Who knew a porcupine could do so much?!?!

[champagnium]

I was driving on the highway lastnight around 10:30 heading home early from Coffee Ngiht in our 2006 Pontiac G6 to get a good night's sleep before my interview. I hit the section where there's no street lights....a car to my right and a car behind me...I was only going 100 km/h and a porcupine walked directly in front of my car. Well, no choice but to hit him, so I took my foot off the gas and went SORRY!! and hit it. What an AWFUL noise and feeling.

I continued driving down the highway, thinking "I'm sorry!! I hope you died quick!!" and when I got off the highway I heard this wierd brushing sound. I thought, oh GROSS...it's stuck under the front! YUCK! so I pulled in my apt. parking lot and got out...I couldn't see anything but there was a trail of liquid behind me, and a sickly sweet hot smell in the air, which I assumed was stuck porcu parts.

Thoughroughly disgusted I got back in and drove to the nearest carwash..closed for the night...brushing sound and yucky smell getting worse...head for the next carwash. I pulled up, saw the trail thicker behind me, and the smell was starting to smell burnt. I went in to buy the carwash, when a Fed Ex fella came in and said is that your car out there? Yes I replied, I hit a porcupine...and he said well sweetie you better not drive it anywhere cause your coolant is pouring out and it's really hot. I told him I thought the smell was porcu stuck underneath, and he squatted down and had a look..nope he said, it's your rad and a/c box, it's smashed off the bottom.

Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooo..........why is it always ME driving when stuff happens? So, I had to leave it there, I tried to get my carwash refunded but the less than co-operative attendant on for backshift said he had no clue how, but I could come back another time during the day. Grrr. Called my DH...yah, he was SUPER impressed :S then called DMIL to come get me. Came home and we left the car there overnight.

This morning it was towed to the garage. They looked at it and GUESS how much to fix it.......... $1400!!!!!!! And we HAVE to do it at the dealership or the warranty for the rest will be void! Blagh. So we're going to put it thru insurance, pay the $500 dedutible, that's better than $1400. But seriously....WHO KNEW!!!!!>?>>>>

I'm used to seeing what happens when people hit deer, even get crunched by a moose, but I had NO IDEA a porcupine could do THAT much DAMAGE!!!! By the time I got home, had a little row with DH over it..which then led to other things...then got to sleep it was past 1am, and I was awake at 5am on teh dot this morning worrying about my interview, the car, and money issues in general.
If it happened again I'd have to do the same, because I'm not oging to risk my life or anyone else's for a porcupine, but geez. I really didn't need that right now!

Whew...lol......morale of my sharing...watch out for dense small critters on the road :S

[Buc-O-Mama]

Oh no! I'm so sorry that you are going through such an experience. Glad your insurance will help though.

[frugalfriend]

OMGosh! That's awful, I'm sorry . . .
My dh just had an unusual event happen with his car, too. He was driving along on the interstate and all of a sudden he heard a loud bang on the top of his car. He opened the sunroof and glass poured into the car! Turns out the sunroof had a huge gaping hole. He thought maybe someone had thrown something down from the overpass, or that a rock hit it. The car repair place said that it was probably caused by heat, and that there may have been an explosion if there was a tiny crack in the glass. Huh?

One thing we did and you might want to try. Dh asked the repair place if they would accept the payment from our insurance company as payment in full, minus our $250. deductible. They agreed. I think everyone out there just needs the business right now. Hope you can work a better deal!

[luv-my-lexi]

OMG....that is CRAZY that a porcupine could do that much damage to your car. I would have never thought........

Anyway, and hope things get better. Also, good luck with your interview.

[Jskell911]

Oh wow! I can't believe all that from one small critter! I hope the rest of today started to look up for you

[shoiji]

Well atleast you are ok and you stopped when you did. Otherwise it could have been more expensive!!! So, how did the interview go.

[dolphin]

I am so very sorry to hear that the porcupine caused so much damage and ruined your evening. I hope the interview went well today and that your insurance will cover the damage. Hugs to you.

[Marie78]

Sorry for your unlucky ride home. I hope the interview went better for you .

[Darlene]

Oh No! I was looking for this post when you mentioned it in your other one about your job interview but didn't realize you hadn't posted it yet. So sorry you have all that damage.
Hate those things we have no control over.

[C@rol]

OMG! Glad you are okay. You're right. Who knew.
Good thing the insurance will take care of that for you.

[champagnium]

Well it's all in swing, we get a rental tomorrow, and the car should be ready in a few days. Now I just hope that was all the bad luck for the week..and that the interview will be fruitfull Here's hoping, but I don't have my hopes up too much..they were also interviewing someone with a paralegal background, so we'll just have to see. Back to positivity And I really am sorry about the poor porcupine.....but GEEZ!! lol

[Drgnfly423]

Wow...that is one crazy story! What can you do? It's one of those frustrating situations where you just have to accept it, too. Sheesh. Stupid porcupine! I hope your interview went well!!!