLY want this time…
isn’t that the REAL (deep inside) reason you started all this HooHaa…because you thought BLACK would be cool…and then you realized you didn’t stand out from the crowd enough back at that funeral!!
So…
Just go and get that yellow one you wanted in the first place and just calm down…
…and Godspeed be with you!!!
rick Said,
November 18, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Hey, Mark (aka MAC), thanks for your comical reply! Gosh, I’m still laughing… kinda… a little…
Last I knew you had about 9 cars, including the Land Rover, and NOT ONE VW, despite your dubious endorsement so… I think I’ll pray for the totalling out of the VW and pursue my dream of the BMW 325ci… used, of course…
Meaghan Said,
November 18, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Wow, that was funny! Yes, we are really ALL just pissed off about the COLOR of our cars. You should REALLY do stand-up!
Lexie Said,
November 20, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- Thank God you are ok rick! Your explanation read like a scary novel…and to me, like a bad memory. I once totaled my Honda and the description of your accident gave me the chills b/c i relived that sound and that smoke and that slow motion feeling. wow…
although we are all on this site complaining about Jetta’s, i don’t recall anyone upset about their safety. I think that might just be the one thing that we can all say is fantastic about these cars. So, i guess what i’m trying to say is that i still believe that, safety aside, this car isn’t what it’s cracked up to be with all of the problems. I’m just glad you are ok… and not to worry about them totalling your car. Only one side of mine was bashed in and the windshield was all cracked and they declared it totaled…you should be in your BMW in no time!
rick Said,
November 20, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
- heh.. thanks! And I agree with the safety thing – I’m sitting upright tonight becuase of the curtain airbag. I wish more cars would make them standard.
That said, I also think VW has sold a lot of cars with design flaws and they haven’t made good on them. On that they fall way short.
I think both issues are important.
Sheryl Said,
January 6, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
- I don’t know if I agree about the safety issue. I had a 2002 Jetta for about 6 months when my boyfriend lost control on a turn and we crashed into a bunch of trees and a pole. The car was TOTALED. My boyfriend was in the ICU for awhile. Luckily I was okay.
The funny thing is, with the front end completly smashed in, the driver side door ON the driver’s seat, NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF. Eight airbags in this car and not one went off.
I called VW to discuss this in case there was in issue with the airbags in the 2002 Jetta’s, and their response was “”you have to hit it in the right spot”". I told her to go look at the car in the dump and tell me which spot we missed! She showed no concern what so ever. I was very upset about this. I remember the police constantly saying that night “”I cannot believe they are alive”".
I guess after hearing that, even though the airbags all failed miserably, I did get a 2003 Jetta to replace my totaled car. I wish I had more time to research the airbag problem, but insurance only covered the rental car for 2 days, so I had to make a quick decision. I hope you guys are right and that my problem was a fluke. I lost my brother a couple years ago in a car accident, which is why I got the Jetta. I was told about how safe it was.
rob Said,
February 2, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
- rick dont let your insurance co push you around.learn the local insurance laws. rental,towing and storage.very important to get a body shop that shares your views on totaling your car. i am sure when you are done with this deal you will create http://www.myinscosucks…..
rick Said,
July 6, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
- umm.. I work for insurance company. ‘Nuff said!