Totalled '04 Corolla on Friday

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tactical Funky @ Apr 24 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]429114[/snapback]</div>

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Welcome .............

Sorry 'bout the rear ender! GET A LAWYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope your doing well. GIT A LAWYER!!!!!!!



You will be totally happy with a Prius. Go for the whole package! You will love it!



Stick with this site and you can't go wrong!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fish @ Apr 24 2007, 01:24 PM) [snapback]429138[/snapback]</div>

He's a student! We don't have money for lawyers, or a full packaged Prius. Actually I got a used 05 with the full package for 17,500...but really, you don't need those features. I rarely use my navigation system, never use bluetooth, don't use the 6 cd changer (have an iPod hooked up), the foglights are useless, don't notice much of a difference in teh auto-dimming mirrior, I use the homelink...wish that was in cheaper models, all that is not worth the extra $5,000 believe me.

Get a basic model, you don't want to spend $30,000 just for those minor features.

 

me... age 23. i purcheased my 04 prius new, off the lot. i only put down 1k (i have pretty high payments)

sometimes i wish i saved the money for... let's say rent.. but every time i drive the car (when i'm not wanting to install the trd suspension) i smile and feel excellent about my purchase.

the touring is... awesome. if i could trade mine in for one, i would. i wouldn't mind having the tire pressure monitors and the back up camera either.

I would say go for the touring model. it has slightly bigger wheels. and a better suspension. ( good anti sway bars )

i'm not even sure if my 04 has anti sway bars.....

 

See a doctor.

GET A LAWYER.

Skips neck brace and meds and go to a very GOOD chiropractor.

GET A LAWYER.

Whether you get a touring or regular, consider adding the BT plate.

Did I mention you should get a lawyer?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tactical Funky @ Apr 24 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]429114[/snapback]</div>

Check out the advice at www.carbuyingtips.com and I hope you are feeling better and don't have any permanent damage. Also check out kbb.com and be honest about the condition of your Corolla. I don't care how much coverage you have on the car as the insurance is only going to pay fair market value. This is where you need to get educated as they will lowball. Remember that everything is negotiable and the adjustor's job is to get you to accept the least amount possible. Everyone you will have contact with is an experienced professional. You have (hopefully) no experience. Do not underestimate the value of medical and legal advice. I am not advocating a lawsuit for imagined or overblown damages but don't sign anything in haste and be careful what you say. Be very wary of lawyers who will only take your case on contingency. IMO they will try to settle your case quickly for what they can get, not to maximize the judgement for you. Do lots of research! We are here to help. Ask questions and you will get some sound advice from our varied points of view. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

If you can't write a check for the whole thing, don't do it. You will be much happier in ten years if you buy a used car now.

 

Duplicate post, sorry see the next one.

 

Duplicate post...lots of errors, see next one.

 

Duplicate post...sorry. see the next one

 

I know that you are going to get lots of advice so I will try to make this simple:

1. GET A LAWYER (explain what happened, and they will usually take their pay from the settlement so there is no out-of-pocket from you)

2. Get what you can afford, but afford at least a Package #4 or above (I am sold on the HID headlights since I often drive at night)

3. Used is not a bad idea (see #2), I did and haven't regretted it (although if I had the money I would have blown the bank)

4. Don't make a fast decision; ask lots of questions, and patient research all the details. They are no longer hard to find, so the right deal is out there waiting for you.

5. Stay on this forum like glue...almost all your questions can be answered here.

6. Prepare to see life differently; it happens behind the wheel of a Prius!!!!!!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Apr 24 2007, 01:16 PM) [snapback]429234[/snapback]</div>

I know it has been said before. Obviously, Flood Control was not working, but with that said,
Get a lawyer. They will work on a contingency basis. There will be no out of pocket cost to do this, and when it is done, you will be able to pay cash for the new Prius, which is your right as compensation for the pain you will go through.

Here on the west coast, the lawyers generally work of a 33-1/3 % contingency. Read their agreement carefully, becuase I have done this more than once, and only one of the lawyers has a clause hidden in his contract that he got 33-1/3 of the medical payments as well, so that when I recieved my settlement, I had to pay the lawyer another $900 for 1/3 of the medical expenses that he had nothing to do with. Boy was I mad at him, but now you have been warned, so if you see a clause like that in the contract, have them take it out or go to another lawyer, there are plenty to choose from.

I agree you should go to a medical doctor, and have him do what he can for you, but on top of that, plan on seeing a chiropractor and a pysical theripist a couple of times a week for 3 - 6 months. This will greatly help lesson your pain, and provide for a pain free ruture. I never had a whiplash, and I got $10,000. You should plan on at least $15,000 or more.

I know some might say it is attitudes like this that drive insurance rates up, but this is not one of those cases. You were injured, and need to be compensated. THat is what the insurance is for.

 

If I were you, I'd get a package 2 or a package with the alarm system...I mean, your a student, so you probably don't need bluetooth or a really pimped out audio system on your prius (the package 2 supports mp3s, so why bother with a 6 cd changer?)

If you have an Ipod, you can also plug it into the aux port.


Bottom line: don't get anything higher then the bare minimum. I'd seriously reconsider the choice of a prius too. Pocketing the extra 7k (when buying a $15k car) would be much better then paying interest for a few years.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bob64 @ Apr 25 2007, 11:01 PM) [snapback]430250[/snapback]</div>

Seriously, I don't know why people are telling him to get at least a Package 4. The cost doesn't justify the minimal extras. The extras worth getting are the HID headlights, and the homelink mirror (opens your garage door by pushing the button built in the mirror). You could probably add those outside of the package for $600, better than paying $3,000 more. The security system is pointless, they can't steal your car without having your FOB, and then they have to know how to start it. And the JBL system is horrible, sounds like crap. You can add a full set of speakers yourself for $200 if you look on ebay.
Also, you may have a good down payment, but that doesn't necesarrily mean you'll get a good payment plan. I put down $7,500 for my used 2005 that was $17.500. But after the warranty, tax, licensing fees I still owe about $13,000 with a 14% interest rate (because i'm a first time buyer). I've only had credit for a year (never missed a payment, and always paid in full...not the minimum.) I pay $350 a month for 60 months, but I plan to pay off my car in a year, rather than 5.

 

I also have to question the "need" for HIDs.

They only piss off the guy thats in front of you... especially if you turn on the fog lights at night... good god, what a waste of energy!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bob64 @ Apr 26 2007, 03:37 AM) [snapback]430335[/snapback]</div>

And in this you show your ignorance!!!

Read the posts, the "fog lights" don't do much of anything and aren't really fog lights, in fact their not even driving lights. The HID's on a Prius are automatic leveling so they don't shine up into the eyes of other drivers, and they use less energy to operate than halogens.

Beside all that, they provide a better equivalent to daylight increasing your night time visibility and safety.

The bottom line is that he needs to determine what he can afford, and since he's a college student, a used prius might be an option...that being said, adding extras isn't as easy as telling the dealer. He can add NAV, cameras, bluetooth, better speakers, radio extras, etc, as there are lots of aftermarket options, but upgrading the main lights to HID doesn't really work.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ Apr 26 2007, 03:35 AM) [snapback]430347[/snapback]</div>

No, I have to agree with Bob. The HID lights really do make the road a lot easier to see, and pleasant to drive at night...but they do piss off the people who are in front of you. I got pissed off all the time when someone with HID's were driving behind me, before I bought my Prius. You shouldn't call him ignorant just because he's stating his opinion.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Apr 26 2007, 11:09 AM) [snapback]430493[/snapback]</div>

It wasn't his advice/opinion I was mentioning...he was stating that it was a waste of energy. A fact he wasn't even attempting to provide data for.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ Apr 26 2007, 12:07 PM) [snapback]430548[/snapback]</div>

Well, anything is a waste of energy if you turn it on when it isn't needed. GRANTED, HID's take up less energy, but do people REALLY need to turn on fog lights at night when HID's are what? 150% brighter? So the headlights themselves are about 100% brighter total.

Turning on 2 more hid fog lights = 300% more brightness then needed. Lets face it, most driving is going to be on highways or city streets, not dark trail paths where you need every volt of power to light up the place. Is being able to see the extra...hundred feet (a guess)... really needed?