While driving across a asphalt junction elevated a inch or so in a parking lot clipped the lowest edge of bumper and underside. Repair cost $2200. Includes bumper replacement fixing radiator bracket and torsion type bar and headlight clip. Take home message, do not drive your plugin on any surface that isn't smooth.
What's the ground clearance of the Plug-in? I'd think you would need something much higher than an inch to cause any damage, otherwise you'd never be able to drive over speed bumps or up driveways.
The car was driven by my architect (responsible) student son, and there was a dip prior to the concrete slab 1 inch, just the perfect storm to mangle now known delicate front end structures. The car gets great milage through extensive weight savings including less protected radiator and wheel axle components. I've learned my lesson, smooth roads, avoid bumps.the dealership is fixing things not replacing things and Toyota makes kits to repair not replace reducing cost by $1300. If all damaged parts replaced, $3500!
I wasn't able to photograph the damage because the dealership had to take the front end apart to assess the damage prior to estimate. It was dropped off and I was told two days later of the tear down.
As an occasional visitor to the Los Angeles road system including the infamous "storm drain" woop-d-do's traversing many of the roads in the area I have on more than one occasion launched myself, vehicle and passengers into zero gravity flight when I would get caught not paying attention to the locals slowing down before entering an unfamiliar intersection or not seeing the gouge marks in the pavement at the "launch ramp" or landing zone beyond. Having done this many times more than I am willing to publicly admit to, I need to ask the obvious question: How fast was he going? Having done this in both my PIP and my E93 BMW with the factory sport package and its very low profile rims and tires, I can say the PIP came through those excursions with some scratched plastic pieces on the dirty side while the BMW at roughly the same speeds rewarded my brain fart with two badly bent rims and enough sidewall damage on the tires to require the replacement of both the tires and rims after its journey into uncontrolled flight.
Wow. I went way off the road earlier this year. A late April snowfall of 12 inches on Lake Superior and the ruts of a 4 wheeler who made it out led me down this path: The tow truck pulled us out over the rock and dirt pile in front of us to. Damage to vehicle? A small scratch on the bottom of the bumper. Take home message? Snow is softer than asphalt. And even the rocks in Minnesota are soft!
