var json_comments = new Array("
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ecwis
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I always doubted the off-road capabilities of BMW SUVs but it's proved itself here! Also, this is a great, cheap, and effective way for Hyundai to advertise. It will probably make that customer very loyal too. I'm liking Hyundai more everyday.

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6 replies
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ElizabethD
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis:
We've been an all-Hyundai family for 4 or 5 years now, and we are very pleased with the value and the service. I love my Santa Fe, and when I downsize once the last kid is out of the house, I will stay with Hyundai for a smaller vehicle.

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remington870_20ga
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis: the off road capabilities are poor. I remember when it first came out. They paired it against a Range Rover ( as pretty as they are they can offroad pretty good) and they had to soften the course for the bimmer :/

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RedwoodFlyer
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@remington870_20ga: You mean when it came out many years and 2.5 generations ago? GREAT comparison. That would be like making claims about current Ford's on the basis that the Model T couldn't hit 80 mph.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis: Hyundai had some of the best SuperBowl commercials. I was only vaguely aware of them but after those commercials I was intrigued and I'm very aware of the brand now (and I think they're reliable AND cool enough to have amusing commercials).

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WraithSama
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis:
I used to have a 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6, and it was one of the nicest cars I've ever had or driven.

Hyundai used to make junk cars when they first entered the US market, but quickly figured out that crap wouldn't fly here. Since then they've done a 180 and make some of the best cars on the road. It's too bad it's taken this long for the stigma to finally wane.

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pockygt
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: It's very similar to Toyota and Honda when they first entered the US as well. They were the junk boxes, but now after many years, they are known for being the most reliable things on the road.

It's funny how that works out sometimes.

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West Coast Secessionist
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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WOW!

Historically I've been skeptical about Korean cars, but this move showed a lot of care and initiative on the part of Hyundai--and in a situation where no one would have expected H. to even be involved. Bravo! With one kind move, they've moved their brand up a few ticks on my buy-o-meter.

I think if I was that guy and I walked in the room and got handed the keys, I wouldn't have even believed it myself! :)

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2 replies
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Cant_stop_the_rock
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@West Coast Secessionist:

They've also improved their reliability substantially. They're comparable to Honda and Toyota now.

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supercereal
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Cant_stop_the_rock: Yeah, Hyundai has really stepped up their game over the last few years. Kudos to their CEO for turning the brand from the bastard stepchild of Korean cars into a respectable, reliable car maker.

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ElizabethD
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@supercereal:

They are really good now. We used to be a Subaru/Toyota family and for 5 years have been all Hyundai, all the time.

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elemeno
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I said 'laaaydaaay, step inside my Hyundai' (not on it)

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4 replies
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friendlynerd
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@elemeno: gonna step to you...with a fresh pack of gum

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nofelix
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@elemeno: Is lady meant to rhyme with Hyundai? It hurts my head to think about it.

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WraithSama
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I'm glad they caught her when she returned later. A small scrape is one thing, but you crush two other cars monster truck style with your SUV and then book the hell out of there? And then come back? That granny had some brass balls under that skirt.

I've got a super-rare 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder in mint condition and someone at my complex hit it and left while I was at home sick a couple months back, causing $2,400 in damage. People who do hit-and-runs suck!

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11 replies
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trujunglist
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama:

Yeah, if I had seen this person doing this they would be dead. I don't care if you are a 65 year old lady. In fact, if you are a 65 year old lady, you should more sense than to drive off you fucking moron.
Let me tell you why: at about 2:30 in the morning after working for 20 hours straight, I was awakened to the sound of both of my car alarms going off. I went outside and both of my cars had been completely totaled by a hit and run driver. The driver left his car and ran to his house and pretended to be asleep when the cops showed up. Total cost in damages to my cars: $20k+. I have had to pay several thousand dollars out of pocket for various things even though insurance should be covering it. Awesome. Next person that fucks with me gets a shoe to the teeth. I am completely serious.

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Amish Undercover
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: Hopefully that granny now gets some jail time.

@babyruthless: Did that woman get jail time for the hit and run? Isn't this a felony?

@danielly37: I'm hoping your story is not representative...

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lilyHaze
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: It's happened to my parents. Some idiot hit their property, hard enough to rip through the brick and interior wall. There was a security camera, but it wasn't good enough or in the right position to get the license #. Insurance covered most of it. But it still doesn't make up for the fact that it wasn't their fault.

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kexline
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: It's stupid, maybe, but I want a garage almost as much as I want a house. There's no point in fixing the dents on my very pretty car as long as I have to park overnight on the street or at an apartment complex.

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DH405
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@kexline: Amen. This is a part of why I bought my house. I may park in the driveway because the garage is now project space, but it's at least MY driveway.

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WraithSama
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@kexline:
Yeah, I haven't repaired the damage to my Spyder yet. I'm worried it'll just happen again. I can't wait until I can buy another house so I'll finally have a garage to park it in.

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GearheadGeek
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: I guess she thought she'd gotten away with it. I have the feeling the video made the local news (certainly the websites of local papers, but not all grannies browse the internet) so I guess she never saw the video, thought she'd gotten away with it and happily got caught.

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TheWillow
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: one of my co-workers got hit by a car while she was jogging. She wasn't hurt badly, but apparently the woman was like: \"what just happened?\" and my coworker yelled \"you ran a stop sign and hit me!\" and the woman drove off.

So.... yeah. Hit & run drivers are scum.

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YouDidWhatNow?
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TheWillow:


I was walking out of a bar one day with a friend who is a pretty big guy...probably like 6'3\" and pretty solid.


This young woman in a dinky little car, something like an old Civic or something, comes barreling around the corner in the parking lot looking for a space, and only just *barely* sees my friend in front of her.


She slams on the brakes and comes sliding to a halt (gravel parking lot) literally just inches from my friend who saw the whole thing coming and correctly judged she was going to stop in time. And, he's a bit of a loon.


The funny part was...the look on her face. Her mouth was wide open, her eyes bugging out, pale white like a ghost. She was positive she was about to kill somebody.


As the dust settled (literally), my friend stoops down (he practially seemed to be bigger than the car) and said \"are you OK?\"


Was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen.

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babyruthless
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TheWillow: A friend of mine in college was hit by a car while crossing the street (in a cross walk, with a cross signal). The driver was talking on her cell phone and was turning right. She knocked my friend over, but she was luckily unhurt, but understandably shaken. My friend yelled at the woman \"you hit me!\" and the woman gave her a dirty look and sped off. Other drivers I guess got her tag and called the cops. My friend was walked back to her apartment, and the cops were there, along with the woman. Who was still pissed at my friend for having the nerve to get hit by her car.

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danielly37
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@babyruthless: One of my friends got hit by a car when she was jogging in the crosswalk (with the walk blinking) and although the driver didn't run off, it was somehow a NO-FAULT accident. Insane.

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HogwartsAlum
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@babyruthless: What a [EXTREMELY BAD WORD I'M TRYING NOT TO SAY ANYMORE]. It would have been hard for me not to deck her. Good for the other drivers.

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Con Seannery
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TheWillow: Yeah...it's just low to speed off after you hit something. I mean, sure, when I had a wreck, I CONSIDERED it...but it just seemed too much of a dick move.

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coren
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I wonder if they mistakenly stomped the gas instead of the brake for some reason (I can't imagine why you'd need to going that slow, but even so...)

What happens for the employee, who's the owner of the other car in the video I assume?

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4 replies
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WraithSama
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@coren:
Judging by how she was slowly ambling into the space then abruptly sped up right before climbing Mt. Hyundai, I suspect this is probably the case.

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thedeepfriedboot
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama:
\"right before climbing Mt. Hyundai\"

Wow, for some reason that made me laugh hard.

Ive seen accidents like that around here in Tucson, not in parking lots though. I dont know why but for people around here it seems normal to rear end each other at red lights like some sort of greeting. In some of the accidents I am not even sure if people used the breaks at all. At least there all in small cars which is why I drive an old suburban. Steel bumpers FTW!

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Cyberxion101
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@thedeepfriedboot: Dude, all those accidents were the very reason I never bothered to get my license in Tucson. I just took the Sun Tran instead. It was always loaded with crazy folks and high-school kids, but at least I felt a little safer on the road. :P

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thedeepfriedboot
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Cyberxion101:
I an engineering student at the U of A and I am not bike or walking distance from campus so I have to drive. Because of the insanity, I drive an 02 Z71 Suburban with a trailer hitch as a precaution against these drivers. If someone wants to rear end me, they will have to get through the hitch first which is made to distribute weight through the frame. After that, its a steel bumper, not some plastic one. I love that truck.

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remington870_20ga
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@thedeepfriedboot: Thats a great idea and all but the problem is if you get hit good enough it will warp the frame. A bent frame is a little more expensive than replacing a bumper ;)

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Elvisisdead
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@remington870_20ga: If you get hit from the rear hard enough to warp a frame, then you will have problems that even a bumper couldn't have stopped.

In all likelihood, the hitch is high enough on a Z71 that it would peel open the hood/grill of the offending vehicle like a can opener and slide on top of that car. Mangle the hitch and possibly the bumper, but I doubt it would warp the frame.

Hitches and their associated mounting bars do not add structural integrity to the frame of a vehicle, they simply tie a load to it. If it's welded on, you might break the welds before you bent the frame.

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pecan 3.14159265
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@remington870_20ga: My old car had a plastic bumper and when I got rear ended, it made a small dent but the people at the auto shop showed me the inside. Smashed to bits! I won't drive around with a dented bumper if it's been involved in a collision of some kind.

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Ebriosa
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: Yeah, that's the problem with all these new great safety stuff - it keeps you safe, but the slightest bump destroys the bumper and it's expensive to fix. It's like helmets - you fall off and bang it, it's no good anymore BECAUSE it's so good at keeping you safe, while older ones that could last forever didn't do so good a job.


Makes me super paranoid when parallel parking these days though - even nudging another car could do some damage (paint transfer sucks, even).

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nofelix
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@remington870_20ga: Hopefully a hit that hard would be an easy win for their insurance paying for your frame!

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floraposte
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@WraithSama: I suppose that's the upside of a low-power vehicle--not sure my car would even make it over the concrete berm!

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floraposte
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@rocketbear79: threadkiller: Very true. I should have said \"one of the upsides.\"

But I cannot crush all before me. Alas.

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Julia789
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@coren: The owner of the other crushed car probably feels let down by her car company of choice. Poor lady.

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djanes1
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Best viral advertising ever!

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rocketbear79: threadkiller
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Good on Hyundai. Everybody I know that has a Hyundai is happy with the service they have gotten from the dealerships, if not always with the car itself.

On a side note, I hope that woman gets the maximum penalty for leaving the scene imposed. Accidents happen. If I was in the gym and that was my car and the woman came in unhurt I'd probably have a big laugh while calling the insurance co. But for her to leave is just despicable. There are a lot of people without car insurance here in FL so it happens a lot and is one of my bigger gripes (of many) about this state.

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5 replies
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floraposte
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@rocketbear79: threadkiller: I can even forgive a certain momentary panic that makes you have a delayed response, so long as nobody's actually hurt. But a week's silence and then a brazen return? I'm rather wondering if we have some kind of impairment going on here and if that's the last driving she's going to be doing.

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ecwis
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@floraposte: It's quite possible. Her son died in February so she could still be suffering from that... or maybe it caused/intensified a mental problem. Anything's possible.

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cluberti
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis: The fact that she left the scene, and then came back a week later shows some cognition of the fact she'd done something wrong and didn't want to get caught. Having a condition is one thing, breaking the law is another. The condition may have caused an accident like this, as would any mistake, but it was no mistake or condition that caused her to leave the scene of the accident. That should be actionable by the courts - if the condition (if any) isn't enough to revoke her license, having one AND leaving the scene of what would otherwise have been a mistake accident should be. Stop making excuses for people who have no business behind the wheel of a car, for any reason; it becomes less a vehicle and more a weapon. What would have happened if someone had actually been IN one of those two vehicles at the time and gotten hurt?

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ivanthemute
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@cluberti: This!! She knew she had an accident, and ran. Look at all of the other \"senior moment\" accidents. Individual runs down a bunch of people at a farmers market, or crashes into a building. Every one had the driver confused as hell, remaining on scene and taken to the hospital. The criminal ran from her crime, then had the balls to come back later, thinking she got away with it.

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dohtem
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis: No. Stop making excuses for this kind of behavior.

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rocketbear79: threadkiller
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@floraposte: Could be, if it is an impairment case I don't know what I would want. Coming from a family where only several members have lived past 60 and ALL of them developed fast onset Alzheimer's, I'm pretty lenient on age related issues. I'd have to know the whole story I guess before I recommend a 10c paperback or the Encyclopedia Brittanica being thrown at her.

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GearheadGeek
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@floraposte: I'm thinking she didn't see the security camera video on the news and thought she could just go back to the gym after a while, when no one came calling to accuse her.

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Julia789
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@floraposte: Well we Consumerist readers all know it's impossible to get out of a gym membership contract. The driver at fault probably tried to cancel her membership and then realized she had no choice but to return and keep using it. ;-)

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GitEmSteveDave_ H1N1 Symptoms List
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I don't think it was a BMW, I think it was a Canyonareo!

But Chris, you are correct, it did act like a wild/feral auto:

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nstonep
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Ummm...license SUSPENDED.

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3 replies
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trujunglist
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nstonep:

Life suspended afaic. Scumbag fucking bitch.

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ecwis
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nstonep: That may happen but only for two years. Here is the sentencing information if you're interested.

Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition the person's licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. 2009, c. 5, s. 54.

[www.e-laws.gov.on.ca]

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ivanthemute
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ecwis: So throw her in the pokey for six months to boot. That was a blatant hit and run, damaging two vehicles. Screw the driver, let her rot in jail for half a year like the common criminal she is.

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TCama
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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So ... what about the other car? No pressure here, mystery company. But uh ... look what Hyundai did. Just sayin'.

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4 replies
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sprocket79
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TCama: That reminds me - Last week some metal rods and cross beams fell down on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The car that was damaged the most was a rental that a couple from Canada (wtf is it with all this crap happening to Canadians?) who had just arrived and rented their car from the airport 30 mins earlier. I wonder what happened with that rental company!

Actually, another car that got hit was a rental Ryder truck. The only other car to get hit was the driver's own car.

[sfist.com]

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ZekeSulastin
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TCama: There shouldn't be any pressure. There's a reason above and beyond means going above and beyond the reasonable expected standard of service. Hyundai is taking advantage of (comparatively) cheap advertising, but this is the sort of thing generally handled by insurance.

Would a new car have been given if this wasn't already huge on the internet? Probably not. The victim would have been covered under his insurance - at least, until the driver could be identified to take their insurance money.

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shiznannigan
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TCama: The other car, a Dodge Neon, was a rental. No new car for the driver, although I don't know how that works for the rental agency.

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jeffbone
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@shiznannigan: That should make for an interesting conversation at the rental counter:

renter: \"I can't return my car here, because some crazy old woman crushed it with her BMW.\"

rental agent: \"That's too bad, you now owe us the full value of the car, plus loss of use, immediately payable in cash.\"
--or--
rental agent: \"Aren't you glad you bought the additional coverage\"
--or--
rental agent: \"Well, I see you bought the additional coverage, but you still owe us the full value of the car, plus loss of use, because our additional coverage doesn't cover vehicle abuse\"

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dp05
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jeffbone:
--or--
Rental agent: \"Well, I see you bought the additional coverage, but you still owe us the full value of the car, plus loss of use, because our additional coverage doesn't cover vehicular cannibalism.\"

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LastError
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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As a happy Hyundai owner, this is awesome and also typical of the company these days. They have a sort of happy attitude. Hard to explain.

The BMW driver needs to have her keys taken away for life.

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4 replies
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HogwartsAlum
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LastError: Sounds like if I ever get the chance to get a newer car, I should look at one of these.

But that will never happen *sigh*.

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econobiker
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LastError: Hyundai can afford to be happy as their cars are selling well and good value for the money.


My 2nd wife brought an '01 Elantra (purchased used in '02) to our marriage. The attention to design was pretty good for the price point. Then around the 2008 Olympic time, I found out that this generation Elantra ('01 to '07?) was the prefered vehicle for Chinese taxicabs (in Right Hand Drive format)- damn that made me want to buy another. Stinks that she doesn't drive a stick shift though...


Rarely find an '01-'07 in the local pull it yourself junkyard and if one appears, it gets stripped to the bones in about 2 weeks...

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ElizabethD
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LastError:

Another Happy Hyundai person here!

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davere
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LastError: My partner bought a new Hyundai about a year ago. The car has not only been perfectly, but the one time he took it to the dealership for a minor issue, he did it on a time crunch due to a wedding he had to go to.

Not only did they arrange for his car to be fixed right away, but when I took him to pick up his car, everyone at the dealership was all smiles, friendly and concerned that he'd still make it to the wedding on time.

I was impressed.

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viqas
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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[www.southparkstudios.com]

was that a stop sign?

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H3ion
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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This makes me want to run right out and by a BMW SUV. Think about it. Would you want to be the car on top, which did a monster truck routine and was still able to drive away, or the car on the bottom which is now a convertible? In fact, I'm going to see if I can get a Hummer 1. Might as well go all the way.

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1 replies
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AirIntake
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@H3ion: My old Durango will do the same thing, and it's a lot cheaper than ruining a perfectly good Beemer.

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H3ion
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Seriously, props to Hyundai. That was a very classy move and a good use of advertising dollars.

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runswithscissors
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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So what if she crushed some lesser cars? She's driving a Beemer. It's her road (parking lot in this case) so everyone else should just get outta her way.

/sarcasm borne of too many encounters with Beemer drivers

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2 replies
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b-real
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@runswithscissors:

Bimmer, not Beemer

and yes, I have one ;)

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Trai_Dep
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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To be fair to BMW, they sent a smiling representative with a brand-new, shiny BMW to the gym to greet the lady.
Then he offered to crush her new Hyundai with it.

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1 replies
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DangerMouth
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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My two immediate reactions are 1) damm, that's good of Hyundai, and 2) Seriously?? WTF is wrong with people?

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utensil42
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Towanda!!!

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1 replies
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lilyHaze
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@utensil42: A Fried Green Tomatoes reference. LOVE!


\"I'm older and I have better insurance.\" (or something like that)

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scoobydoo
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Quite the bitchy move to drive off. I wonder what she would have done if there was no threat of her being identified?

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2 replies
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flugennock
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@scoobydoo:

Just gone about her merry way, probably.

Why am I suddenly reminded of an assortment of Gatsby's \"friends\" in Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby who -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- create havoc and huge messes everywhere they go, and then go on their way, expecting someone else to deal with their mess for them.

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Omali
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@scoobydoo: What she had been doing all along until she was caught, clearly, which was going about her daily life.

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ColoradoShark
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Is it time for an \"Abover and Beyonder\" category?

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bkdlays
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I would seriously punch this woman

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JiminyChristmas
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Are insurance laws in Canada similar to those in the US? If the evildoer has now been identified, the Hyundai owner could make a claim against the BMW driver's auto insurance...regardless of the fact he was given a new car.

Likewise, it's not clear if the Hyundai owner had collision coverage that compensated him for the book value of the car. Not that that still wouldn't suck. I have a 2000 Honda Civic and dread someone hitting it. I plan on driving it until it dies and would hate to have to replace it.

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magstheaxe
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@JiminyChristmas: \"If the evildoer has now been identified, the Hyundai owner could make a claim against the BMW driver's auto insurance...regardless of the fact he was given a new car.\"


The Hyundai owner STILL ought to file a claim against the Beeme-driver's insurance. The fact that Hyundai went above and beyond should have nothing to do with it--it's not like the driver had a reasonable expectation that Hyundai would just hand him a brand new car for free.


The insurance company needs to settle up with the Hyundai owner, and then drop the Beemer-driver.

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floraposte
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@JiminyChristmas: 1995 Civic with 60k on it after 12 years. Totaled when rear-ended. Book value was a joke. I still mourn.

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Mackinstyle
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Give us a break. We're used to snowmobiles and dogsleds.

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TheOrtega
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Mackinstyle: I thought you'all rode moose. jk ;)

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Con Seannery
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@TheOrtega: That's just when they go oot and aboot in town. If it's farther than that, they just get the dogsled, eh?

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Grrrrrrr, now with two buns made of bacon.
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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That's awesome of Hyundai!

That woman, on the other hand, should be put in stocks and publicly stoned. Not for making a mistake, but for backing up, pondering for a moment, and going on her way like nothing had just happened.

Ah, but I digress. Thank you, Hyundai!

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biswalt
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@☠Grяrяrяrяrя, portrait of a chickenwolfmoosepig.: To be fair, we don't know why she left. It's very possible that she might have gotten jostled or injured. For all we know she might have driven to the E.R. next. She also might not be totally 100% right in the head.

When I watch that tape I don't think she's trying to \"get away\" as much as she's too embarassed to walk back into the Gym and tell everyone what happened. If she was just trying to get away, why go back to the gym? Why not get a new membership elsewhere?

No! That lady drove away b/c she didn't want to have to go in to the gym and say, \"excuse me, I seem to have had a bit of an accident and drove up three feet onto two cars in the parking lot.\" If it had been a regular fender bender ding normal rules of etiquette apply. You've got to make some sort of understanding allowance for what an embarrassing parking attempt this was.

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Clumber
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@☠Grяrяrяrяrя, portrait of a chickenwolfmoosepig.: \"pondering for a moment\" .... when I watch the video, I see that pause as the driver looking all around to see if anyone in the lot might have witnessed it, before driving off.

But I have a generally poor impression of people so it may just be my cynicism speaking...

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TheOrtega
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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For real I wish hit and runs came with the death penalty. My first car ever (89 Chevy Corsica) got hit out side my house in front of witness plus their license plate fell off; Milwaukee Pigs knocked at the door of the lady and got no answer so they gave up. My friend got knocked off his bike by a hit and runner last year, it's ridiculous.

Props to Hyundai my mom has a newer KIA van and loves it.

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Con Seannery
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Con Seannery: Err, scratch that. Looks like Kia IS Hyundai...

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vorpal_hamster
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I'm all in on the Hyundai love. I had a 1998 Hyundai Tiburon and although it was a sexy car, it was a POS.


My econocar shopping ended at the Hyundai dealership after a friend's Kia was rear-ended at 60mph and he drove it home. My Elantra isn't the fastest thing on the road, but it is frisky, gets 35mpg(it's a manual), has lots of headroom, will carry lumber, is easy to see out of, cheap to insure, comfortable and I didn't have to buy a sunroof to get 4 wheel disc brakes. It was $4k less than the competition. And it's purple.


Although Hyundai's quality has improved leaps and bound in the last 10 years, they still carry the stigma from '80s. Therefore, although that poor guy's car was paid for and still had many good years left in it, it was probably totaled for about $2k. Given that's hardly a down payment on a new car (even another Elantra), I think it is a beautiful gesture from Hyundai Corp.

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theblackdog
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@vorpal_hamster: Yay for manuals, my 1997 Hyundai Elantra is still getting 30 MPG city.

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lilyHaze
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@vorpal_hamster: I fondly remember the buy 1 (new car), get 1 free (used car) sales.

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LoganAdams
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I went to high school with this girl who had something of a knack for hit-and-runs. She would just do all sorts of fender-benders while parking her car and then take off before anyone could catch her.


I want to post this video on her facebook wall.

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Moosenogger
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Of course there are a billion \"Women drivers! LOL!\" comments for the youtube video.

I hate stupid people.

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StanTheManDean
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Well done.

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hoyagrrrl
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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By no means am I excusing this woman's actions, but this woman needs compassion; it looks as though she has been under extraordinary stress. Her son died of cancer earlier this year. Perhaps I lack imagination, but I can think of few things more horrifying and incapacitating than living to witness the death of your own child.

[www.oeconomist.com]

[www.canadianmortgagetrends.com]

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trujunglist
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl:

Yeeeahh, I don't think that's an excuse for fucking someone out of thousands of dollars, because even if insurance does cover 100% of the claim, you're still getting a refurbished car in return, not to mention other costs. Fuck that stupid scumbag bitch. I hope she rots in jail.

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Karita
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: Agree with all above. Grief is not an excuse, and I can't imagine it would ever hold up as a defense. If she were that impaired, she should not have been on the road. Grief is not unique and special. Everyone goes through it. I lost someone extremely close to me a few weeks ago - I didn't drive when I first found out, and I've actually pulled over a few times over the past few weeks after feeling that wave of misery start to wash over me.

If I were on a jury and this woman tried to raise grief as a defense, I'd definitely be thinking she needs to get over herself. If I were the prosecutor, I'd probably say sure, I won't argue with the defense, as long as she agrees to plead out and be committed indefinitely. If she needs help, maybe that would be for the best.

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Rectilinear Propagation
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: She gets compassion for her loss but that doesn't extend to causing property damage and never taking responsibility.

What if someone had been in one of the cars she ran over?

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cluberti
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: Agreed, and it's likely we all have some empathy or compassion for her situation. However, being that she could have seriously injured someone in either of the other two vehicles, and seconded by the fact that you should NOT drive while you are impaired in any way (including grief), and then thirded by the fact that she did NOTHING to try and atone for what would otherwise have simply just been an accident, means she gets no sympathy, empathy, or anything else from me for what she did. I still feel empathy for her personal loss, but I have no tolerance for people who drive impaired, for ANY reason. There is no sympathy or leniency for an impaired driver even if that impairment is grief.

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CheritaChen
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: Grieving does not universally make others disregard the law and the impact they've just directly made upon unknown strangers. Compassion for this individual's circumstances is a separate issue from her responsibility for what she did. I don't know why some people don't get that concept.

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K-Bo
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: She could have easily caused the death of someone elses child driving like that. Would that be ok because she was grieving her child? I have been in a position before that I was so full of grief I couldn't function normally. I actually called a friend to pick me up at school, and another friend brought my car home later. It wasn't for me to risk causing someone else grief by driving when I was unable to focus on the task at hand.

As my mom always told me, never drive when you are distracted, never drive when you are crying, never drive when you just can't pay attention. It's not worth your life or anyone elses. I didn't always listen to her, but after almost having a wreck on the way from the cemetery to my grandmas house after her funeral, I'm a pretty big believer in this, and I make sure someone less emotional drives.

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ScarletsWalk
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hoyagrrrl: I would totally feel compassion for her if in any way she took responsibility for her actions.

If she had sat in her car and waited for the police and came out of the car, crying, well, then I'd feel terrible and think that accidents happen. If she had gone home, made a cup of tea, then went \"WTF did I do?\" and called the police or gym to turn herself in, I'd feel terrible.

And yes, if she's that distraught over what happened, however awful, earlier this year, then she shouldn't be driving.

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wezelboy
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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X5 drivers are often the biggest a-holes on the road. Not always, but often enough for me to notice.

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Blackneto
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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hopefully Hyundai gave him enough money to cover the taxes that this income event created.
I don't know how canadian taxes work but in the USA this would affect his AGI.

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cc82
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Blackneto: Still cheaper than buying a decent car to replace the totaled one.

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ElPresidente408
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Blackneto:

I came here just to ask that same question. The US tax code has different rules for all types of unearned income. I've seen for contests, the fair market value of your car would be taxed at your current bracket.

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pittpanther
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@ElPresidente408: In a nutshell, she will need to pay taxes on thecost of the new car. Lets assume a $20,000 car, so she will owe an additional $5-6,000 on her 2009 taxes next April.

She can pursue the BMW driver and their insurance, to repair the old car so she can sell it to help pay the taxes on the new car.

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imsnowbear
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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My next car will definitely be a Hyundai!

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wagnerism
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Maybe the X5 should be sold to pay for the damages.


The driver's license will probably be suspended/revoked for a while anyway. When she returns to driving, her insurance rates will be much higher.


All this talk about her grieving is irrelevant. There is a huge difference between leaving while panicking (then coming forward) and never turning yourself in.


She was caught. She never took responsibility. She was only made to be responsible because there was security camera footage and an alert employee.


That's dirtbag behavior regardless of what you're going through at that time in your life.

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zippygaelle
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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That grandma wins the \"World's Douchiest Driver\" award. Would love to hear the follow up on whether the gym employee's unidentified car company stepped up and matched Hyundai's brilliant PR move -- if not, maybe Hyundai will strike again!

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corinthos
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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In 2001 I was watching tv and heard a smash. Some guy on a motorcycle drove through my apartment parking lot and ran into my Eclipse that i had less than 4 months. I rushed to put pants on to check on the car and by the time I went down three flights of steps he was gone.

Cops did catch him though and I wasn't the only one he ran into. Some 15 year old kid borrowed his dads motorcycle and ran into 8 cars that day.

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Covertghost
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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So... Why did she come back to the gym?


You'd think you'd find a new gym after such an incident...

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ColoradoShark
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Covertghost: She was probably trying to cancel her membership and drove over the car in frustration.

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whim17
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Blackneto: @ElPresidente408: This is one of the few upsides to Canadian income tax law. Because this was an unexpected 'windfall' gain, it does not fall within the definition of 'income' and is not taxable. Same with lottery winnings, raffle prizes, and the like. If the lucky Hyundai owner turns around and sells her new car, then he has to pay income tax.

Sorry that this does not come up as a reply. I'm on a strange, strange, European computer.

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hagirl
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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That's great and all but I know my experience from Hyundai was less than stellar. Their 100,000 mile warranty is covered when they feel like it and that includes when parts they replaced/work they performed fails.

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tresser
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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$15K to make a guy happy and prove to people, like me, that there are car companies that have a heart.

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ct_price
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Seems pretty viral to me. Hard to know what is real and fake these days. 20 commercials during Sunday NFL games won't garner Hyundai the attention equity this unfortunate incident will cause. Can't wait until the evening news starts playing it up at 11 next week!

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RedwoodFlyer
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@ct_price: I don't think they would have ran over a Dodge Neon the week before if it was viral.. and I doubt they would have used some mom with a recently-dead son as the driver.

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incognit000
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Dammit Ricky, you know this happens when you let Corey and Trevor drive! Let's get oot of here before the cops come!

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GreatWhiteNorth
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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How strange that that BMW SUV could climb onto those two cars... and yet is so piss poor a vehicle for winter driving... I have pulled more BMW SUV's out of ditches that anything else.

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RedwoodFlyer
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@GreatWhiteNorth: It's more to do with the caliber of driver/demographic/tendency to drive in worse situations/number of X5's on the road etc.

Say what you want about BMW's, but their handling, engines, and winter tackling capabilities are top notch.

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P_Smith
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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This is why SUVs should be banned, and also why people over 50 should be retested for their license annually.

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Sian
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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62 isn't old enough for a senior moment. This lady is a bad driver and knew exactly what she was doing when she drove off, then had the nerve to come back next week and think she wouldn't be caught.

I hate to propagate the stereotype of BMW drivers, but why do they have to make it so easy?

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The Cranky One
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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We have a Hyundai, we loves it! We like the company eve more now!

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Gracegottcha
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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What a lousy move on the part of the \"lady.\" I think she ought to be identified by name and picture. What a bitch! She just backed up and left? I'd love to slap the shit out of her!

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nocturnaljames
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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Sad to say typical BMW driver...

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RedwoodFlyer
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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@nocturnaljames: Right... except unlike others, we can actually afford auto insurance.

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Aquasol
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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Wait, it's actually not okay to drive your SUV over other cars? I thought since parking diagonally, horizontally, and generally inbetween two spaces are considered \"okay\"...

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flugennock
November 13, 2009 4:35 PM
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I agree with some other commenters here who suggest that it looks as if, at the last moment, she hit the gas instead of the brake. (One of the video responses on YouTube suggests it's an argument for hands-free mobile phones, but you can't really see into the driver's side well enough to tell if she's on the phone or not)

One other interesting thing, though, that's easily missed: watch at about the 00:14 mark, as she's making her wide turn to pull into the parking spot -- and look how close she comes to clipping the rear end of another car that's parked in the lot. As I said, I can't actually see inside the BMW well enough, but it's the near-collision prior to doing the monster-truck thing which, to me, suggests she was on the phone at the time.

My wife is about ten years older than I -- she's 61 -- and has some depth-perception issues as well, and she's constantly scaring the shit out of me by waiting until it's almost too late to brake when approaching a line of cars waiting at a stop light or a toll plaza. On more than one occasion, I've seen how fast she's closing and had panic attacks anticipating the imminent ass-plowing of the car in front of us.

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brianguyy
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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doesn't say how old the car was, but not much of a testament to Hyundais if they can be totalled just like that. that the X5 had nary any damage is pretty telling however.

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