So i was involved in a minor accident last night. I was stopped at a cross walk letting people cross the street (yes, im a good citizen) and some 16yr old drivin a 92 Saturn hits me from behind. I was so pissed seeing as this is the third time this year I've been hit from behind while being stopped. Anyways, i dont have any pics, but damage to the bumper is minimal. Mainly scratches and scuffs that can probably be buffed right out. A little more serious is the muffler which seems to be broken off the hangars and pushed in a little bit. When I start the car, the car vibrates for a few seconds then goes away. When i accelerate, the car vibrates and is kinda loud until it shifts into second gear. My question is how serious is this, and do you think i should hit the kid up for money or just let insurance handle this?..Thanks

 

I hope you got his insurance info, if you did I would just let them handle it.

 

well man, if it has happened more than once. I suggest you handle it without insurance, you dont want it go up. get him to pay for the damages, take it to a body shop and get an estimate and if u need a new muffler as well, just buy an aftermarket and go to a muffler shop and they will fix u up.

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention I did get a police report, and yes he does have insurance. The first time this happened to me, I didnt make a police report but went through insurance and got a nice 800 dollar paycheck to replace the bumper..hehe...The second time it happend to me, the lady told me to call her husband, i did and he came right down and gave me 150 dollars on the spot. Anyways, insurance hasnt gone up seeing as this wasnt my fault all three times, so im not really worried bout that...i was thinkn bout buyin a rrm magnaflow muffler.. thanks

 

First off, luckily when he hit you there was no one crossing the street, if it's a 92 saturn, chances are the kid probably only has liability if he has insurance at all (which i'm hoping he did). Get the kid to pay for it, you shouldn't have to come out of pocket - worst case scenario, get a hold of his parents and have them pay.

 

If the exhaust hangers are broken off, you would definitely hear a ton of rattling. I assume that if the hangers are broken off, then the tip is screwed. If that is the case, I would just get a magnaflow catback or something similar. If the bumper is not cracked, or punctured, then a little paint might do the trick, but that may not be cheap (if you get it perfectly color matched). Long and short of it is that this might not be a cheap fix, but ask him if he wants to keep it out of insurance. If he's cool about it and will pay out of pocket, then why involve insurance? If he starts to fight it in any way or argue the cost of the repairs, turn him in.

 

funny thing, the muffler is hanging low out of place, but it still seems to be fully intact,(i havent gotten underneath the car to look fully)and the tip is not bent at all..may be just some bent piping going to the muffler, anyways thanks for all the advice...knowing my father, he will prolly want to go thru insurance prolly because i will be able to get more money( i dont want any trouble with this)

 

if you don't want any trouble or even the chance of it, use insurance. I wouldn't try to fix a muffler.... man its easy and inexpensive to replace anyway. I vote magnaflow and performance peddler has a nice price on them.