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Darn, that's the bunk.

man, that is serious poo.  nice of them to guide you into a pole.

Brad, wanna get away, no actually, need to get away?  We have a extra bedroom all ready for you!!!

Sounds good!  But my car is going to the shop tomorrow. I can always take the bus or fly. Valorie won't let me use the mini van. She is afraid I might back it into something, which would total it out.

You are welcome to come stay with us and even use one of our cars.

ouchie!

Sorry jay--that comment wasn't long enough was it? Hopefully, this will make up for that. :)

I think we should just buy a new car instead of getting this repaired. 

No, this car doesn't need to be replaced. The antique tractor you drive is overdue for mini van heaven.  

at least it's just swapping out the bumper and not straightening any metal.  I darn near took out my neighbors big rock and concrete mailbox this morning in the truck in 4WD.  Yes, I was hot dogging it as I normally would in the snow.  Yes, I won't go around the corner that fast next time.  No, not a scratch on the truck.

Actually, they take it off and bend and straighten. All of the body shops I went to said the OE is better quality and usually repairable. Aftermarket units tend to crack and when hit, and thus require replacment.  So I will be better off keeping this bumper, with the comfort of knowing that it won't break in half the next time I back into something. The last time the garage door went down on it and sliced the middle of it. Its just an unlucky bumper. Certainly not the drivers fault.

Bummer!!!  I see a lot of dents like this in rear bumpers.  I remember reading that something like 60% of all accidents occur while a driver is backing up.  We were told to back our police cars into parking spaces because backing into a space is significantly less likely to result in a backing accident than backing out of a parking space, especially if u r in a hurry.  I still back into parking spaces most of the time.

that's kind of a funny stat.  60% accidents backing up.  So that makes 40% going foward, cuz i know I can't drive my car sideways.

haven't you seen Tokyo drift?  man, that show is wicked awesome.  (not really)

All suggestions for parking lot driving improvement are appreciated. That seems to be my most hazardous driving path. In my 40 years behind the wheel, both of my "mishaps" were with poles in parking lots. I am safer out in the open road-never have had a real traffic collision.That is because I drive so slow and cautiously there. I am much more daring in parking structures..... LOL

Backing into spaces sounds is a great idea. I will do that.

But that makes no sense if backing up is the major cause then why would you want to back into a parking space?  Either way in or out you are backing up.  Also, when backing into a parking space you have a much narrow margin of space than backing out. 

I think the reason there r fewer accidents backing into a space is because you can see the space more clearly before you go in, and avoid obstacles such as poles or other cars.  When you back out, it is harder to see obstacles, especially other cars that are driving into the area.

ugh that is such an awful feeling when you hit something in your car. I dented our old car in that same spot right after Ben and I got married and I was pulling our of our parking space in our condo, hit a pole, and felt SO dumb. it was an old car though so we just left it like that for a while. 

The good news is that the Highlander is out of surgery and in the recovery booth. Should be discharged tomorrow. Our 16 year old minivan has done an excellent job filling in for it! MAACO Hospital is great.

Wow, bummer Brad.  I have to say this tops mom backing into a 200 year old tombstone in Missouri with the rental car.  haha that was good times. :-)

MAACO should have given us a big discount for all the money that BYU made them in the MAACO Bowl. 

Yeah, Iremember that!  The RIP took the damage on that one. I wasn't so lucky.