30th Oct 2012, 14:19
Back in 2004, my 1990 Geo Prizm (same as the Toyota Corolla) was clobbered by an 18 wheeler on the Mass Turnpike. The truck driver changed lanes, but didn't see me. He hit me real hard at over 55mph, the lugs on his wheel tore through the sheet metal on the driver's door, and the truck bashed in the door and front fender. He spun me around across the highway, and I ended up facing the wrong way in the left lane, coming to rest against a Jersey Barrier. The 18 wheeler was undriveable as it lost a wheel, and the fiberglass from the cab was torn up, however even though the Prizm was a total loss according to my insurance company (as the body damage exceeded the value of the car), it wasn't even knocked out of line, and I was able to drive myself to the hospital in it to be checked over (when I got home, I even found a fiberglass piece of the truck's cab embedded in my fender).
The driver's door was bashed in to the point that I couldn't roll down the window, yet the car still drove fine. I was able to still drive the car until I sold it to a young man who planned on doing the necessary body repairs himself (a new front fender & driver's door), as the Prizm still rode and drove fine.
When I was hit, and was spinning across the pike during afternoon rush hour, I was sure I was going to die, however other than a sore neck and back, I suffered no serious injuries. Folks can say what they will about these cars, but the little Prizm saved my life. It was a fantastic little car, and definitely was NOT made out of tin.
30th Oct 2012, 08:58
I had a new Honda Accord, not a Tercel. You should be in the Guinness World Records if you have a car battery still charged and 12 years old. What brand is it? I was going to buy a new Optima Gel for 200 for my car. Your battery sounds like the best I have ever heard of.
Lastly, you could sit on the center of your hood, but I highly advise otherwise. In fact I wouldn't sit on any late model vehicle's hood, import or domestic, made today. I hope no one else heeds your suggestion that it is fine to do so. Another highly improbable comment.