Market Value - 2003 Miata

Hi Carol:

I started reading this NG as I have been thinking about a different
car now that my '90 Honda has started having so many mechanical issues
all in less than a year. I am giving the Miata a thought and saw your
story (and pix). Glad you're OK, what a mess to the car! The thing I
can't understand is how it has become so commonplace to blatantly and
dangerously run red lights these days, so many people are jumping on
that bandwagon. It used to be rare to see it, and even then it was
usually close to legal, now I see cars 2 or more car lengths behind
the line when the light is full red go speeding through the
intersections, often when cross traffic has actually started moving.
What the F are these people thinking???? I try to drive with that in
mind; of course last year I had kind of the opposite happen. It was
pouring rain, much water on the road, a small intersection with only
one lane of traffic moving from west to east, I'm in a north to south
lane when the car in front of me suddenly stops when the light went
yellow. They easily could have made it without being a fraction beyond
the law. Instead I have to slam on my brakes and I end up hydroplaning
into their left rear. Fortunately for me I was in my truck which
sustained no damage, but the left rear of the small Toyota sedan was
crushed. Naturally I'm deemed at fault no matter what and my insurance
ain't getting any cheaper on account of that! If that car had run even
a full red light I would have been better off! Well, best of luck to
you, do recover, and if you go shopping for another car I hope you
find one you like just as much....

> I am very lucky not only that I lived but
> that I have medical insurance and that the rat ******* had car insurance -

Interesting that this is considered lucky (the insurance part). Isn't it
obligatory in the US to have car insurance, in particular third-party damage
and medical insurance? Here in the UK it's illegal to drive a car without
insurance that covers at least damage to any other vehicles you might cause
plus medical cover/death cover etc. Isn't it the same in the US?

Eric

> Extremely glad you survived to tell us about it. I drive my Miata like
> I rode my motorcycles--assuming no one else is competent or paying
> attention.

Hear hear - me too. One thing my driving instructor told me when I was 17
was to assume that someone out there is going to make a mistake. While you
can't stop them from making one, you have influence over the outcome of
their mistake - i.e. by the way you react you can stop an accident from
happening, even if it would have been someone else's fault. That piece of
advice has stood me in good stead.

Then a year ago I trained to ride a motorbike and that really helped
re-sharpen my road awareness. Because you're particularly vulnerable on a
bike it really isn't a matter of "it was their fault", but of "I'm NOT going
to have an accident despite the many morons on the road, because any
accident is likely to rip my head off". I'm sure that's made me a better
car-driver again as well.

Eric

Rivergoat > wrote:

>Hi Carol:
>
>I started reading this NG as I have been thinking about a different
>car now that my '90 Honda has started having so many mechanical issues
>all in less than a year. I am giving the Miata a thought and saw your
>story (and pix). Glad you're OK, what a mess to the car! The thing I
>can't understand is how it has become so commonplace to blatantly and
>dangerously run red lights these days, so many people are jumping on
>that bandwagon. It used to be rare to see it, and even then it was
>usually close to legal, now I see cars 2 or more car lengths behind
>the line when the light is full red go speeding through the
>intersections, often when cross traffic has actually started moving.

On the other hand, in Tallahassee people nowadays seem to be
more conservative with red lights. I do not know why; if the
police is enforcing it, I have not seen them do it.

Anyway, I am glad Carol is alive and still wants a Miata.

Leon

>What the F are these people thinking???? I try to drive with that in
>mind; of course last year I had kind of the opposite happen. It was
>pouring rain, much water on the road, a small intersection with only
>one lane of traffic moving from west to east, I'm in a north to south
>lane when the car in front of me suddenly stops when the light went
>yellow. They easily could have made it without being a fraction beyond
>the law. Instead I have to slam on my brakes and I end up hydroplaning
>into their left rear. Fortunately for me I was in my truck which
>sustained no damage, but the left rear of the small Toyota sedan was
>crushed. Naturally I'm deemed at fault no matter what and my insurance
>ain't getting any cheaper on account of that! If that car had run even
>a full red light I would have been better off! Well, best of luck to
>you, do recover, and if you go shopping for another car I hope you
>find one you like just as much....

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

(Leon van Dommelen) wrote:

>Rivergoat > wrote:
>
>>Hi Carol:
>>
>>I started reading this NG as I have been thinking about a different
>>car now that my '90 Honda has started having so many mechanical issues
>>all in less than a year. I am giving the Miata a thought and saw your
>>story (and pix). Glad you're OK, what a mess to the car! The thing I
>>can't understand is how it has become so commonplace to blatantly and
>>dangerously run red lights these days, so many people are jumping on
>>that bandwagon. It used to be rare to see it, and even then it was
>>usually close to legal, now I see cars 2 or more car lengths behind
>>the line when the light is full red go speeding through the
>>intersections, often when cross traffic has actually started moving.
>
>On the other hand, in Tallahassee people nowadays seem to be
>more conservative with red lights. I do not know why; if the
>police is enforcing it, I have not seen them do it.

Now what was I thinking? They announce daily red-light patrol
locations on radio...

Leon

>Anyway, I am glad Carol is alive and still wants a Miata.
>
>Leon
>
>>What the F are these people thinking???? I try to drive with that in
>>mind; of course last year I had kind of the opposite happen. It was
>>pouring rain, much water on the road, a small intersection with only
>>one lane of traffic moving from west to east, I'm in a north to south
>>lane when the car in front of me suddenly stops when the light went
>>yellow. They easily could have made it without being a fraction beyond
>>the law. Instead I have to slam on my brakes and I end up hydroplaning
>>into their left rear. Fortunately for me I was in my truck which
>>sustained no damage, but the left rear of the small Toyota sedan was
>>crushed. Naturally I'm deemed at fault no matter what and my insurance
>>ain't getting any cheaper on account of that! If that car had run even
>>a full red light I would have been better off! Well, best of luck to
>>you, do recover, and if you go shopping for another car I hope you
>>find one you like just as much....

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

Theresa - sympathies for your Miata and your pains - I've lost Honda's to
accidents but I've never MISSED a car the way I miss my Miata. You made me
laugh though - they were still picking glass out of me 5 days after the
wreck! I'm so glad I have no memory of the impact - horrible thing to see
coming at you.

--
3,016 men, women and children were murdered September 11, 2001 by 19 men
armed with boxcutters.
One gun on each plane could have changed things.
"theresa" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Carol --
>
> Saw your pictures. I also got hit in the door on Sunday (but not with
> the jaw dropping intensity of yours) yet when the EMTs arrived and saw
> the car, they all assumed I had a broken neck, etc. All I have is a
> very sore shoulder and a bruised leg so tell your husband that when our
> Miatas give their all to save us, they give their lives.
>
> Mine was a black top Emerald 2000, built on the first day of the new
> Millennium and I am going to miss her like hell. I haven't seen her yet
> -- what was left was towed and I'm still not quite up to renting a car
> and seeing her totaled like that -- but to watch someone's front grill
> come at you and plunge into the driver's side and then to have the
> window and air bags explode at the same time...that's a sad club.
>
> I'm still shedding bits of the safety glass.
>
> Also tell hubby that SUVs hit in the side tend to roll, and you might
> have been messed up even more.
> ====
> First Nora, then Carol, and now me -- maybe people don't want Miatas to
> be chick cars...
>
> theresa
>
> PS to the group: Thanks again for your help when I first got her and for
> teaching me to wash a car.
>
> Carol wrote:
> >
> > I loved my Miata with grand abandon until a total freaking rat *******
idiot
> > ran a red light and killed it two weeks ago. (Pics at
www.aintchicken.com )
> > Luckily I lived. Now I'm looking for listings for 2003 Miata, dark
green,
> > manual, base plus convenience package, 5,900 miles, perfect condition
(until
> > the rat ******* hit it) so I can talk to his insurance company with some
> > intelligence. I've found lots of ads for 2002's but would appreciate any
> > links to ads out there I could use to support my claim for my 2003. What
a
> > sad sad day - lost my dream car - very greatful to be alive. Thanks in
> > advance. - Carol

The way you describe traffic it sounds like you're in Houston. I see 2-6
people run reds EVERY DAY here. I never heard about when it became optional.


"Rivergoat" > wrote in message
news
> Hi Carol:
>
> I started reading this NG as I have been thinking about a different
> car now that my '90 Honda has started having so many mechanical issues
> all in less than a year. I am giving the Miata a thought and saw your
> story (and pix). Glad you're OK, what a mess to the car! The thing I
> can't understand is how it has become so commonplace to blatantly and
> dangerously run red lights these days, so many people are jumping on
> that bandwagon. It used to be rare to see it, and even then it was
> usually close to legal, now I see cars 2 or more car lengths behind
> the line when the light is full red go speeding through the
> intersections, often when cross traffic has actually started moving.
> What the F are these people thinking???? I try to drive with that in
> mind; of course last year I had kind of the opposite happen. It was
> pouring rain, much water on the road, a small intersection with only
> one lane of traffic moving from west to east, I'm in a north to south
> lane when the car in front of me suddenly stops when the light went
> yellow. They easily could have made it without being a fraction beyond
> the law. Instead I have to slam on my brakes and I end up hydroplaning
> into their left rear. Fortunately for me I was in my truck which
> sustained no damage, but the left rear of the small Toyota sedan was
> crushed. Naturally I'm deemed at fault no matter what and my insurance
> ain't getting any cheaper on account of that! If that car had run even
> a full red light I would have been better off! Well, best of luck to
> you, do recover, and if you go shopping for another car I hope you
> find one you like just as much....
>

In Texas it is illegal to drive without liability insurance but then, it's
illegal to run red lights, too. Lots of people here do both!!

--
3,016 men, women and children were murdered September 11, 2001 by 19 men
armed with boxcutters.
One gun on each plane could have changed things.
"Eric Baber" > wrote in message
...
> > I am very lucky not only that I lived but
> > that I have medical insurance and that the rat ******* had car
insurance -
>
> Interesting that this is considered lucky (the insurance part). Isn't it
> obligatory in the US to have car insurance, in particular third-party
damage
> and medical insurance? Here in the UK it's illegal to drive a car without
> insurance that covers at least damage to any other vehicles you might
cause
> plus medical cover/death cover etc. Isn't it the same in the US?
>
> Eric
>
>

"Carol" > wrote in
:

> Theresa - sympathies for your Miata and your pains - I've lost Honda's
> to accidents but I've never MISSED a car the way I miss my Miata. You
> made me laugh though - they were still picking glass out of me 5 days
> after the wreck! I'm so glad I have no memory of the impact - horrible
> thing to see coming at you.
>

I'll second the "glad to have no memory" bit! I got broadsided some years
ago while driving an old Escort. The car was totalled. Impact was pretty
much right on the drivers side door. I was in the hospital for a week.

I was actually coherant immediately afterward, giving my name and other
info to an off-duty paramedic who arrived on the scene almost immediately.
He was able to get ahold of my dad (also a paramedic at the time) who then
came and rode w/ me in the ambulance to the hospital & was talking to me on
the way. But I have no recollection of any of it.. I have a gap of a day
or two in my memory from that that I hope I NEVER get back. I don't know
if I saw the car that hit me or not.. all I remember is driving into the
intersection.

-Scott