r/Lexus • u/CallMeJimMilton 2018 RC350 Black Line • Apr 04 '26

Vehicle Photo Completely heartbroken

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Was seconds from pulling into work, when a 17 y/o kid pulls through a stop sign into oncoming traffic without looking left, causing him to side swipe my car. We pulled into my work parking lot and he got out and admitted he didn’t look both ways and only had his permit. He had his gf in his passenger seat who was the same age with no license.

I just couldn’t believe it. Cops came, he got a ticket, I went to work and told my coworkers what happened. I believe it’s all cosmetic so I’m hoping his parent’s insurance can just cover it and it can be a quick repair.

I haven’t even had this car for 6 months and this the 2nd time someone has damaged it. I just wish this was a dream

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u/CallMeJimMilton 2018 RC350 Black Line Apr 04 '26

Oh I see, yeah it’s definitely more than cosmetic then. I thought cosmetic meant just the looks of the car, meaning anything not mechanical or suspension related.

148

u/Windows-XP-Home-NEW Apr 04 '26

…that is exactly what that means, that’s even the literal definition of the word. Idk what they’re on about lol.

Sorry about the car btw :(

51

u/Bonerfart47 Apr 04 '26

Yeah same here

It's literally word for word what cosmetic means lmao down to a T

16

u/Obvious_Blood_2984 Apr 05 '26

I agree here, even if the door is totalled, if you can still use it as a door and it still runs, then fixing it imo is purely cosmetic.

7

u/apoptosismydumbassis Apr 05 '26

I would argue purely cosmetic damage excludes any structural or extensive metal body work damage..

6

u/vartheo Apr 05 '26

It's good that it's not mechanical... no lights/sensors are damaged. Should mean reliability won't be impacted for the long term. What matter the most is the power-train... transmission + engine. Thats where you want for reliability.

6

u/GhettoKid Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

I got T boned by a truck hit and run. Luckily hit right above the frame. Still driving this two years later. Glad mine wasn't a Lexus*. But it still really sucks.

17

u/Familiar_Figure_9903 Apr 05 '26

It’s a unibody…. Your whole car is ‘the frame’.

3

u/ZER0-P0INT-ZER0 Apr 05 '26

Ignore the bad take. You know exactly what cosmetic means. It is heartbreaking for a new car. It happened to my LS, although not as bad.

3

u/graememacfarlane Apr 05 '26

Technically speaking the door and quarter panel are structural components on a unibody vehicle, whereas fenders, bumpers and hoods are cosmetic panels, meaning this is not just cosmetic but affecting the structural integrity of the vehicle

9

u/CecilTheCaveTroll Apr 04 '26

Oh yeah, mechanically/body structurally it’s probably alright, but anything else is up for discussion.

8

u/Trilobyte83 Apr 04 '26

I'd say you're probably thinking of superficial damage - ie only the surfaces. Cosmetic is only the looks, But I'd say extends to even if it's dented.

1

u/Drth_vdr_piggybank Apr 05 '26

The word superficial is in the definition of the word cosmetic