From the owner of the Delridge Deluge icon

| December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(photo by Lea Kuchan) In case you don’t go back to comments on day-old posts – we wanted to highlight this comment just left on our followup about the now-famous car swamped in the Allstar Fitness parking lot during Monday’s megadownpour:

I am the somewhat sad and soon to be past owner of this car. It is indeed being totaled by my insurance – they say that they are liable if they fix it and something happens. Happily, I am aware of the folks who get ripped off by having totaled cars get reconditioned and sold. I have arranged for it to be towed to a salvage yard, and scrapped out for body parts. The bad karma will end with me.

Thanks for your support, though. I feel privileged to have such supportive neighbors.

Best,
E

A.A. December 5, 2007 (3:04 pm)

That’s really too bad. I’m sorry it happened to you and your car. Looked like it was in nice shape too. I hope you are fortunate enough to be able to replace it with something you positively LOVE.

val vashon December 5, 2007 (3:16 pm)

I wonder why the owner didn’t move their car? The flooding happened during the day- did they leave it there and go out of town or something? I thought you needed a permit from the health club to park in that lot.

m December 5, 2007 (4:24 pm)

i’m glad your insurance company is totalling the car instead of trying to ‘fix’ it. At least there are good deals right now for cars- especially Subaru’s! I hope you find a car that you love.

LyndaB December 5, 2007 (10:12 pm)

i’m curious. is there any footage from higher up looking down? i supposed i can just go over there and see how muddy it is.

EMF December 6, 2007 (5:07 am)

I tried to move the car. I was only at the gym an hour lifting weights, and had parked on dry ground, but the water was already above the bottom of the doors and the tail pipe. So you couldn’t start the engine without sucking water into it and ruining it, and we tried pushing it out – too heavy with so much water. I called a tow truck, and it took 45 minutes to get there. By that time, the water was to the windows, and the tow truck couldn’t safely get to it. It happened really fast. There was a small truck parked next to me that also flooded, bu her bumper was higher and her husband could get ot and tow it out, but it was also full of water, so I am not the only one. I did LOVE this car – if you ever get a chance, go drive a Subaru WRX – they are FUN to drive. I will be getting one just like it. Thanks again!

m December 6, 2007 (7:47 am)

I have a beef with All-Star, so sadly I’m not surprised they couldn’t make a simple announcement over the PA to alert their members that the parking lot was starting to flood and that the cars should be moved. I would assume someone that worked there was noticing the problem as it was occurring. A simple announcment could have saved a couple of cars it sounds like. Geez.

J December 6, 2007 (1:42 pm)

Typical All-Star service. Great fitness club, but having been a member there for years, their front desk staff could use some customer service training. Most of them don’t even say hello when you check-in, that is if they even check you in.

The Velvet Bulldog December 6, 2007 (7:39 pm)

“What we have here, is a failure to communicate.” These folks bring up an excellent point – if the Allstar Staff could see the flooding parking lot, why wouldn’t they announce it? And if a member saw the flooding parking lot, why didn’t they go in and TELL the Allstar Staff to announce it? This simple act could really have saved EMF’s car.

m December 7, 2007 (9:34 am)

The customer service and maintenance at that club leaves much to be desired. I think the staff is there just to use the gym and are simply bothered by the members that go there. As convenient as the location was, I’m SO GLAD I’m not a member there anymore!

CMP December 7, 2007 (2:52 pm)

I strongly dislike the staff at All Star as well…don’t even get me started on their lazy lifeguards. However, in their defense, maybe an announcement was made and EMF was wearing headphones and just didn’t hear it. Even if that were the case, staff should have gone around the club making sure everyone was aware of the flooding parking lot. I’m sure the creek flood happened quickly, but a complete loss of that Subaru was preventable.

J December 7, 2007 (8:22 pm)

Well, first the staff would have to care. Usually the front desk person is either too busy on their cell or talking with other staffers. They make you feel as if you’re ruining their day when they have to stop and actually talk to you. Just another example of the fine customer service that I see daily in Seattle (sarcasm intended).

Stephanie December 11, 2007 (2:29 pm)

Infact an announcment was made and obviously was not heard… Unfortunately that happens a lot at All Star. Although honestly, once the water was at tailpipe level, the car was pretty much screwed. If you start the car, the engine, etc. get pretty much ruined. If someone forces it by towing it out, alot of other things get ruined. So honestly, having the car totaled, as long as the insurance company ends up paying what is actually owed, it was probably the best thing that could have happened.

On a sidenote: to the owner of the car, if you have not already had it taken into a salvage lot, I’d considering purchasing it from you…

Sorry, comment time is over.