Well, I have a little bit of bad news. The 2002 Cavalier I have been driving since 2006 has logged its last mile. It didn't keel over. I got in a fender bender one week ago tonight.
I was en route to a football game between Waterloo West and Dubuque Wahlert when going up Waterloo Road toward University Avenue, passing East 18th Street and Rainbow Drive and near the Family Video store, some young lady (just turned 18) decided to turn around where you really shouldn't. Anyway, I didn't see her in time, tried to brake and swerve around her, but my left-front corner smashed into her right-rear. I got cited for failure to stop, but the car was drivable to my destination and back.
So, I called Progressive to report the accident. Saturday, a claims rep named Sarah called me to discuss the damage before I went to work. I told her how it happened and described what was damaged. The corner of the bumper had a six-inch indention, the headlight and turn signal were smashed, the corner of the hood around the headlight was folded under, the fender was crumpled around the impact site, and the wheelwell slightly rubbed against the tire. I used my dad's Chevy HHR for the weekend, and then took the car to the body shop Monday. I had a rental of a 2009 PT Cruiser while I waited for the Cavalier to be fixed... Or so I thought.
Sarah called me while I was at Walmart Tuesday afternoon. She told me the car was unrepairable because the adjuster estimated the damages to be greater than the value. I had a choice between taking $3,006.87 and they take the car off my hands, or I keep the car and take $2,372.93, both figures after the $500 deductible. After talking with my dad, with Charlie Lipley at First Security State Bank (who held the note on my car until Tuesday, when I paid it off) and with Mark Roussell, the sales manager at Witham Auto in Cedar Falls (and my boss there), I came to conclusion to take the $3,000 and change and then used that money to make a downpayment on any car I chose on the lot.
I chose a 2005 Chevy Malibu. I've driven it a few times while going from the C.F. lot to the other two lots before, and I thought it was going to be a car I would consider trading my Cavalier for when I was ready. I guess fate said I was ready NOW!
So, Wednesday, I start the process by having Mark do the deal on an employee price, then business manager Andy started to do the loan paperwork on it. Later, I went to the local Progressive branch to get the check, but they also asked me to go to First Security to give them an envelope for them to send my title to Progressive. Yesterday, I was told that Dad needed to co-sign on this loan, too, due to the tight credit market. After I had a shortened day at work (due to rain), I went to the body shop to clean out the Cavalier and take off the plates. Later that afternoon, I returned the rental, and then Dad and I went to the lot to finish the paperwork.
I just hope this one will last me quite a while.
