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He has an SLS....I don't think that those had some of those fancy safety gadgets that the STS's do. I know it definitely didn't have the Magnaride, but I'm not sure if it's got the same stabilitrak that the STS's do. Etcetera, etcetera.
Yes, they both have Stabilitrack... the biggest thing it didn't have was Magnaride - which wasn't even available on the Seville when mine was built. Even then, it wouldn't have accounted for a lick of difference in this situation. It doesn't matter what level of electronic doodads the car would have had... it's still a two ton, front drive car, on a slick surface, on a tight bend, on a narrow road, with me reacting to other variables.
An "active" suspension doesn't jack-squat when there's no traction at all... unless it can somehow alter the laws of physics... which I don't think it can.
I should have snapped a few pics while it was wedged on top of the tree... but I wasn't really thinking about that at the time. I may be able to get down there today, the garage owner is supposed to give me a call when he gets back from Delaware.
Anyway... I'm neither a mechanic nor an insurance adjuster, so I can't say for sure if it's going to be totaled or not. Obviously if there's frame damage it will be totaled. What do I know for sure? The front end is completely shot... the radiator's gone, the front axle is probably damaged, the entire front driver's side wheel assembly is shot, the drivers window is smashed, and the driver's side of the car sustained some pretty good body damage. So if the repairs are going to cost too much relative to the cars value it's not going to get repaired.
It's hard to say what I would go for... I'd like to get another Cadillac for sure, I'm just not sure if I'd go for another Northstar.... Maybe a CTS or possibly an SRX, or who knows I'm might go find another Buick or very well possibly another Chrysler product - maybe a Magnum, or another Jeep. I might even get really crazy and go check out a few Saabs again.. if I did something like that I might also go an pick up an older Coupe Deville, since I have always been smitten with them.
The Cadillac would probably be cheaper to own, but I guess I can't really say what's more reliable, as I've never owned both. I can definitely say that the '92 deVille cost me less in repairs than the Benz has so far. And I owned that deVille for over two and a half years...the Benz, 5 months.
Man, sorry to hear about this- as others have said, at least you walked away. Having been in a similar situation, I understand what you mean about your Wife and kids. It's amazing how much can go through your mind in those 3 to 5 "Oh shit" seconds, isn't it?
For those wondering, no amount of electronics would have stopped the slide once he got on the grass. Grip enhancing features only work if there is grip to enhance.
Keep us updated on what you're looking at for a replacement.
