Taco vs deer

+1 for the steel bumper. After hitting two deer in a month with my last Tacoma, I can strongly vouch for them. Sadly my taco wasn't repairable after the second one.

I think it's also worth pointing out that unless the Tacoma resale value bubble pops, you're not going to have to worry too much about that minor thing showing up on a car fax. If it was going to get a salvage title then that's a different story. Up here a 06 4x4 Taco with 200k on it is still selling for 12k.

 

If anyone at all knows about it, just claim it on insurance.

First and only deer I hit, called sherrif to dispatch the animal I heard in the woods. Didn't go through insurance, just left it dented and gave the car to my cousin who just got his license.

Anyway, before I gave it away I tried trading it in for my (turned out to be a lemon) Ford. (They only wanted to give me $500, so gave it to family instead).

Carfax showed it hit the deer, guess Sherrif reported it in. Funny, it didn't show that it had been in a prior accident (idiot hit me while I was parked in a parking lot, went through insurance and they paid me $500).

TLDR: who the fck knows what gets reported. If anyone besides you knows about it, assume it's reported and get a "free" bumper.

 

Aren't bumpers made this way with breakaway plastics so that if/when there's an impact with a person, the other person won't have serious crippling/fatal injuries?
I love steel bumpers and all, but I can't imagine how damaging or possibly fatal it could be for a person to get hit with a steel bumper. Then again, even plastics may feel like steel at 40mph or higher perhaps.

 

You are correct, also because cheaper manufacturing. But if you live in a rural area and travel frequently where deer are known to be... you're more worried about a deer running out in front of you.

 

Sorry to see that brother. Nice looking wheels though.

 

Exactly.
But I've hit more deer than people.
Also almost hit looooots more deer/elk/moose/bear/caribou/bison/horses than people.

 

I hit a deer, which was covered by comprehensive, and the body shop/dealer reported it to Carfax.
Before that I backed into the almost fully opened garage door. I paid for that myself. The body shop/dealer reported it to Carfax.

The dealers are selling your information to Carfax.
If you are going to pay for it yourself, get it in writing that the bodyshop won't sell/provide your info to Carfax.

Then be prepared to hire an attorney and sue after they go ahead give the info to Carfax anyway.

 

They'll probably just refuse. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

https://www.carfax.com/company/vhr-data-sources

I'm just guessing here based on my knowledge of enterprise level electronic management systems, but I would assume a lot of the systems they use for record keeping nowadays automatically fires a report to Carfax upon any service or repair being performed on a given VIN. Mom & Pops that aren't using the latest record management software are probably exempt from that, but your dealership service centers and more professional organizations are probably using something like this. Again, just a guess, but anyone able to confirm that I'm right and/or have no clue what I'm talking about?

 

Lotta u people worry bout silly shit. Use ur insurance, every other post post is bull.

 

So not sure what happened with the deer. I didnt kill it, saw it was running back into the wooded area...I am guessing it had to have had some broken bones and etc..
Also, quick update, plastic headlight clips holding headlights assembly to the body - broken too

 

Sorry this happened to you OP. If it were me I'd let Insurance handle it; there may be damage you can't see that will need to repair.

As far as aftermarket mods go, like others have said it can limit the pool of people who would be interested in it, especially on newer vehicles. There is a no-name car lot near me which regularly sells lightly modified vehicles, but they are all over five years old (sometimes more).

 

That is what I am leaning towards. I love this truck and bought it new - 75k trouble free miles later not a scratch on it..

 

Only if you're selling it to an enthusiast. Any aftermarket parts will lower the value.

 

I had close calls on the road in Susanville Ca. That sucks!

 

yeah right?, i have picked up fresh roadkill before and just tell my kids to shut up and eat the roadkill...lol

 

A hit like that, deer's probably got some bruises, depending on where you hit it.

 

Ouch! that sucks, but now is a great time for that aftermarket bumper!

 

Deer checked my truck last summer. Pretty much came to a dead stop for him, as soon as i started off the fucker started to sprint and jumped into my truck. Luckily just damaged the headlight and grill. They've been out for me ever since. Heres a reasonable solution. Stay safe out there.

 

Another vote for letting insurance handle it and have repaired to factory spec. Skip the after market bumper.

 

Find it, hunt it and make Deer Tacos from it. Oh the irony.