One bid a$$ mailbox
Champion
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield, Wisconsin
Sorry to hear Kent. In all honesty, it will make her a better driver because every time someone distracts her, she will remember what happened. Glad to hear no one got hurt. Too bad it happened in your truck; TIME FOR MORE PAINTABLE UPGRADES!
Ouch! At least nobody is hurt and the damage isn't too bad, just a little pricey. Time to go out and get her the "first car". 
All joking aside, I would say get her a standard that's in decent shape. Won't cost you too much and the advantages are numerous, she'll learn to drive a standard which is still a valuable skill (and makes you pay more attention to your driving). If it's an older car it should be fairly easy to work on and you can teach her how to do basic maintenance, even if she never wants to changer her own oil knowing the basics will make sure she doesn't get easily fooled by a shady mechanic later on. Not to mention it shouldn't cost too much and she'll have something to drive so when she gets her license you won't be dreading the request for the keys to the truck.
If you can get all the work done that cheap and the paint won't be a shoddy job definitely go that route, you'll pay far more over the long term if you have the insurance pick it up.
All joking aside, I would say get her a standard that's in decent shape. Won't cost you too much and the advantages are numerous, she'll learn to drive a standard which is still a valuable skill (and makes you pay more attention to your driving). If it's an older car it should be fairly easy to work on and you can teach her how to do basic maintenance, even if she never wants to changer her own oil knowing the basics will make sure she doesn't get easily fooled by a shady mechanic later on. Not to mention it shouldn't cost too much and she'll have something to drive so when she gets her license you won't be dreading the request for the keys to the truck.
no use in getting mad at a learning experience. Metal can be repaired, she knows she totally screwed up. Was looking at something on the side of the road. we are debating on reporting to insurance.....i can get a new fender from rock auto for $60....new mirror for $70, probably get it painted for $100...we shall see....just sux cause I hate having to fix things while I'm still building....lol
Veteran
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
Ouch!!! Do you have a pic of the mail box... cause that's one hell of a mail box cause that much damage. At lease no one was hurt. My first wreck i jumped a 10' ditch. all i lost was a hub cap. Had a hard time explaining to my dad why his tools were scattered all over his truck. It's amazing how far you can fly in a 64 Plymonth VIP lol.
Captain
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 612
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
Ouch!!! Do you have a pic of the mail box... cause that's one hell of a mail box cause that much damage. At lease no one was hurt. My first wreck i jumped a 10' ditch. all i lost was a hub cap. Had a hard time explaining to my dad why his tools were scattered all over his truck. It's amazing how far you can fly in a 64 Plymonth VIP lol.
Veteran
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
and you can do a wheel stand in a 73 dodge van if you hit the curb hard enough lol.
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Bluefield, WV
believe me, my first though was WTF, you are so totally in trouble!!! but those feelings get quickly put aside when you stop and think....geesh, my first wreck totaled a 75 camaro and put three people in the hospital....all she did was knock off someones mailbox because she was looking at something off the side of the road and it was partly my fault because I was riding shotgun at the time and said....check that out....without thinking....and she looked to the right...and like a new driver....her hands followed her head....ran right off the road...
Glad your taking it in stride... just be glad you werent parked in the garage or you'd be fixing the truck AND the house, and the escort, and, and, and...
on the bright side its the perfect time to do that airfilter relocation you were thinking about... also I found that POM (plastic)rivet tool over at harbor freight. let me know if you need a hand...
Record Breaker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood, Texas
true standard is still a valuable skill...can't tell you how many people these days dont know how to and it can help in so many ways other then just driving a standard its not even funny!
