Nooooooooooooooo!!!

That's what goes through my mind when awaiting imminent contact with another automobile and there is nothing I can do but brace for impact. It is perhaps one of the worst feelings of helplessness - (granted not as helpless as being trapped inside a sinking ship or when people sometimes get pinned between a large object and a wall and the only thing keeping them alive is the thing that hit them)

Anyways- So there I was making great time to work- feeling pretty good because I had really worked the shortcuts and beat the traffic and made some time. Then it happened.

A car- two cars in front of me slammed on it's brakes (large vintage Caddy) and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road- for no apparent reason. The car in front of me was able to stop- so was I (ninja like speed and reflexes)- the car behind me was even able to stop (after some squealing and smoke)- It was the last car that did us in though. A new Audi A-4 came around the corner and just didn't react in time- He hit the car behind me and made a Nissan sandwich. Luckily I didn't hit the car in front of me- So I'm not responsible for any damages.

What really chaps my ass though is that after all the accidents and ruckus was over- the Caddy just lumbered away down the road- never making it apparent why they stopped- or even that they noticed they had just caused a 3 car accident. M'er F'ers!

So after I got finished meeting the nice people who smacked up my MINI I wound up getting to work 20 minutes late and with a bumper that needs some work. The damage as compared to the other cars is minor- the A4 was toast- he hit the Nissan in a nosedive and bypassed his bumper completely so hit with his grill- sending coolant and other vital fluids spewing out in all directions. The Nissan had damage to front and rear. My car has a dinged bumper and a buncha scrapes- and I think the bumper bracket is broken. To the untrained eye it looks like a moderate case of city parking rash.

Here's some pics:






So I called the dealer this morning and got prices for the parts- looks like to replace the whole assembly will cost about between $300 and $400 - not including paint and installation. So it's gonna be pricey. Luckily I have really good insurance- thanks to Kerry (who is really smart and awesome for having me switch to her insurance company)

Oh yeah- luckily nobody was hurt- and at the end of the day this is all just a big pain in the ass. 'Cause what a freakin' bummer- this is not the direction I am trying to go with this car. Remember I'm the guy who doesn't allow eating in the car- scrapes and dents are very much frowned upon.

Dammit!- to be continued