Why fender benders are so expensive…

I picked up my car today… and just in time the WSJ has article about why front/rear collisions are so expensive!

Bumper Shock: Today’s Design Can Dent the Wallet - WSJ.com
Evolution of the car bumper in the past 35 years has meant that formerly one-piece steel bumpers are now integrated into the vehicle’s front-end design. This happened in part because new rules don’t require bumpers to be as strong and protective. That means consumers wind up paying thousands of dollars to fix damage from even a minor collision. The total repair cost for damage from four impact tests — on each car’s front and rear bumpers and front and rear corners — ranged from $4,277 for the Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Galant to $9,051 for the Nissan Motor Co. Maxima.

The damage costs show how bumper design has slipped over time as manufacturers focused more on protecting passengers in high-speed crashes. Easing standards has allowed auto makers more flexibility in designing vehicles for aesthetic appeal. For comparison, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group funded by the insurance industry, tested a 1981 Ford Motor Co. Escort with the new cars. The Escort, which was built during the height of strict federal regulations, has large, wide bumpers and sustained no damage in the corner tests. After the four tests its damage totaled $469. The car’s bumpers contribute to its overall clunky styling and its performance in high-speed crashes would probably be unacceptable by modern standards.

[snip]

The Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G6 and Volkswagen Passat each sustained damage estimated at more than $4,500 in the frontal test. These cars have bumpers that slid underneath the barrier, allowing their bodies to absorb much of the impact. The costs reflect damage to the cars’ hoods, fenders, headlights and even air conditioning condensers mounted just behind their front grilles.

That sounds like exactly what happened to me - except that I have xenon head lamps which added an additional $1600 to the repairs. Buyer beware!

So here’s what my car looked like on 1/24/2007:

And here’s what it looks like 1+ month later:

(Sharp eyed readers may notice a small mistake that was made - but I’m fine with it.)

In some ways I miss the Volvo S40 I drove for a month. The seat was much more comfortable (especially the headrest!), the brake pedal was a bit more sensitive (almost too sensitive), and the trunk was actually slightly bigger (it was a lot longer) - but at the end of the day, Rear Wheel Drive just drives better than Front Wheel Drive.