Tree+Wind+ZX=

[zbane]

So it was an incredably windy night last night, with gusts up to 65mph, sustaining winds around 40, and it was snowing.

The power was knocked out for about four hours, and I could feel my little trailer like house moving in the wind. With no heat, with no light.

With every gust of wind, I hear (and feel) the thud and rattle of branches and limbs falling on the roof, only to slide or be blown off. I am just thankful that I rent, and I will not be paying for a new roof anytime soon.

And then I hear a long "Ca-rasssh" and I think "lucky me, that didn't land on the house (I have large trees all around the house)."

I ponder the size and location of the tree that just fell and shook the house.

The wind continues, I shine a flashlight outside to see the snow blowing around.

A little bit later, I take my little dog outside for a walk. He's a Chihuahua, and he so truly hates the cold. I am rather apprehensive myself about walking outside in the midst of the storm, but the little guy has to go, so outside we trek.

Much to my amazement, here is what I see.

After Julio (the pup) finishes his business, I go around the car, baffled at how close the tree came to crushing the tail end. I feel lucky, though I wish the tree had fallen on my SUV, cracked block and all.

It's not until daylight that I see the extent of the damage, and how truly lucky I was. There is damage to the car, though. Creased panels :mad: , scratched paint, dimpled hatch deck, and scuffed-dented window chrome. :mad: and a broken passenger side mirror enclosure :mad:

But at least the rear window didn't break

Once I pay the deductable, the insurance will take over-we'll see how much the estimate is, and if I can get the landord's insurance to pay up. (doubtful)

The creases may not look like much, the I wonder how hard they will be to remove, especially those along the rear hatch. I am unsure about the damage to the mirror-the whole unit is now movable, so I know the damage is more than just that little (unrepairable) crack.

Still, it could have been much worse. I will keep all appraised about the appraisal, and the epic battle this may become.

[FairladyZS30]

oh that sucks.... why would nature pick on a z? =[

[hls30.com]

David,

I'm glad you made it through!

Sorry to see the damage to the car.

Let me know what Happens-I have a complete ZXT that will be parted out at some point, and it has your trims and probably more...

Will

[KDMatt]

Hrm... that's a familiar story...

Sucks that your luck ran a little drier than mine did. Best of luck to you in the future sir.

[jmanz6]

Do you have insurance on the car? Do you have rental insurance on the house? The landlord has insurance against you destrying anything or natural disaster destroying the house, not on any of your stuff getting damaged while outside the house. I doubt you will get any help from the landlord. Just be nice about it and keep a cool head. You might be able to get him to help, but I doubt he has any kind of coverage on personal property not owned by him.

[zbane]

Thanks all!

complete ZXT that will be parted out at some point, and it has your trims and probably more...

Will, I'll keep that in mind, though this might just be the reason to get "that" ZX from Brevard. I have found that some "smudges" on the windshield (presumably sap from a limb) is actually a collection of scratches & sap. Unless they can be buffed out, a new windshield (original, please-no tint) will be needed. Still storage for a complete spare car is a potential problem.

Hrm... that's a familiar story...

Matt, I thought of your experience right after I saw the car at night-I can now say that I fully understand and appreciate how you must have felt that day!

Do you have insurance on the car? Do you have rental insurance on the house?...snip...Just be nice about it and keep a cool head.

Jason, I've got full comp+collision on the car-no problem there; no rental insurance for the house. As to keeping a cool head, I've offered to help chop the tree apart (it blocks my driveway:mad: ), and the landlord will be paying me for the work through lowered rent, and that's ok since I'll need to shell out for the deductable.

why would nature pick on a z?

I have no idea, Fabian. However, this could have happened to anyone, I'm just glad it didn't do worse...though if it had just hit my Mitsu instead, I would have been so happy...

However, I think it is so funny that the antenna wasn't even bothered by the ordeal!

[BuDavid]

oh! first of all, glad to hear that you are safe from all of this, and about the car damage, I think it is repairable, even though it is a bit painfull to watch a car hit while it is parked in peace..

I hope that you'll manage to repair it with no trouble, the ZX is a nice car.

good luck with it David.

[zbane]

Mohamed, I have no doubt that the damage can be fixed, and I am thankful it isn't worse. Perhaps I am slowly ridding the car of the ghost of bad luck!

[Blue Meanie]

You have your health and it coulda been a lot worse. Look at it this way, at least you got your bad luck out of the way, now you are do for something good!

[Panamared]

David.

Sorry to hear that. IT SUCKS but lucky You because could be worst thant that.

But still sucks.

[76Datsun280z]

Real sorry to hear that!

[Dat240ZG]

Not to jack a thread or anything, but seeing those pics reminds me of when I lived in Charlotte and Hurricane Hugo came through. I had just finished restoring my first Z (within a month or so) and instead of leaving it outside during the hurricane, we put it back in a large horse barn that my folks had. My dad also pulled his Kitfox (airplane) in the stall next to the Z.

Long story short, we lost a lot of trees, but none where the Z had been parked. Instead, the hurricane blew the sides off of the barn and turned the Kitfox over on top of the Z ! Talk about banging my head against a wall! And it was uninsurred, hadn't even finished reassembling it!

Felt your pain.

Bryan

Dat240zg