Newbie checking in

[BrandonM7]

First GM I've owned since my Cutlass back in high school - I've actually been mildly anti-GM for most of my life because I had to work on them too much back when I did that, plus my sister and I as young'uns had a few of the worst/least reliable GM models so I got a false bad taste that lingered for some reason. But these Denalis look so damn good and that 6.2L stomps so hard I took the plunge, and thus far I LOVE it. I thought my LR4 was nice, but it didn't hold a candle to this thing.

I picked it up the Friday after Thanksgiving, then 11 days later it was rear-ended by a deputy sheriff to the tune of about $8500. So that was awesome. With a bit of pushing, pulling, and a handful of zipties I managed to get where I can drive it without the bumper cover or taillights from falling out, so at least I still get to use it until the shop can take it in near the end of January. I'm trying to see the silver lining in the situation, hoping I can use my diminished value check for some tasteful mods.

I wish it were the newer whiter metallic white, but it still looks mighty damn good in this shade. Depending on how the paint work comes out after repairs I might plasti-dip it in the brightest white they make. I know these metallic colors are hard to match, so if I can see mismatch I won't be able to unsee it.

 

[swathdiver]

Welcome! Nice looking truck. It'll be good as new in no time. That Cutlass was GMs way of teaching you new skills!

Lots of us here learned to turn wrenches on G-Bodies and B-Bodies! Some enjoyed it so much that they still keep one around!

 

[Miami-Dade]

Welcome from Miami Beach Brandon!! After you get your Denali back online I am sure you will be taking a lot of road trips.

 

[Beagleman]

Did the Cop get charged for following too closely or distracted driving like YOU would have had this been reversed................ probably not, and you are the poor guy with the broken toy..... I hope the cop felt really sick over his faux pas...... I would have torn a strip off him, cop, gun , taser and all..... no excuse, your truck is beautiful, and I hope the repairs will be exactly as you wish......my '19 Tahoe is on order, still 12 weeks away.... send pics when she is all fixed up, I'd love to see it.....

 

[Doubeleive]

Welcome! Nice looking truck. It'll be good as new in no time. That Cutlass was GMs way of teaching you new skills!

Lots of us here learned to turn wrenches on G-Bodies and B-Bodies! Some enjoyed it so much that they still keep one around!

or F-body's lol

 

[Fosscore]

Welcome. Shame on the smash up, but hope the Denali gets back in order soon. Let us know how the repairs go.

 

[Running Bomb Tech]

Welcome! Sorry about the wreck. I hope they color match it to your liking.

 

[BrandonM7]

Welcome! Nice looking truck. It'll be good as new in no time. That Cutlass was GMs way of teaching you new skills!

Lots of us here learned to turn wrenches on G-Bodies and B-Bodies! Some enjoyed it so much that they still keep one around!

I'd love to still have one to do a pro-touring style resto-mod on, but in my area they have become very highly favored among folks that like to lift them and put enormous wheels on them. Those dudes will pay anything for one, so the values are ridiculously out of my piddling around allowance. I would absolutely love to do one simple and clean with a 6.2L like this and some quality suspension and brakes, but I'm not gonna pay five grand for a car that I'm going to completely rebuild under the skin.

Did the Cop get charged for following too closely or distracted driving like YOU would have had this been reversed................ probably not, and you are the poor guy with the broken toy..... I hope the cop felt really sick over his faux pas...... I would have torn a strip off him, cop, gun , taser and all..... no excuse, your truck is beautiful, and I hope the repairs will be exactly as you wish......my '19 Tahoe is on order, still 12 weeks away.... send pics when she is all fixed up, I'd love to see it.....

I don't believe he was cited, but I'm not sure. He was found at fault for the accident for following too closely and openly admitted that he was looking at his laptop when it happened. It was a young guy and he was super nice and apologetic so I'm not all that mad at him - hate that my car got smashed up, but I'm pleased that he owned up to it and their insurance has been kissing my ass non-stop. Probably afraid of a lawsuit. He said he looked up from his laptop and didn't have time to stop which was mildly BS, though - he never touched his brake pedal at all. That car hit square, no nose dive at all and no hint of a skid mark. I wasn't even the one he hit - my Yukon was stopped, as was the Kia Sorrento behind -- he hit the Kia hard enough that it pushed into me causing that much damage. The estimate is $7300 but I already know there are a few things not on it that will surface once parts are taken off so I'm guessing at the $8500. It might be more than that, but I don't think it will be less.

 

[Beagleman]

Wow, I bet the guy in the Kia wasn't too impressed either............. how frustrating for you.... good thing their insurance is doing a little butt kissing, that would never happen here, they would figure you would be 50% at fault for just being there, and that is the truth, they say if YOU weren't there, the accident wouldn't have happened, and as stupid as that sounds I know people locally who have had that happened, then they scrimp on repair parts, usually used, that's the insurance we have here in British Columbia..... when the truck is repaired, make sure you are happy with it, it was perfect before the hit it should be perfect after the repair.... I wish you all the best for getting it repaired...
Jeff

 

[Beagleman]

This whole thing about getting hit, got me to thinking, as my new forthcoming Tahoe will be loaded up with all the bells and whistles, like yours is, I am wondering with a good whack like you got, IF all those sensors for the backup stuff, camera, park assist etc, are still operational, and when one does take a whack on the bumper area, how much will those sensors take before they start to not work correctly? And also if there are any water seals that could be compromised, and cause issues down the road..... I think that's food for thought and worth having a close look at....... IMHO.... issues down the road caused by the accident that the insurance won't cover due to trying to prove it...... just a thought

 

[BrandonM7]

This whole thing about getting hit, got me to thinking, as my new forthcoming Tahoe will be loaded up with all the bells and whistles, like yours is, I am wondering with a good whack like you got, IF all those sensors for the backup stuff, camera, park assist etc, are still operational, and when one does take a whack on the bumper area, how much will those sensors take before they start to not work correctly? And also if there are any water seals that could be compromised, and cause issues down the road..... I think that's food for thought and worth having a close look at....... IMHO.... issues down the road caused by the accident that the insurance won't cover due to trying to prove it...... just a thought

Rear camera still works, but at least one sensor is damaged so I get a “Service Rear Park Assist” message every time I come to a stop. It also warns that it won’t beep on the backup camera display so I can back into stuff, and the little display in the DIC that shows the sensors that are near stuff doesn’t show so the front sensors are useless right now, too. Also whatever sensor lets you wave a foot under the bumper to open the lift gate isn’t working. I asked the body shop guy and he said they replace every sensor in the area in an accident like this, so he’d do everything on the back. We’ll see...shop can’t even take it in until 1/28, so it will be a while.

 

[Beagleman]

sure sorry to hear of all your aggravation on this, BUT for me, watching from the side line it is a good lesson as to what to watch for should something like this happen to me when my new Tahoe gets here......... I wish you the best of luck in the repair, and sincerely hope they do it right, are you taking it to a GM Dealer body shop or a local one?

 

[BrandonM7]

sure sorry to hear of all your aggravation on this, BUT for me, watching from the side line it is a good lesson as to what to watch for should something like this happen to me when my new Tahoe gets here......... I wish you the best of luck in the repair, and sincerely hope they do it right, are you taking it to a GM Dealer body shop or a local one?

It isn't too bad, really. I mean it definitely sucks, but at the end of it all it's just a truck. Nobody was hurt, I haven't had to invest a huge amount of time, etc. It'll be fixed. Just sad timing - I only got to show it to a couple of people before it got banged up.

Taking it to the best shop (to my knowledge) in town, hence the long delay for them to get to it. Not sure our local GM dealer even has a body shop, actually - they probably use the same one I'm using. I have a good friend that sprays and does final inspections there so I know he'll make sure it's done well before it's given back to me.

 

[Beagleman]

Well, that is a good positive thing, and you're right sucks to have a new one dingled up..... and yeah, no one hurt, that's the best part,...... I sure will be curious as to how the repairs turn out... best of luck with it..

 

[BrandonM7]

FINALLY got it back. The work looks fantastic - I'm truly impressed with how well they matched the paint. Total cost to fix: $10,156.72

 

[Beagleman]

WOW ! She looks gorgeous !!! I hope the cops went good for ALL of the costs, and I know probably an insurance claim, but it wouldn't be fair if you had to pay the deductible either.... it sure looks good, they did a great job...... did they just 'polish' it out or did they replace the back door and bumper?

 

[BrandonM7]

WOW ! She looks gorgeous !!! I hope the cops went good for ALL of the costs, and I know probably an insurance claim, but it wouldn't be fair if you had to pay the deductible either.... it sure looks good, they did a great job...... did they just 'polish' it out or did they replace the back door and bumper?

Nothing out of pocket from me, all replaced with genuine GM parts. I'm much more pleased than I thought I would be.

 

[BourbonNcigars]

Your ride looks fantastic. I love it.

 

[iamdub]

...I'm much more pleased than I thought I would be.

This is rarely the response after such damage. You're very fortunate to feel this way about it.

Did they square up with you just as well on the diminished value check? Just curious what's next for your Denali- Lift? Drop? Wheels? (I know of a great home for your stock ones) Go fast goodies?

 

[BrandonM7]

This is rarely the response after such damage. You're very fortunate to feel this way about it.

Did they square up with you just as well on the diminished value check? Just curious what's next for your Denali- Lift? Drop? Wheels? (I know of a great home for your stock ones) Go fast goodies?

Diminished value is in the works, not sure when we'll be finished with that. I'll be doing a lot of fighting there because I know the offer will be low.

I have a 2" rear drop in the garage to install either this weekend or next, not sure what comes after that.