I am the proud owner of a 93 Camry CSI. It is an old car and not one to get excited about. However, I love it for oh so many reasons. I joined this forum just a few days ago eager to discuss with fellow Toyota owners all reasons I am proud to own this car. Until I ran into a pole this morning. It's funny, I've probably spent more than the cars value in excessive/obsessive maintenance over the last two years of ownership. (I say excessive as most people with cars my age don't seem to think my head is on right when i do such things). Oil change ever 5k km, coolant change every 30k km and all other applicable servicing, premium fuel (vpower etc) ever 10 tanks, wax and buff with every wash, only ever use high quality parts/oils etc. When you do 50k km a year its expensive but you want something reliable. Anyone else have any accident stories they want to share? Here's mine. Driving to work, it's raining and the roads are obviously slippery. On the main road, turning into a side street, it's a right-hander going downhill. Starting turning and all is ok for about a second. Hit a bit of washed up oil and grime on the road. Front wheels start to aquaplane, lose all steering ability, drive straight into a pole on the left of the side street I'm entering. I was not moving that fast but the whole thing seemed to happen in a blink. It's a turn I take 7 days a week and until I lost traction it all felt very routine. Other days I've taken that corner at that speed, even in the rain, with not the slightest consequence. Odd because from tires are not very old. It all seems surreal. I do however realise that, in the end that is no excuse. A safe driver needs to take all things into consideration. Even if I know i can normally corner at that speed in the rain, as it turns out it was in fact too fast. I only have 3rd party insurance. What do you guys think this is going to cost me. How where should I repair it or should I just get spare parts from the wreckers? The bonnet is bent out of shape. The bumper bar is bent/broken and the plastic grill between the two is broken. The plastic fixture that holds the left headlight in is broken in some spots causing it to wobble. Yes I am 20 and on my P plates. I do not speed. I am generally sensible. I do accept negligence on my part today and am taking it as a lesson.
