I think that you also might want to consider your audience when you select your word. I have great love for precision in word choice, but the perfect wprd isn't perfect if your audience doesn't get. Of course, perhaps this is coming to mind because I'd never heard "susserating" before. OTOH, I learned a new word!

I'd be inclined to drop muffled and let crash stand. (Also would note that the sentence isn't complete, which I'm sure you're aware of.)

It beats Progressive and Allstate by $100 and Esurance and 21st Century by $300. For the same coverage! It's so bizarre.

Check and see how their claims processing goes. Do people have issues with denied claims or are they difficult to contact and get to move? I know I pay a little bit more for Progressive for what is ostensibly the same coverage, but they have a very complete web interface where I can quickly change my coverage, add or remove vehicles, print out new insurance ID cards and everything else I need. For me, this is so totally worth a bit higher premium. Also their claims processing is supposed to be very quick and efficient. Luckily I haven't had to use it yet so I don't know first hand.

I've been with Geico for years and haven't had any trouble.

Check and see how their claims processing goes. Do people have issues with denied claims or are they difficult to contact and get to move?

From what I'm reading on various sites, people seem to have very good experiences with them. What I gather is that Progressive is better for people who don't have a clean driving record because they don't raise the rates as much. They seem to be pretty good with claims too.

I know I pay a little bit more for Progressive for what is ostensibly the same coverage, but they have a very complete web interface where I can quickly change my coverage, add or remove vehicles, print out new insurance ID cards and everything else I need.

The gecko says Geico has an easy-to-use website too!

I've been with Geico for years and haven't had any trouble.

Thanks for the firsthand experience, Ginger!

By the way, no one in the Bay Area wants to buy my 1991 Nissan Sentra, do they? It's got over 160K miles on it, but it still runs fine and would make a good commuter car. I'm going to put it up on Craigslist and see how much I can get, but I'd rather deal with Buffistas or Buffista-approved folk!

If you can't sell it and it makes sense for you tax wise, you may want to donate the car to something like an NPR station and take the write off.

I've had Geico for years as well with no quibbles, though the experiences of a 48-year-old married woman may be different than a 20-something single man.

If you can't sell it and it makes sense for you tax wise, you may want to donate the car to something like an NPR station and take the write off.

I've thought about that, although I don't know how much the write-off would be. I usually end up taking the standard deduction.

Right now, the car's sitting in Belmont for my cousin to use for driving lessons.

I've had Geico for years as well with no quibbles, though the experiences of a 48-year-old married woman may be different than a 20-something single man.

That's good to hear, though. I'll give them a call. They also have a Bank of America discount, so they should be even lower than the online quote.

I should add that I didn't have any trouble with Geico including the time I bumped a woman who spoke no English and the time I backed into a schoolbus and half the kids leaped out claiming they had whiplash, even though the driver had to be told by the students that I had hit the bus. (I was starting to roll out of my driveway and the bus slowed abruptly. My left rear bumper tapped the rear of the bus. The bus had no marks; I broke a tail light.) Also, I've had great response from their road service.

Man, car insurance is so weird. Now that I actually have to get more than just liability coverage, I've checked the rates of most of the top companies, and Geico is by far the cheapest. It beats Progressive and Allstate by $100 and Esurance and 21st Century by $300. For the same coverage! It's so bizarre.

It's not bizarre at all. It depends on the covered pool of insured. If the other companies had more claims from their customers, then they'd feel the need to raise their rates across the board, and not just for individuals. Perhaps the Gecko is just insuring safer drivers. Or else he's working for a lot less than that smooth-voiced All State dude.