My Vibe after a 70 mph run-in with a deer :(

[455SD]

Just a quick pic. and story of what happened. I was on my way to do a trail run last Saturday when this happened. Had it all planned out nicely. Took the back half of my shift off, get home, get the air mattress inflated in back,sleeping bags/pillows, run gear, and my wife who puts up with my mad passions! Left the house at about 12:30 in the morning, with a 2.5hr drive to southern WV to the New River. Were going to sleep in the parking lot for about 4hrs, then get up and do the 15K. Sounds great so far! Only thing is, 45 minutes into the drive down I-77, a suicide bomber - aka "the deer" leaps out of the median, directly in front of us. I had no chance. Couldn't have hit it any more centered up with the car if I tried. Made it to the next exit, checked for extent of damage and how fast I was loosing coolant. Suprisingly, only appeared to be a small crack in the one rad. side tank. Decided to limp home, keeping a close eye on the temp. No problems. Decided to grab the Bonneville and go ahead with the race...I didn't see the point in having the whole weekend be a wash, because of a stupid deer. Got our Bodyshop to understand how much the car meant to us, and that we would end up buying it back and fixing if it was indeed totaled. They were able to find a front clip and convince the Ins. adjuster not to total. 2-3 weeks and I get my baby back! I was/am in a state of Vibe withdrawl though. Drove 9 hrs this past weekend to look at an Envy AWD that looked like it had been part of an intensive salt/corrosion test. No-go on that. Been wanting to sell out of the Bonneville(great car) and into something with AWD and a bit newer - hence the AWD Vibe.If anyone has any leads of where I can find an '03 Envy, or '04 Fusion AWD in good solid condition....around 100,000 miles or less, and within the 5-6 hr complete drive distance from Ripley, WV.....please let me know. Looking for something stock or with minimal modifications.Will update with "after the re-birth" pic's.

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[cptnsolo77]

Glad you are ok & so was the deer. Question....if the car was a total loss, the insurance company would take it? and thats why you would have to buy it back if you wanted?

[bodhi_tree777]

Brutal, glad you're okay. I posted elsewhere about this, but I live less than an hour north of you on 77 and it's been a bloodbath lately. Exploded deer every couple of miles, it seems.

[Old Tele man]

...well, did you stake "claim" on the venison road-kill?

[joatmon]

no idea if this one in Columbus is close or worth a look, but it's the only one I found so far that might meets your criteriahttp://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...89931edit 11/2 - nevermind, autotrader now says that one is no longer for sale

[808 Vibes]

Oh no!!! *covers eyes* I'm glad she'll be saved. Your body shop went above and beyond...you're very lucky! Hope she gets out of the hospital soon!

[DressedInBlack]

glad you are ok! it will be such a sweet day when your ride is returned.

[Caretaker]

yeah, Bodhi pushed one in front of my brand new Malibu Maxx a few years ago while vacationing near Davis. I remember fighting off the turkey vultures for some free videls along Route 93. Damn those vultures.

[455SD]

Thanks, this is the one we went to look at this past weekend.....sorry sight. Thanks!

[455SD]

Yes, when they totoaled my last one(another deer = last year), they claimed they offered it to me to buy back, but when my wife talked to the adjuster, he said 'sorry, it's already sold" - we never got a chance. I did get the emblems mats and rear cargo cover & a few other items off it before it left the holding area. You have to be quick on a total around here, and I think there's a high demand for these rides as parts cadavers at the recycle yards.

[455SD]

There were 8 within a 1/4 mile in both southbound and northbound lanes that weekend alone. Trip to Columbus up 33 revealed that it's not much better on that side of the river either. Rough year!

[455SD]

Thanks everyone....and please keep an eye out for the aforementioned '03-'04 AWD in Envy or Fusion.........and be carreful on the roads, its bad out there right now!

[808 Vibes]

Quote, originally posted by Caretaker »I remember fighting off the turkey vultures for some free videls along Route 93. Damn those vultures. hahaaa...oh the visual

[TONY TAT2]

That sux,another glad ya's are ok !

[star_deceiver]

Well that sucks!!! Glad your ok.Considering the speed you were going, I was expecting more damage!

[vit]

You and your Vibe survived pretty good - glad to hear. Did the deer go over the roof?

[455SD]

Thanks HPL., and yes, we feel very fortunate to have a Body shop willing to go that extra-bit to keep it from being a total. We would have made sure to buy it back from them and had it fixed with the settlement money - it just would have been under a salvage title then, and more headache.This wouldn't have mattered too much, as I plan on keeping for quite a few more years(till the wheels fall off!). Goal is 300,000 miles. We'll see if the deer will let me.Hope all is well with you and your new youngster!

[455SD]

Negative - nothing but deer-burger on that one!

[455SD]

Are you talking "Davis, WV"? Thats where we like to hang out. My sister has a house in Canaan, and I do some family camping and backpacking up on Dolly Sods.Mountain State Brewing(mmmmmmmmmm), Blackwater Brewing(mmmmmm), morning after - Hypno Coffee - oh yea! + all the good restaurants. Oh, and don't forget great mountain biking, best wild blue, cran & huckleberries on the planet - free for the picking!No, I don't enjoy that area at all!!! Great times

[455SD]

So was I........If it had been as big a deer as last years, it would have been ugly. I'd say this was in the 120 lb range....it shot on across to the berm on lur side of the road, luckily, not coming back towards us.If we hadn't it it "dead center", no pun intended, I think much more damage, or if it had been a few lbs heavier, it would have shoved everything back into the intake and shattered it, like my last Vibe.Consider ourselves very lucky for being able to get it fixed, neither my wife, nor myself injured, but unlucky that this keeps happening.I need a mini-gun in pods, recessed just inside the grille area of lower bumper, with pattern recognition and tracking capabilities

[455SD]

I'm in serious Vibe withdrawl I really look forward to getting it back.I'm one of those slightly deranged folks who "bond" with my vehicles. That's why I'm very picky with one when I buy, and when somthing goes wrong - anxiety there is. 2.5 more weeks and counting

[455SD]

Thanks Tony!

[808 Vibes]

So our wimpy horns would have no effect on something like that?

[455SD]

That would be correct! Have thought many times about putting a couple of "F" note horns from the early Firebirds onto the Vibe. Bad thing is though, these things just "appear" in front of you, usually on a full out run, and you have very little, to "0" time to react.

[jake75]

In Ohio we need to have a state program to eliminate a significant number of deer but for some reason that idea never seems to fly. There are small herds near the airport in Columbus but no hunting allowed there. With all the people out of work a state program to kill and process the deer meat might be a good idea. Instead of making it a felony to sell deer meat, the state should license people to do that. Deer seem to be the "sacred cow" of the United States.

[Caretaker]

deer meat seems to be the favorite of my front grill.

[455SD]

Same thing here. I wish they woud allow the local HP to monitor and shoot any herds that are around the Interstate, and then let local Wildlife Enforcement officers know about the kills. Probably just end up with sombody getting shot instead though!

[lovemyraffe]

Glad your Vibe will make a comeback and that you are ok.

[Bastranz]

Youch! But wow, at 70 mph, and near a total, your Vibe is looking better than I thought it would. I'm glad they are able to save it.Oh dear, those deer...there have been instances where I swear they come from BEHIND the car (at an angle) and just run in front of me, when they could just cross behind me. I'd had some close calls, but thankfully no contact. Glad everyone in your car was fine as well.

[455SD]

Thanks all, quite happy that no injuries were incurred.....other that to said "Deer". I'm beginning to feel like I'm the one being hunted!

[Chango]

That doesn't look bad at all. A hood, a grille and a bumper looks like it'll have the body back to new again.