After a full weekend of fun and games in Monterey, I headed south to L.A. on the 101 freeway in our Audi A4 Avant. Two hundred miles in and anxious to get home, I took the California SR 154 (Chumash Highway) shortcut to lop off the 101 from Los Olivos to Santa Barbara.
I must have passed six Deer Crossing warning signs, and had just three miles to go before reentering the freeway, when the little fawn stepped into my path.
Horrified by the noise and sight of the deer spinning off the road, I immediately pulled off onto the right shoulder. I knew by the size of the deer and the fact that the engine was still running that the damage to the car was minimal. But I feared for the deer.
I took several deep breaths and got out to survey the scene. Bent front license plate, cracked lower fascia, cracked grille, missing air vent, no deer in sight.
Few more deep breaths of relief, and I was back on my way.
The A4 was delivered to the bodyshop this morning. Initial estimate is $600. We'll let you know if there was any hidden damage, and the final cost of repair.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 17,665 miles
audisport says:
02:08 PM, 08/19/09
I would be shocked if the repair only cost $600.00 Glad no one was hurt. Where I live in Michigan we have a huge problem with deer/vehicle crashes. Very very hazardous, specially while driving at night. My adaptive bi-xenons really make a difference on hilly, curvy, dark roads.
wobbly_ears says:
02:13 PM, 08/19/09
You killed Bambi, Kelly.
I hope you're happy now.
felonious says:
02:18 PM, 08/19/09
$600!?! To repair a new Audi after a deer hit!?! Wow!!
felonious says:
02:19 PM, 08/19/09
^^^ Wow, as in "Wow, cheap!"
desmolicious says:
02:27 PM, 08/19/09
A couple o months ago I just missed a full grown deer on 154 on my Duc.
You're riding down the road, doing everything right, and yet STILL it could have been a horrible accident.
eville_stu says:
02:33 PM, 08/19/09
Not sure what all the excitement about "only $600" is... the damage is so minor I didn't even notice it until I read the description and looked again... If it had broken a headlight or damaged the hood/quarter panel like head on deer incidents the repair cost would be many thousands.
clarkma5 says:
02:41 PM, 08/19/09
That really sucks to have hit a deer, but it does happen. Soooo lucky to have gotten off for so cheap (and without injury!) Poor deer though :(
bankerdanny says:
02:45 PM, 08/19/09
Scary, My mon hit a full-size deer years ago in her 80-something escort. Basically totalled the car.
nealibob says:
02:45 PM, 08/19/09
In my experience, "body shop" and "only $600" don't go in the same sentence, especially when talking about an import. I am sure you could have it looking as good as new for that price, but to actually replace each broken part would probably be at least double that, I think.
adavis2493 says:
02:57 PM, 08/19/09
Luckily your okay, those dear can cause a lot of damage.
Maybe you guys can get rid of the front license plate bracket and make it look like the S5.
audipilot says:
03:02 PM, 08/19/09
Wow, $600 is a cheap fix for that car. My father nailed a deer with a Passat and it cost close to $2,000 to fix, although they had to replace the entire front bumper and lower left portion of the car. The A4 must have lucked out...too bad the same can't be said for the deer.
stovt001 says:
03:14 PM, 08/19/09
I like that route. Glad you're ok and the damage isn't too bad.
altimadude00 says:
03:29 PM, 08/19/09
That deer now has an Audi-shaped owwie.
I wonder hoe many people want Audi-logo tattoos and that deer got one for free! How generous you are Kelly!
benson2175 says:
03:54 PM, 08/19/09
Now the other deer will kill it for being injured.
adavis2493 says:
04:00 PM, 08/19/09
Have you checked the engine compartment for the deer:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GYrG3emM6S0/R5t7F3kBaLI/AAAAAAAAAyc/md0zaU93P0g/s400/bmw%2Bdeer%2Bhit%2B1.jpg
^^^Don't look at if you have a weak stomach.
cwmoo740 says:
04:06 PM, 08/19/09
^^ Definitely don't look if you have a weak stomach.
blau32 says:
04:15 PM, 08/19/09
whoa. how fast was that bmw going?
lowmilelude says:
05:40 PM, 08/19/09
Whew! That's the least amount of damage I've ever seen in a car vs. deer cage match. Glad you weren't hurt!
norsairius says:
07:20 PM, 08/19/09
glad to hear that you weren't hurt and that the car seems to be fine. I hope the deer is doing okay too!
mjp16 says:
01:18 AM, 08/20/09
How fast were you going when you hit it? After seeing 6 signs warning of deer crossings, I'd have hoped you'd slow down enough to have time to stop or avoid all but the quickest deer. Those signs aren't there fore beautification, you know.
Did you check if the deer was seriously injured? If it's fatally injured but still alive, the most humane thing is to have it put down.
tryan says:
03:26 AM, 08/20/09
Kelly - Thankfully it wasn't an adult deer, it could have been a lot worse for you!
I am surprised at the low estimate. For a body shop to fire up it's spray gun, it usually takes at least a few hundred $..and that doesn't cover any parts needed (like the fascia, vent, etc.)
adavis - what's the story behind the BMW? It looks like the Deer did a perfect entry into the right kidney grille...
dougtheeng says:
05:49 AM, 08/20/09
Glad to hear you're ok. I do a lot of night driving in deer country, and its definitely a scary proposition at time. I don't know why they choose to jump out into lights, but it makes things difficult.
throwback says:
08:50 AM, 08/20/09
Glad you are okay. For the folks who think Kelly should have "missed" the deer that is not so easy. Deer have a tendency to "hop" out on to the road, not even Michael Schumacher can avoid hitting them. I clipped one while driving 20 mph around a curve.
tcd223 says:
09:45 AM, 08/20/09
Google "bmw hits deer" and see what comes up. Practically defies physics.
keith69 says:
09:52 AM, 08/20/09
It will probably cost $598 just to straighten out the license plate in CA! LOL (Seeing how they, like most states, are hard up for money)
2002blksle says:
10:14 AM, 08/20/09
"Did you check if the deer was seriously injured? If it's fatally injured but still alive, the most humane thing is to have it put down."
Not sure if Kelly is packing a gun rack in the back of the Audi. Living in Minnesota, this happens and is difficult to avoid at any speed.
a61978 says:
10:59 AM, 08/20/09
a few months ago I smacked a deer square on the front of my a6 going about 30mph No damage! My Audi has a huge steel beam under the bumper cover. Very strong!
argosreality says:
02:13 PM, 08/21/09
Glad the damage wasnt that bad. A friend of mine has his coverage denied when he attempted to avoid the deer (still clipped it) but hit the embankment off the road. Totalled the car
adavis2493 says:
05:32 AM, 08/22/09
I no its a little late, but the BMW with the deer in it was going on the autobahn at like 120mph.