Talk about annoying: my daily driver was stolen!

[parsonsj]

Right out of my driveway last night. What a pain in the ass it's going to be to replace it.

Probably neighborhood hoodlums joy-riding, and I'll get it back with new door dings, 300 miles added to the odometer, and an odd stain on the seats.

jp

[F70t/a]

That really sucks john!!! What kind of vehicle did you drive? Hopefully they find it

[69Nova]

That sucks. If my truck was stolen I would not be the hapiest person, and it's just a truck. Good luck.

Andrew Petty

[parsonsj]

2004 Dodge Durango. My Hemi-powered combination daily driver and tow vehicle. I can't wait to dicker with my insurance company :(

jp

[68Formula]

Could've been much worse. Could have been the Nova. Just look on the bright side.

[dropit69]

wow..first kris's car now yours..damn hope its not like deaths and happen in 3's ..gotta make sure mines safe for a few weeks..lol

[Ralph LoGrasso]

That sucks, JP. Sorry to hear. Hopefully it will only be 300 more miles on the ODO.

[nancejd]

I think James Bond had it right with the exploding car, at least that way there would be one less car thief.

[SatisTraction]

that sucks!! time to get a pittbull :)

[redsand]

You are right they won't be able to pay for gas....If it had a full tank they might get 300 miles.

Sorry about the loss. Hope everything works out.

[67Sally]

I guess that means that you need to finish 2much to fill the daily driver gap for a while. I am sure the kids would love to have dad take them to school with 2much.
W.

[parsonsj]

OK, so a week has gone by. No trace of the vehicle. My so-called "car" is now a so-called "Malibu" rental.

This sucks.

jp

[andrewb70]

That sucks John. How long does the insurance company make you wait before they declare the car a total loss?

I bet the car is either in a crate heading over to another country by now or has been completely stripped.

Andrew

[Jim Nilsen]

Sorry to here about the truck.Maybe one day we can go back to hanging thieves that leave you stranded like they did horse theives.
Did you make a choice of the Malibu or did you have to take it? Sure can't haul much in a Malibu. On the other side of it all,how do you like the Malibu?

Hope you had total replacement on the truck insurance.

Jim Nilsen

[parsonsj]

Thanks guys.

The insurance guys say 20-25 working days. I have 5 in so far. Total replacement? I wish ... it was covered to "actual current value". So I can get a replacement with the same level of equipment and such. But it will cost me thousands in depreciation.

As far as the "Malibu" goes, I hate it. It's too small, and has normal GM late-model human factors fitment problems: my head rubs along the headliner, the steering wheel is too far away, and the pedals are too close. My late-model Camaro had the same problems. Until GM addresses that, I'll never buy another new GM product.

jp

[yody]

god i hate cars with pedal too close, steering wheel too far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seems like they are meant for midgets. Seems all new cars are like that

[Stu Seitz]

Or over weight people who couldn't get there gut to fit in the car without the steering wheel so far away.

[sinned]

I guess you have already figured out it wasn't the neighborhood kids...with the SCREEM system it was either towed or some of the best car thieves on the planet. There is no hot-wiring a HEMI.


Insurance sucks...you gotta have it to protect yourself but they always screw you anyways.

[MrQuick]

best thieves or Dodge techs....

[parsonsj]

Just like the boys in "Gone in 60 Seconds" with their Mercedes laser-etched transponder keys: they stole my key 2 days before out of my garage. I thought I'd misplaced the key, but it's obvious what happened.

Wonder if the truck was targeted by pros?

jp

[parsonsj]

And Denny: you're right. Insurance sucks. They are already working me over about the loss amount. I'll get screwed because SUV values are down due to recent gas price spikes.

jp

[Bill Howell]

Hey I got a good picture of it if you need it! :) I guess no news yet means they will never find it, at least in one piece.
Gonna be tough pulling the trailer with the malibu.....
Holler if you need a tow vehicle before you get things worked out. You can use my truck if you need it for Orlando. :icon996:
If they got into the garage, I would change the code on the door. I hate theives........Forget the dog, My protection is 357.........

[parsonsj]

Bill, I appreciate that very much. Yeah, I changed the code on the garage door. The Durango had the garage door code programmed into it.

You may loan me your truck and never get it back. I'm definitely thinking diesel replacement.

jp

[MrQuick]

That sucks John, sounds like a garage snatch and grab turned into grand theft auto. opportunity...

[ACEFOOTER]

Find some 2-4 week old news papers and look for sale ads of similar vehicles. call the ads and ask what the vehicles sold for and if it's ok for your adjuster to contact them for confirmation. this gives you your true local market value. If it's more than what the insurance company wants to give you, give them the info and demand local maket value.

[parsonsj]

God must be one of the Dodge Brothers, because I just finished picking my truck up.

The thieves put 300 miles on it, used my hood as a bench, my interior as an ashtray, my dash as a footrest, and the front bumper as a battering ram.

All in all, it could have much worse. The vehicle is now at the dealer getting the once over. Damage is fairly light, but still significant. Now it's negotiation time with the insurance company.

jp

[Bill Howell]

Glad to hear that John, at least you won't take as bad a hit now and 300 miles ain't too bad. The miles are probably equal the gas you had in it, I doubt they would actually BUY gas! Usually they just steal the next one.

[TonyL]

sweet. How'd they get it started? hot wire? or did they tear the cylinder out?

[MrQuick]

Good news John, im glad it didn't get stripped....they did get the keys right? Tell you insurance your engine is making a knocking noise. Who knows how bad they beat it

[parsonsj]

Yeah, they stole the key 2 days before from my garage/welding bench.

Knocking noise in the engine, funny squeaky noise from the tranny, rhythmic noise from the front wheel bearings. The interior needs to be completely detailed to get rid of the cigarette ash and smell.

I need new keys. And I can't believe they put 3 door dings in it!

jp

[parsonsj]

My insurance guy says all the body damage will be fixed, including 3 sizeable door dings, along with a new rust spot that appeared in the A-pillar.

Engine, transmission, and suspension noises will all be investigated by the dealer. I can expect to get it back in another two weeks or so.

jp