So here I'm going to a client meeting in the morning and for change taking my time on the road. Quite relaxed and may be too relaxed. After 40 minutes drive, about 1 minute from my destination, I run into the car in front of me. Well “run into” are big words. I was waiting behind a car in order to merge from a ramp off the highway into a double lane street. One car was coming but was still very far and forced to turned my head 180 degrees to see the on coming traffic I didn’t realize the guy in front of me was still, well, in front of me when I started to move forward! No need to tell me how stupid this is. I’m quite a shame of myself here.

I’m quite upset. With only 4800 miles on it I managed to transform my car from new to hold in ½ a second :(

Non the less I was thinking that this may not have happened if I was able to use my side or rear mirror.
I would still buy the S40 even for the lack of rear visibility but I think there is something to say about Volvo’s safety, which doesn’t seem to be thought all the way through. It is a tough subject as I love the car outlines but I think one off the challenges for Volvo designers should have been a little more in solving this dilemma of great style but little rear view visibility. Is it that expensive to provide wide-angle mirrors?

Now I know what my next mod will be once I get the car back from the shop! I’ll buy a set of wide-angle mirrors!

It is my first new car. Does anyone have experience in getting the best repairs on a new car? I’m not sure what to tell the shop guy so I get it back almost as new. Is it going to feel different the next time I’ll drive it?

I can’t wait to get my car back…

Greg

Greg. Sorry to hear about that for you. Glad it was a "slow speed" incident and that you are ok. :thumbsup:

Sounds like you just made the definition of "accident"

Honestly, I think that is one of those wierd situations where, even if you had wide angle mirrors, you may not trust them 100% and might have turned your head anyway(I think I would). I know that even while merging on normal ramps, I will glance over regardless of the car I am in.

Thanks man! Thoughts well appreciated.

You probably right about that mirror although it couldn't have hurt.
Estimated repairs: $2400. I thought it would have been more so since I have a doubt about whether or not the engine has been touch I’m going to the dealer on Monday make sure they do everything they can to fix it right. I’d rather spend a little more to get good repair since the car was new. I haven’t seen the car since the accident.

Does any one have experience with repairs on new car after an accident? I’m looking for input on what to look for.

Greg :beer:

I have to agree with niko05 about the mirrors. Theres a ton of construction around here, and now u have to stop on off-ramps, and not just yield. Its a PIA, when your stopped and people infront of u still wont go. Theres really no way to use your side view mirror. U have to turn around and look, at least where I am.

Sorry cant help u with the rapair issue

As far as the repairs go...I say go with whomever makes you feel most comfortable about the repairs. The shop that I have used for years is owned by two brothers. They are never too busy to offer you a cup of coffee and they never mind you watching them work. As a matter of fact I have been standing in their shop on a couple of occations and been asked "can you hand me that 11mm socket". I know that the work always gets done the right way.

If you get a bad feeling from the repair shop... go somewhere else. I promise there are other places that will accept your money
:beer:

In UK good body repair shops are "recommended" by car insurance companies and will display certificates provided by the insurers. Also, they will belong to professional bodies such as the VBRA (Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association) and again, will display this. Is there anything similar in USA?

I was rear-ended in a 3 day old company car. Look for good colour matching, alignment of panels, correct re-fitting of all trim, headlamp alignment/operation of all lights, make sure all openings open & close properly, no creaking/noise and that all catches/locks work properly. Check for paint overspray & that no coolant hoses got weakened/damaged if the radiator was pushed back. Worth getting an emissions check - the cat can suffer damage in an impact.

My company car's rear hatch has never opened/closed quite the same since the impact despite going to the repair shop a couple of times. The car gets renewed in August/September, so I've given up worrying about it now.

Visibility in modern cars is a big issue at the moment. Making them strong enough to pass crash tests has lead to thicker sills/pillars and the quest for lower drag coefficients & fuel/emissions efficiency limits the size of door mirrors. I have seen a front window pillar prototype using a steel-frame type design (like a construction/tower crane) to improve visibility, so maybe in the future...

BB
:beer:

Sorry guys for not replying sooner to all your great feedback.

I have to say Niko that’s pretty cool you have mechanics that let you watch over their shoulders. It seems so difficult to find them. Most of the time they think you are going to watch over how well they do the job when you just want to learn more about the problem and the fix.

BB, thank for your feedback that was great. I’m was able to do a checklist of things to look for. There is so many things that I probably would have missed at first and in the eventuality something would have gone wrong It could have been too late for me to say something.

I’m dying to get the car back. Of course I took the train today to go to work and a fire took place during the day and with the rerouting it took me 1hr and 45min to get back home. It takes me 1/2hr by car. It had to be the week for this to happen…@#/-#^&*!!!

Estimated repairs $2400. They had already ordered the part and there is a small chance I might get it by the end of the week. I think I can’t complain there. Repair in a week! I should hold that thought until I have the car in hand though. I have a friend who has a VW and he had to wait 3 weeks to get is car back after some needed work.

I haven’t been long enough in town to know a good mechanic so I went with the dealer who sold me the car thinking they should know the car well enough even if it is a relatively new model. I hope I did right…

Thanks again to all… Greg :thumbsup: