Well guys - it's been fun but the truck got totalled...

[BrianSD_42]

* glad you and your family are ok; that wreck looked really knarly.

* I know a few people who still dont wear seat belt; f'n stupid since you cant control what other people do with their cars.

* I've driven hwy-17 so many times. I lived in SJ until I was 18 and then in Santa cruz for college. It is a very dangerous road. I would say the most dangerous high traffic hwy in state of CA.

* $11,000+ for a 4Runner with 178k miles, how is that possible?

 

[3rd gen king]

Glad you and the fam are alright BUT looks like we got a big shot on our hands now, too good for a Toyota.moved up in the world to a Lexus!

Jk

Glad everyone's okay and my dad always tells me, you can be the best driver ever but always know, the people around you could also be the worst driver in the world.

 

[Maritimer]

That's ****ed. I'm glad you and your all are OK. I'd be so weirded out that the other driver died. Chalk another one up to the safety of these vehicles.

 

[makakio]

Glad you and the fam are alright BUT looks like we got a big shot on our hands now, too good for a Toyota.moved up in the world to a Lexus! j/k

Hahaha - I felt like a total douche for the first two days driving it and comments from my wife's friends along the lines of "my mom has one and she loves it", "my grandparents love theirs" weren't helping. But that V8. oooohhhh that V8. And the leather. Sooooo much leather. And the noises from the Mark Levinson. Soooo good. And that adjustable air suspension...

Okay - you get the point.

It's a pretty fancy ride. I won't be rocking up to biker bars or some of the more heavily localized surf spots I haunt around here in it, but:
1) it's what she wanted and
2) it's what she wanted and
3) it's pretty freaking comfy haha...

I did go on ebay and bought one of those asian lady full-face visors for my wife though (pretty popular over the hill here in NorCal). Will leave that on the seat when it shows and see what she thinks!

 

[makakio]

* $11,000+ for a 4Runner with 178k miles, how is that possible?

It's not even a Limited and our kid went the hella messy route from newb to 5yo in it too (I'm talking finding petrified hot dogs under the seats and worse). Breakdown:

+ $9700 comparable value
+ $300 for the $1800 tranny rebuild 10 mos ago.
+ $850 CA sales tax
+ $100 pro-rated DMV fees paid
= $10,950

+ $250 new Britax booster

Insane. I thought we would have penciled a full $3k under that and as I've not totaled a car previously I had no idea insurance has to compensate for tax, license and recent major repairs. Interestingly, they didn't offer/ask about and license fees paid or repairs - my lawyer clued me in there.

I hope no one ever needs that info.

Thanks guys - onward to sub-20s mpg!

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Hahaha - I felt like a total douche for the first two days driving it and comments from my wife's friends along the lines of "my mom has one and she loves it", "my grandparents love theirs" weren't helping. But that V8. oooohhhh that V8. And the leather. Sooooo much leather. And the noises from the Mark Levinson. Soooo good. And that adjustable air suspension...

Okay - you get the point.

It's a pretty fancy ride. I won't be rocking up to biker bars or some of the more heavily localized surf spots I haunt around here in it, but:
1) it's what she wanted and
2) it's what she wanted and
3) it's pretty freaking comfy haha...

I did go on ebay and bought one of those asian lady full-face visors for my wife though (pretty popular over the hill here in NorCal). Will leave that on the seat when it shows and see what she thinks!

Could have gotten a 4th gen Limited, with the same V8, but the GX is so awesome too!

I know what being in a wreck feels like, in my 98 T4R someone pulled out in front of me at 65 mph and I walked away without a scratch (except for the usual belt burn) but man I miss that truck! It was my first vehicle, and I had so many memories in it. It had 136k and I got 5 grand (almost 6) for it, but it wasnt in the bed of condition.

 

[kman55]

It's a blessing you and your family are okay!

 

[Nelsonmd]

Wow, so glad to hear you and your family came out of it without any serious injuries.

Wear your belts tight, cinch those kids in

:iagree:
This is a great example of the need to be sure your kids are buckled in properly. So many people don't secure the child seats or booster seats correctly, or don't use booster seats at all. Glad to hear they worked for you.

 

[makakio]

Could have gotten a 4th gen Limited, with the same V8, but the GX is so awesome too!

Her first pick actually. We drove a beautiful 2009 Limited with a V8 in dark grey and we almost bought it, but then she climbed into the Lexus and wigged on the luxury. Plus, the Lexus feels much roomier and 'airier' inside, which she also liked about the Highlander. Personally, I thought we were going to go Highlander but out here in crazy CA, a CPO Highlander Limited with same year/mileage goes for THE SAME AMOUNT as a CPO GX. The soccer moms love 'em that much. And yeah - they're easier on the wallet to operate, handle better and are a smidge wider, but no frame and really not much comparison to the lux of the GX. And after seeing the frame sticking out of the front of the wrecked 4R (and me explaining body-on-frame and unit-body construction, there's no way she was going to go for a lifted Camry...

 

[Volley]

Oh my gosh...I hate seeing this stuff. Glad you and the family are ok, hate to hear about the other guy. Glad the Runner heald up so well though. That's scary chit there brotha.

 

[DeTwizzle]

Holy smokes, HWY 17 is why I refuse to move to Cali. Okay it is Schwarzenegger... okay maybe I'm just lying about all of this.
No, but really... holy smoke! Glad you're alive. :jaw drop:

 

[makakio]

This is a great example of the need to be sure your kids are buckled in properly. So many people don't secure the child seats or booster seats correctly, or don't use booster seats at all. Glad to hear they worked for you.

Amen.

The booster worked great. Like most parents we're a little guilty about letting her do her own belts at almost 6yo - the problem being that they're never really snug enough when they can buckle in themselves. Due to the rain and the long (planned) drive up to SF my wife (who is infinitely smarter than I) snugged our kid up after she self-buckled and I have the (very annoying I'm told) habit of reaching over and snugging my wife's belt up when I'm buckling mine. I also don't let her sit sideways or reclined up front (she's a sleeper) -- and it paid off this once. Big time.

I've had a few SCCA track days as a passenger and once you get properly secured in a 5-point harness those three pointers we all wear daily (in the far less controlled gen-pop environment no less) feel pretty lightweight...

I'm still so impressed with how well the 4R took the hit. If you can, go back to the pic and just look at the level of demo to the trunk and back seat area of the Altima. It's not like we hit it perfectly center either - everything all along the left-hand side of that unit-body "frame" looks like a stomped aluminum can!