SOO FRUSTRATED- help me out pleasee!

[biketsai]

So I was cruising down Independence today, and one of those city titties was moved into the middle of the street somehow. I wasnt able to dodge it and I HAD to go over it. *CLUNK*, pull over, my car sounds like a piece of shit, and I bring it to the lift at school and see the damage. The thing CRACKED my transmission casing and nearly gouged a hole in my pan as well. I have transmission fluid slowly leaking from the casing. I have filed a report with the police and will be calling the city Monday, however I dont know how this should be handled. I would think that the city must pay for this because of this hazard. I mean, although I may be the first to call on this, it doesnt mean that I shouldnt be taken care of. I am just so frustrated right now, I dont want my premium to go up through insurance and I just believe that the city should pay for it. Pleassse let me know how I should go about handling this.
btw-that aint no normal city titty, and I am fully covered my Travelers
-Chris

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

sux man hope only the best works out for ya!

[seanriv]

Sucks! And didnt you just get your car running good?

You might have a chance to win, just so your state doesnt have any laws on how low your car is. Good Luck!

[fikes]

don't live in Texas :/. What are they I have never seen them before. Other than that I don't think the city will be paying for it although they should so good luck.

[Stumanbmx]

What are those?

[oneohone]

Man this sucks. Let the Plano riots start!

[NorCal1.8T]

Yeah in some states if that happens its not the city's fault it would be yours because the law states if your car is lower than a certain point then it is illegal, if you were not that low it would not have happened...blah blah..and so on. Best of luck, hopefully somehow you can state you have factory sport suspension or something? I dont know, but this will be tough to fight.

[01audia4]

WTF is that? Ive never seen those before.

[fred2ka4]

Just file your complaint and make sure to take more pictures of your car as well as different angles of the "what ever it is" I hit a pot hole and the city paid the repair of my rim and for a new tire but it took about a month even though I paid first and then submitted the receipts with the claim. As suggested you need to check into your local and state laws for legal vehicle height as that will effect your case. If there are none then they may pay but if there are then you are on your own.

[D's Avant]

The plows would take care of those for us here in Illinois. Bummer, file a complaint and good thing you have those photos.

[317ssayzarc]

This happened due to an unmarked/unramped raised man hole cover and the city or construction company wouldn't cover it...

[fred2ka4]

For that much damage, you take them to court and sue as there are procedures that need to be followed when construction on a street is involved. What if you owned a Lamborghini?? Would it be your fault that the car comes from the factory that low? No, so as long as there are no ride height restrictions then the city should pay for it's carelessness whether they did it or hired an incompetent construction company that did it.

This happened due to an unmarked/unramped raised man hole cover and the city or construction company wouldn't cover it...

[biketsai]

For that much damage, you take them to court and sue as there are procedures that need to be followed when construction on a street is involved. What if you owned a Lamborghini?? Would it be your fault that the car comes from the factory that low? No, so as long as there are no ride height restrictions then the city should pay for it's carelessness whether they did it or hired an incompetent construction company that did it.

I was thinking the EXACT same thing about height. Do you think this applies to me as well?

[317ssayzarc]

For that much damage, you take them to court and sue as there are procedures that need to be followed when construction on a street is involved. What if you owned a Lamborghini?? Would it be your fault that the car comes from the factory that low? No, so as long as there are no ride height restrictions then the city should pay for it's carelessness whether they did it or hired an incompetent construction company that did it.

Well it came down to fixing it for around 600-700 or taking them to court which would cost the same or more... I'm just happy it was my MK4 and that I have the instinct to shut the car off (I reached for the key once I saw it and knew I was trapped)... My car is not even that low


To the OP, let me know if you want me to delete my pics from this thread, my intent was not to clutter it

[biketsai]

Well it came down to fixing it for around 600-700 or taking them to court which would cost the same or more... I'm just happy it was my MK4 and that I have the instinct to shut the car off (I reached for the key once I saw it and knew I was trapped)... My car is not even that low



To the OP, let me know if you want me to delete my pics from this thread, my intent was not to clutter it

No offense, but I think thatd be great

[dupree28]

Man I feel for you. I drive down Independence all the time, but i never recalled seeing a city titty in the middle of the road. You will be hard pressed to get Plano to pay for that. I think by the time you go through all the crap to try and get it handled and payed for by the city. In the long run it will end up being more of a headache for you. Like stated in a previous post they will defintely pull your car is to low crap. I went through the exact same thing months ago. I ran over some concrete in the road on 121 because of the construction. I never thought of trying to sue the city though. I put my stock wheels on and raised the car back up to stock height, and called my insurance company. I have coilovers so it wasn't that big of a deal. Bite the bullet and go through insurance. Good luck

[biketsai]

Man I feel for you. I drive down Independence all the time, but i never recalled seeing a city titty in the middle of the road. You will be hard pressed to get Plano to pay for that. I think by the time you go through all the crap to try and get it handled and payed for by the city. In the long run it will end up being more of a headache for you. Like stated in a previous post they will defintely pull your car is to low crap. I went through the exact same thing months ago. I ran over some concrete in the road on 121 because of the construction. I never thought of trying to sue the city though. I put my stock wheels on and raised the car back up to stock height, and called my insurance company. I have coilovers so it wasn't that big of a deal. Bite the bullet and go through insurance. Good luck

Did your premium increase? and if so, how much a month? did it stop increasing after a while?

[dupree28]

It increased only slightly.I'm only paying an extra $14 dollars a month. I think i saved myself alot of time and headaches that way. The only way i would try the "sue the city" way is if i had another car to drive in the meantime. Think about how long your car will be down if you try and make the city pay.

[JaVa]

that sucks. depending on how much it is i would just pay cash, then go after the city if you can. no sense in going thru insurance if its not all that much.

[dupree28]

^^^ He said his car sounded like shit after he hit the bump. Sounds like shit+Tranmission case= not cheap. It's worth a shot im sure he'll have an estimate soon enough.

[speedydragon]

raise your car a bit before you show them the height of your car :]. Tell them the momentum of your powerful A8 brakes were strong enough to compress teh front shocks to a point where it was low enough to hit the big titty.

[GetBoosted84]

That really does blow dude!

If your worried about them giving you crap on the height of your ride then just pick up a set of oem springs prior to going in for them to take a look. :-)

[NorCal1.8T]

raise your car a bit before you show them the height of your car :]. Tell them the momentum of your powerful A8 brakes were strong enough to compress teh front shocks to a point where it was low enough to hit the big titty.

+1 smart idea

[biketsai]

That really does blow dude!

If your worried about them giving you crap on the height of your ride then just pick up a set of oem springs prior to going in for them to take a look. :-)

or just crank my coils up.
But for some reason I just dont think that is necessary. Some cars come stock with a height just as low as my car.

[eddiecut]

the city will not pay, because those are considered a "warning" and you should be able to see it according to them.
your insurance will take care of it...

[le91688]

this would be a perfect time for a 5 speed swap.

and a legitimate insurance company wont increase your premium for stuff that isn't your fault.

[djwimbo]

You might be able to pursue a settlement for the cost of repairs, but I'm pretty sure you have to get the repairs done first.

As far as the "city titty", you hit that random ass one in the middle of the road right? I think that's where your case is. A local would know it's there, but if you an out-of-towner then you wouldn't know. It's painted white, it should be painted yellow.
There shouldn't be a need for them to as tall either.

Contact somebody about local height restrictions and see if there's any other documented cases of that happening.

Makes you think twice about lowering your car now doesn't it?

[A4orce84]

Sorry Chris =(

Let me know if you need any weekend rebuilding/improving/fixing help soon !

[biketsai]

You might be able to pursue a settlement for the cost of repairs, but I'm pretty sure you have to get the repairs done first.

As far as the "city titty", you hit that random ass one in the middle of the road right? I think that's where your case is. A local would know it's there, but if you an out-of-towner then you wouldn't know. It's painted white, it should be painted yellow.
There shouldn't be a need for them to as tall either.

Contact somebody about local height restrictions and see if there's any other documented cases of that happening.

Makes you think twice about lowering your car now doesn't it?

It was in the middle of the road. I drive this road everyday, but never have seen one of these things in the road. I doubt there is a local height restriction, its TEXAS haha.
manual swap here i come

[le91688]

manual swap here i come

!!!! your car will be perfect!

[Seerlah]

If you are going for a manual swap, will you just keep your A4? I would, if I were you. The car is very nicely done. And then you can just throw on a BAT w/built motor. I am not saying that it is better than a stg 3 S4, I'm just saying .

[biketsai]

If you are going for a manual swap, will you just keep your A4? I would, if I were you. The car is very nicely done. And then you can just throw on a BAT w/built motor. I am not saying that it is better than a stg 3 S4, I'm just saying .

That is the plan, I really want a 5spd A4. I just need some help/info so I can get started after Christmas

[Siena]

It's an easy convertion, I've done quite a few B4 80 / 90, as well as type 85 Coupe GT.

Sorry about the damage though, it's one very issues I have with low or slammed cars.

[Siena]

...And if I was you, I'd go for a 6-speed manual conversion.