Bob Grylls, Columnist
There may be drivers out there who can navigate through a lifetime without a serious automobile accident. I wish I were one of those fortunate drivers. I’ve had a few serious mishaps – the latest in Bell’s Corners (Ottawa). After six months, I think it’s time I revealed the whole story.
It was on Valentine’s day this past February, only a few hours before Sheila and me were to have a nice dinner at the Red Lobster to mark the occasion. But it was not to be.
I was leaving a plaza near the south end of Robertson Road directly across from a Canadian Tire store on the opposite side. The light turned green. I began making a sweeping right-hand turn onto Robertson at the same time a vehicle was turning right on the opposite corner. The sides of our cars met with a sickening crunch. In denial, I kept going for a bit then stopped abruptly in the median after Sheila screamed “Stop!” The approaching damaged car assured me it wasn’t over by a long shot.
Fortunately, we handled it ourselves. Since I’d forgotten my wallet and driver’s license at home, the young woman driving the other car agreed to register the accident.
I didn’t hear anything for a couple of weeks until she called in a panic needing $1,000 to get her repaired car back. She either wanted me to pay it, as I was in the wrong, or inform my insurance company, which would cover it. I reported the accident to my local agent. Eventually the insurance company got back, arranging to have the damage assessed.
It would take about 11 weeks for parts to come in. I could still drive the car, however. The insurance company called later saying my claim would be taken care of with no penalty or cost. It even arranged for a rental car while it was in the repair shop. The fix took four new panels and another panel that was pounded out. I was in the wrong, but it turned out right!
Now the driver’s side of the car looks exemplary, but the right-hand side has dents and a full-length scratch, one that would be too embarrassing to own up to.
I recall the unorthodox way I bought this car. It was Black Friday, 2016. The mail had just been picked up. An eye-grabbing advertisement caught my interest. It was for a Black Friday deal on a car that looked like a bargain. I said to Sheila,” Let’s buy one.” We left for town within the hour and drove it home later. We didn’t consider at all on checking on its performance first or shop around for an alternative model.
I was thrilled for about three days until phone calls from so-called friends started coming in about my car: “It had one of the lowest reliability ratings of all cars,” “a lackluster engine” and “ranked #35 in mid-size cars” they told me.
My perception of the 200 dropped like my Grade 10 French class. However, the more I drove it, the more I appreciated it; good mileage and starting effortlessly in winter. Troubling though, I didn’t spot any others for weeks. The very first was in Arnprior in a parking lot. To be certain, I circled back. It was and I was so excited. Most difficult of all is that Sheila frequently reminds of making a poor decision. She says, “We should have bought a Toyota.”
I was also homesick for my Malibu I had to relinquish. Except for its body continuously rusting out and numerous mechanical faults, it may have lasted a couple of years! When I look at all the repair bills, they probably helped keep the local garage in business. The biggest slap in the face was a $50 trade-in for the Chrysler 200. I insisted on $500. Negotiations led to a compromise at $75. That low offer nearly stalled the whole new-car process. Looking back, I wish it had.
I’ve owned many cars in my life but never a luxury one. However, my cars mostly provided my excursions with straight roads but on occasion it was a tangled route.
