Armadillo vs. C6
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Armadillo vs. C6
As I was heading to Orlando from Daytona saturday night I hit a armadillo while cruzing home. I didn't want to swerve and possibly end up in a ditch or concrete divider to I ended up taking out the little guy. unfortunatly the car took a beating just the same. Due to being lowered the front bumper took a good hit. It cracked(spiderwebed) the paint pretty bad and broke the brake duct on the drivers side as well as tore off the whole front air deflector. I just got back from the Allstate claims guy and he quoted $475.00. He's has down to replace all the parts except for the front bumper. He has it down for a strip,fix and refinish for the bumper. I didn't agree with him but I didn't agrue either as I'm taking it to a Chevy dealership body shop next week. I just thought it would be better to replace the thing rather than pull it, strip and refinish. What are you thoughts? Do you think repainting the original is good or bad. I didn't see any damage to the bumper itself other than the paint. Or should I bug the guy to put a new one on. Does anyone know the part number for the front bumper or the price by chance? I'll post some pics as soon as I get to the dealership and get it on a lift.
Thanks
Thanks
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Pembroke Pines Florida
Be happy that your car can be repaired. Be sorry the armadillo cant. A life is a life and the way you wrote your story made it seem you didnt really give a damn. To give you the benefit of doubt I'll assume you were going at a speed where those were your only options. As for your bumper as long as there wasnt any structural damage I think that finish would be adequate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 103
From: Visalia CA
there is no reason to replace the bumper, its quite flexible and takes a serious beating before damaged. Getting it repainted will be fine.
And for all you who posted about killing an animal, better the animal than him. If its smaller than a german sheppard, your chances of living are better with a collision than trying to do "accident" avoidance and ending up in a worse situation. German sheppard and larger, better swerve.
And for all you who posted about killing an animal, better the animal than him. If its smaller than a german sheppard, your chances of living are better with a collision than trying to do "accident" avoidance and ending up in a worse situation. German sheppard and larger, better swerve.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I've had one of the flexible front bumpers (not a Corvette) fixed before. When the body shop did it they told me that it wouldn't take much to break the 'fixed' area.
Maybe they have something better to fix them with now, but at that time you were basically repairing a material made to flex with a brittle substance. You may want to ask some questions about this.
Maybe they have something better to fix them with now, but at that time you were basically repairing a material made to flex with a brittle substance. You may want to ask some questions about this.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 546
Likes: 1
From: Rancho Cucamonga California
And for all you who posted about killing an animal, better the animal than him. If its smaller than a german sheppard, your chances of living are better with a collision than trying to do "accident" avoidance and ending up in a worse situation. German sheppard and larger, better swerve.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Be happy that your car can be repaired. Be sorry the armadillo cant. A life is a life and the way you wrote your story made it seem you didnt really give a damn. To give you the benefit of doubt I'll assume you were going at a speed where those were your only options. As for your bumper as long as there wasnt any structural damage I think that finish would be adequate.
Successful Plumber
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 43,830
Likes: 14
From: Top of the hill, 3rd mailbox on the right. Texas
CF NCM Ambassador
CI 6-7-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
NCM Member '09
Be happy that your car can be repaired. Be sorry the armadillo cant. A life is a life and the way you wrote your story made it seem you didnt really give a damn. To give you the benefit of doubt I'll assume you were going at a speed where those were your only options. As for your bumper as long as there wasnt any structural damage I think that finish would be adequate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
I love all animals too but it's pretty obvious by the damage that the armadillo is dead. Sad as it is, I think Flals2 was just being to the point and asking opinions on the repair. If you were looking for a moment of silence for the armadillo, here it is....
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Better?
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 7
From: Euless Texas
I was cruising at 70-75 mph. At 4am in the morning. I had about 2 seconds to react. The little guy was in line with the tire/wheel. I was able to veer just a bit to the left to catch him just to the inside to the tire. I couldn't go to the right due to a tractor trailer on the right. Not much for choices. Him or me.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
New bumper covers don't come painted...therefore there is no advantage to painting a new cover vs. refinishing the original. Don't waste your money on a new bumper cover unless tear-down reveals further damage to the original cover.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Pembroke Pines Florida
I was cruising at 70-75 mph. At 4am in the morning. I had about 2 seconds to react. The little guy was in line with the tire/wheel. I was able to veer just a bit to the left to catch him just to the inside to the tire. I couldn't go to the right due to a tractor trailer on the right. Not much for choices. Him or me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,151
Likes: 294
From: Opelousas, Lousiana
CI 6-7 & 9 Veteran
Be happy that your car can be repaired. Be sorry the armadillo cant. A life is a life and the way you wrote your story made it seem you didnt really give a damn. To give you the benefit of doubt I'll assume you were going at a speed where those were your only options. As for your bumper as long as there wasnt any structural damage I think that finish would be adequate.
I recently had a near miss in my beater trying to avoid hitting a little dog that should not have been running free. It almost ran under the tire of my old blazer and I swerved to avoid hitting it. I could have gotten away with it in the Vette, but not in the Blazer. It went out of control and I almost turned it over. I was lucky, but I will never again risk my life for some animal. 