Arrrhg! Hit an animal. Maybe I should get a Jeep.

[veeman]

Last night going about 75mph a small animal jumps out and I hit it head on.  Didn't have time to even touch the brake pedal.  Probably a raccoon or something like that.  In the last three years, I've wrecked my front bumper three times now.  First time an orange pylon from a construction truck in front of me toppled over and I hit it at 35 mph.  Cost me over $500 to get a new bumper.  Second time, my fault, I tapped a concrete barrier at a gas station at < 5 mph and got a big crack in my bumper.  Again cost me over $500 to get a new bumper.  This time, I'm just going to leave it because I can turn my car in (dieselgate) in any condition as long as its running and get full compensation.

Still, this is annoying the hell out of me.  Makes me seriously reconsider getting another coupe or sedan and getting something like a Jeep.  I drive about 50% of the time in the pitch black on poorly lit, 2 lane in either direction separated by a median, highways which run through wooded areas.  Big time dear country.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Just get a big deer guard. This is what tons of the trucks in Pennsylvania look like:

[veeman]

Just get a big deer guard. This is what tons of the trucks in Pennsylvania look like:

I could do that on a Jeep or pickup.  A coupe, not so much without looking totally lame and maybe even causing the front end to sag. 

[AutobahnSHO]

I want one on minivan. I think if you got the right style it could look like a police cruiser

[cawimmer430]

Just do this with your Beetle. 

[Soup DeVille]

I could do that on a Jeep or pickup.  A coupe, not so much without looking totally lame and maybe even causing the front end to sag. 

Oh, they dont weigh much- most of them.

Looks? Well...

[MrH]

...you hit a person, didn't you?

[veeman]

...you hit a person, didn't you?

No dude.  If I did, I wouldn't be posting a picture of my dented car on a public forum indicating I got into an accident on 9/21/2016 in the early a.m.

[veeman]

I really hope it wasn't a dog.  I don't think it was because its a very wooded area on a parkway at 2:00 a.m. 

[veeman]

No dude.  If I did, I wouldn't be posting a picture of my dented car on a public forum indicating I got into an accident on 9/21/2016 in the early a.m.

I would have also stopped if I hit a person

[veeman]

You know its interesting how Mustangs and Jeeps are often cross-shopped.  I get the appeal of both. 

[Cookie Monster]

You know its interesting how Mustangs and Jeeps are often cross-shopped.  I get the appeal of both. 

Because they're both good at hitting people?

[veeman]

Because they're both good at hitting people?

No.  Because they both equally go against the grain of minivans and family sedans, just in opposite directions.  Perfect midlife crisis cars for aging men. 

[MrH]

Because they're both good at hitting people?

I would have also stopped if I hit a person

All I could think of is The Office

[AutobahnSHO]

No.  Because they both equally go against the grain of minivans and family sedans, just in opposite directions.  Perfect midlife crisis cars for aging men. 

+1

[giant_mtb]

All I could think of is The Office

Poor Meredith.

[CJ]

Don't get a Jeep.

[Rupert]

I creamed a grouse at 65 a little while ago. No damage.

[veeman]

Don't get a Jeep.

I have to test drive a Wrangler unlimited version.  I've never driven a Wrangler.  A manual unlimited might be cool.  They say the larger footprint of the Unlimited greatly improves its ride.  Maybe it'll still completely suck.  I don't know.

[Soup DeVille]

I have to test drive a Wrangler unlimited version.  I've never driven a Wrangler.  A manual unlimited might be cool.  They say the larger footprint of the Unlimited greatly improves its ride.  Maybe it'll still completely suck.  I don't know.

They're not as bad as these dudes make them out to be.

[giant_mtb]

Wranglers are fine to drive.  It's an off road machine.  It's not gonna drive like an Audi. 

[veeman]

Wranglers are fine to drive.  It's an off road machine.  It's not gonna drive like an Audi. 

Given the pot holes, I'm kind of sort of off roading occasionally on my way to work.  Especially in the winter. 

Will it drive competently on the highway at 80 mph or do I have to constantly course correct?  That's the question.  How loud will be the cabin noise?  A lot of that might have to do with the type of tires on the vehicle.  Definitely have to test drive. 

[MrH]

Get a 4Runner!  Big time off roading credentials, but tracks straight and comfy for road trips.  Can kill any animal or human with ease!

[veeman]

Get a 4Runner!  Big time off roading credentials, but tracks straight and comfy for road trips.  Can kill any animal or human with ease!

No manual transmission.  It's out.  Also given my bad back, I'll feel a little odd driving a pick-up because I don't haul heavy or large stuff. 

[2o6]

No manual transmission.  It's out.  Also given my bad back, I'll feel a little odd driving a pick-up because I don't haul heavy or large stuff.

4 Runner is an SUV

[veeman]

4 Runner is an SUV

Shit.  What a brain stroke I just had.  Damn I'm getting old.  Still, no manual transmission for the 4runner so it's out.  Tacoma, which does have a manual transmission option, I'm not super keen on because it's a pickup. 

[veeman]

I just looked more carefully at my Beetle.  My radiator is bent too   I'll still drive it hoping it doesn't start leaking in the next two months.  Won't take that car to a Montreal trip I had planning in the next two weeks.  This sucks.  Shooting 3 for 3.  3 year ownership, 3 busted front ends. 

[AutobahnSHO]

I just looked more carefully at my Beetle.  My radiator is bent too   I'll still drive it hoping it doesn't start leaking in the next two months.  Won't take that car to a Montreal trip I had planning in the next two weeks.  This sucks.  Shooting 3 for 3.  3 year ownership, 3 busted front ends. 

You can get a pressure test cheap.

[giant_mtb]

Given the pot holes, I'm kind of sort of off roading occasionally on my way to work.  Especially in the winter. 

Will it drive competently on the highway at 80 mph or do I have to constantly course correct?  That's the question.  How loud will be the cabin noise?  A lot of that might have to do with the type of tires on the vehicle.  Definitely have to test drive. 

I've never driven one above 60 (no roads around here are over 55mph), but it was fine.  They're not the quietest, what with their plastic roofs and all that.  But again, it's a Jeep Wrangler, not a highway cruiser.  Totally livable if it's the vehicle you want.  The one I most recently drove was a manual, too.  I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it drove. Yes, it drove like a Wrangler, but it wasn't the hunky clunky swervy thing lots of people expect. Bear in mind, I DD a Tacoma, so I'm used to driving trucky things.  The Wrangler I drove was fairly new (had the latest Chrysler interior bits), and I don't recall it being largely better or worse for noise or handling than my '05 Tacoma. 

https://youtu.be/AcYFuQ3nAq8

[veeman]

I've never driven one above 60 (no roads around here are over 55mph), but it was fine.  They're not the quietest, what with their plastic roofs and all that.  But again, it's a Jeep Wrangler, not a highway cruiser.  Totally livable if it's the vehicle you want.  The one I most recently drove was a manual, too.  I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it drove. Yes, it drove like a Wrangler, but it wasn't the hunky clunky swervy thing lots of people expect. Bear in mind, I DD a Tacoma, so I'm used to driving trucky things.  The Wrangler I drove was fairly new (had the latest Chrysler interior bits), and I don't recall it being largely better or worse for noise or handling than my '05 Tacoma. 

https://youtu.be/AcYFuQ3nAq8

Thanks!  I don't think I've seen a car made in the last 20 years or so with a speedometer that only goes to 100 mph.  Interesting Jeep keeps it real in this regard.