So… I haven’t posted much about it here, but on August 1, 2008 I was in a car accident. A lady ran a red light on the way into work and I T-Boned her. She flipped and rolled a good 50 or 60 yards, so she was going pretty fast. There was a witness who said she ran the red and the police cited her then and there.
Anyway, my Subaru Outback has over $12,000 in damage and it is still in the shop. My insurance is going to check it out today to see if they will total it or not. I’ve been waffling back and forth between wanting my Outback back, or wanting a new car… a minivan.
So I’ve been looking around for a better dog vehicle. Where I can have four dogs, maybe even all six, crated. And so far I like the Toyota Sienna best.
I had a 1990 Toyota pickup for 14 years and loved it. I like Toyotas. And Minivan… while I still would prefer a car, my lifestyle really warrants a Minivan over a car.
So the question is, do I want my Outback back, or do I want a Minivan? Can I afford a Minivan? And a car payment? Bleh… but now I have the new car bug. I hate getting the new car bug! Maybe I need some new eyeglasses in order to see straight and make a good decision!
New car bug is FUN! Well, it can be a bit hairy and nerve racking at times, but overall it is fun!
We bought a Sienna two years ago, moved up from a RAV4. I have two giant KennelAires strapped down in the back, and if I removed the middle seat row, I could have more crates.
It’s easy to drive. I get about 20 mpg over lifetime so far. I use the AC a lot, and I’m in the city, so I would think 20 is about as bad as you would get.
I love that the back windows roll down too. I bought those silver mesh shade thingies and a VentLock from Clean Run. The dogs are perfectly happy crating in the car at trials, and stay plenty cool. (I’m in the furnace part of California, too!)
It’s a tough decision though, unless you are in a position to pay cash. Good luck!
SplashTheLabs last blog post..Pet Trusts
let us know what the adjuster says… 12K for repairs is alot of damage.
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There was a website somewhere (sorry I can’t remember the name) that rated cars for people who had dogs. Like which cars had cargo areas that you could easily put dog crates in, etc.
Condo Bluess last blog post..Lighting the Olympic Torch
If your outback is that badly damaged – it may just be worth getting a new car!! Would be nice to have a bigger vehicle to haulall your dogs around in!! Could you pull the pop up with your new mini van??
Christys last blog post..WW Marley the therapy dog.
I had an accident a few years ago where a driver crossed the median and hit me head-on. Fortunately, aside from some bumps and bruises, only my car was totaled. After that, I wanted my next car to be a tank.
I’m glad to learn that you’re safe and well.
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I think you should go with the minivan. That would fit your lifestyle a lot better. But don’t get a new one. Get one that’s two years old or so. You will save thousands and there are pretty good deals on vehicles right now. I bet you can find something very reasonable. Good luck.
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Oh my! Glad you weren’t hurt. Have to agree with Christy. If your car is damaged badly, might be safe to get a new one.
Did a blog entry about it last month:
I work for Carmichael Lynch who works on Subaru of America advertising. I am doing on online research project on car consumers and Subaru consumers. I am doing blog searches for people talking about Subaru and found your post. Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad to read you were OK. Hopefully everything works out with the insurance.
Because of you post I was wondering if you would like to participate in the research. We are recruiting people into a private Ning to answer some questions and help with a few other projects. We are giving a $100 dollar incentive for you time.
To find out more, check out our blog – soasrn.wordpress.com
Full disclosure – I work for Carmichael Lynch who works on the Subaru of America business. I am in the research department. This is to help the agency better understand Subaru/car consumers. This is not a viral campaign. I understand your comment policy and I am not intending to promote Subaru through this comment. Please feel free to delete this comment.
Thank you for your time,
Herb
Herb.sawyer@clynch.com
Herb Sawyers last blog post..You’ve been invited to participate in the Subaru Research Ning Network, what is it?