As the title says..

I had it for all of three weeks.

now for the story:

I hit a big buck on friday night. I was going about 50 when I saw it on the side of the rode. I grew up in rural arkansa so seeing it was now big deal. I gently applied the brakes and was coasting by it at about 30 mph. It looked away from from my headlights so I assumed he wasn't interested anymore. I was wrong. When I was approx. 20 yards from him. he bolted across the road. I slammed on the brakes and ended up hitting him going about 15 mph. Just enough to send him up on the hood. I wasn't scared when it happened and the deer was prefectly fine. I actually got out and threw a rock at it as it cleared a fence.

now for the damage:

his body completely took out the driver side headlight assembly. sent crack down the driver fender and tore up the bumper around the foglight/turn signal area. I've got hunks of hair caught in alot of the cracks.

It could have been MUCH worse. I usually drive quite a bit more "spirited" down that road. I also had the top off. I imagined that sucker sliding all the way over and landing on me!

now for the questions:

Obviously this was completely unexpected and I wasn't budgeting for this. Yes, I''m fully insured. My insurance guy has been super understanding in the past. I will probably get a check from him right when I take it to him. Now should I just take it to a body shop and have them take care of all the body panels, or should I shop around on the net for parts??? I guess I'm asking is there anyway to come out ahead in this. either saving money on stock parts or upgrading the hood, front fascia etc for the same money. What would yall do facing this situation.

P.S. I don't have a digital camera but will post the pics my agent emails me.

 

I'm sorry to hear that! I haven't hit one yet, but my dad has hit several. They almost always walk away.

Personally, I'd seriously consider a Tiger Shark nose and an aftermarket hood. Anything broken or torn should be replaced. Good luck.

 

Sorry to hear, best of luck on the repairs...
I've hit a couple deer the last few years in my truck that did extensive damage both times...
They are becoming a real nuisance out here in the West. KY area...
Wish they would have an open hunting season on them year round...

 

That BLOWS, hope you pull through this. Hang in there.

 

Sorry to hear that. You may consider upgrading to a TigerShark front nose piece.

 

Guy up the street with a C-5 hit a doe two years ago and did over 8K damage. The deer almost came through the windshield. He was very lucky. Had the car repaired and it took him months to get all the glass cleaned up. Good luck with your repairs. As a note his car looks great and you can't tell that there was any damage.

 

I have hit 2 deer with my 1986 Pontiac Parisienne in Wisconsin, Both deer kept on going. No damage to car either time! That car had some steel to it.

Good luck with repair !

 

It was a good thing that you were less spitited than normal. good luck on the repairs

 

I have seen worse experiences. I know of one a few years back where the deer managed to live after entering the drivers side through the windshield and kick the driver to death. Consider yourself lucky.

 

Find a good body shop and let them handle the repairs.I just finished a deer hit on a 98 roadster. The deer jumped over the middle of the car taking out the left mirror, scratched the driver door, left door glass was scratched, bent the left top bow, and then took out the right mirror. 3k later car was out the door, looking great. 10 day repair. Good luck with things.

 

Generally a rifle is the preferred weapon for hunting deer!

Seriously though, I live in a rural community and travel at dusk and dawn quite often...deer are my worst fear at 70mph. Glad to hear your ok and the vette wasn't totalled...props to you for being smart and slowing way down at the sight of one...dumb animals. Good luck on the repairs!

 

I often see deer on my drive and so far been lucky.

To answer your question.

The body parts are not that expensive on the vette. Install doesn't look to be hard but may be time consuming. Painting is not going to be cheap. You could save a few bucks, (no pun intended) by shopping on the net, but most of the cost is install and paint.


Good luck with the repairs.

 

Sorry to hear about the damage, but I agree, time to look for a TS front fascia and a new hood. Make the best out of a bad situation.

 

Glad you weren't hurt and good luck with the repairs!

 

Good luck, Everytime i ever broke a body pannel on a car i took the opertunity to replace it with aftermarket, Look on (said really big auction site) for corvette carbon fiber hoods. tehy are great and light weight, if you dont like the ricyness it looks awesome to paint most of it and leave a carbon fiber section, like stripes, affordable hoods too

aftermarkey headlights arent cheap but neither are stock ones, but their are a few goodlooking ones out there, if you arei into the non popup thing, im not. Good luck

 

Sorry about your car man! I hit a deer in my SS Camaro going about 55-65 and it messed it up pretty good! Glad your ok and hope you get your Vette fixed soon

 

Sorry about your ride. Hope you can get everthing fixed in a timely manner.

 

I bet they run from the flames on your Z. Maybe you should put some on your truck.