I've had my Silver 03 Coupe for about six weeks now. On Friday while headed to Vegas from LA, I was driving on the 10 Freeway through Pomona when a tiny rock hit my windshield. I've had this happen before, and usually there's either no mark or just a small barely noticable chip in the windshield. I didn't think much of it until about five minutes later a crack began to slowly work its way across my windshield! I stopped to look at it, and I don't understand how this crack formed. The impact mark from the rock is so small it looks like a scratch. It hit exactly where the glass meets the body on the driver side pillar - the impact point is over the seal which holds the glass to the car. I've been hit by rocks before and have never seen a crack this large form when there's such a small impact point. I'm thinking poorly manufactured glass for cracking from such a small impact, but I have a feeling that the dealer will disagree.

Then last night, I went to see a movie. The parking spaces were tight, so I parked on an empty level in a parking garage far in the back. After the movie, I was walking to my car and noticed a ding the size of a quarter in my right rear quarter, just above and in front of the wheel well. It even had some white paint left there! Unfortunately, the car was gone.

So my nice six week old car that I take such good care of now looks like garbage, and I'm really upset. I've mostly driven beater cars all my life and this is my first brand new car, and all this crap happens within mere weeks of buying it. I never had to worry about dings or dents in my 89 Civic Wagon or 90 DX Hatchback.


I sometimes wonder if I should carry a hammer with me and start returning the favors.


So what should I expect to pay for a new windshield? My friend's 03 Pilot also had it's windshield cracked by a freeway rock (within weeks of buying it), and was quoted $250 for a new windshield. That same dealer quoted me $480.

My insurance company (Mercury Insurance) told me there is no separate "Glass Deductible" and replacement is covered by comprehensive insurance. I have a $500 deductible, which is more than the cost of a new windshield.