So if you have the choice between hitting a crater, or an oncoming car which would you have done? I hit the crater and really messed up my car. New cv axles, three wheels, upper and lower control arms, wheel bearings, belly pan, ball joints, and bumper repair. My insurance is covering it thankfully after paying my deductible. And I can't get the city to even pay me that even though it was their fault there was a crater in the road. Oh well by the time all of this is done, i'll have practically had the car rebuilt. All that is left is the turbos, engine, and transmission. All of which are in good shape. Just got a new tranny filter, and fluid, oil is changed every 7000 miles, and the timing belt and everything has been replaced. Hopefully now I can stop worrying about repairs, and maybe actually begin to be able to improve its performance.

 

Hitting a crater was not pleasant and I feel badly for you. But hitting another car dead on doubles the speed of impact and could be fatal, or at least cause a lot more damage. A worse choice is hitting a deer or going off the road -- they say just hit the deer and hope it goes over the roof and not through the windshield.