mate just stuffed his S2 Exige
Discussion
A classic case of typical young driver (26) graduating from a FWD hatch (Cooper S) into a light weight RWD car and ar*eing it big style.
Since taking delivery of his new (now crashed) pride and joy in August I've only been in his car once but the experience probably put me off and I hate to say it - he had it coming as he was taking liberties to the extreme, I've never knew such cockiness from someone who thinks he can drive like Schumacher and thinks just because the Lotus is such a capable machine, he asumed he was invincible. Most of my other friends who had been in his car thought exactly the same.
It happened when he overtook a car approaching a roundabout and even though the car had ABS, with the greasy December roads, he had to exercise a bit of caution...only to stupidly drop from 4th to 2nd and as he entered the roundabout decided to let rip with the throttle to 'try' and slide the car on half-cut slicks only to have the back end flip out catching him out hitting the kerb square with both wheels and then off the road missing the lampost by inches.
When he phoned me to let me know what he had done, despite telling him from my past experience of owning an Elise, even on road tyres it is a car that will catch you out in the wet and suggested to him if he was to drive the car through the winter to change into a set of road tyres as those Yokos are a liability. Also told him to take it easy being a RWD mid-engined car he wouldn't listen and to make matters worse the damage could escalate from £5k initial quote as it needs a new front clam and needs new wheels and other bits, knowing Lotus, I wouldn't be surprised if it rose to £10k...
...to make matters worse I asked once it has been repaired if he would sell the car, he told me the car was on finance. I asked how much he owed on the car and how much it cost him each month, he told me he financed the £6k deposit on a credit card, £470 a month for 4 years with a final baloon of £13k. I nearly dropped the phone when I heard that.
He also lives at home wishing to move out.
I've never heard of such stipidity because he's going get his a$$ raped when the car is repaired as I expect Lotus will offer him an obscenely low price for the car as they know it's been in a major accident.
Stupid, stupid lad...
If you see a chrome orange Exige for sale at a silly price in Edinburgh, stay away...I remember he was revving the nuts off it when it only had 300 miles on the clock with running in oil.
I reckon it's going to take a huuge drop when he comes to sell it back to Murray Motor Lotus...
Since taking delivery of his new (now crashed) pride and joy in August I've only been in his car once but the experience probably put me off and I hate to say it - he had it coming as he was taking liberties to the extreme, I've never knew such cockiness from someone who thinks he can drive like Schumacher and thinks just because the Lotus is such a capable machine, he asumed he was invincible. Most of my other friends who had been in his car thought exactly the same.
It happened when he overtook a car approaching a roundabout and even though the car had ABS, with the greasy December roads, he had to exercise a bit of caution...only to stupidly drop from 4th to 2nd and as he entered the roundabout decided to let rip with the throttle to 'try' and slide the car on half-cut slicks only to have the back end flip out catching him out hitting the kerb square with both wheels and then off the road missing the lampost by inches.
When he phoned me to let me know what he had done, despite telling him from my past experience of owning an Elise, even on road tyres it is a car that will catch you out in the wet and suggested to him if he was to drive the car through the winter to change into a set of road tyres as those Yokos are a liability. Also told him to take it easy being a RWD mid-engined car he wouldn't listen and to make matters worse the damage could escalate from £5k initial quote as it needs a new front clam and needs new wheels and other bits, knowing Lotus, I wouldn't be surprised if it rose to £10k...
...to make matters worse I asked once it has been repaired if he would sell the car, he told me the car was on finance. I asked how much he owed on the car and how much it cost him each month, he told me he financed the £6k deposit on a credit card, £470 a month for 4 years with a final baloon of £13k. I nearly dropped the phone when I heard that.
He also lives at home wishing to move out.
I've never heard of such stipidity because he's going get his a$$ raped when the car is repaired as I expect Lotus will offer him an obscenely low price for the car as they know it's been in a major accident.
Stupid, stupid lad...
If you see a chrome orange Exige for sale at a silly price in Edinburgh, stay away...I remember he was revving the nuts off it when it only had 300 miles on the clock with running in oil.
I reckon it's going to take a huuge drop when he comes to sell it back to Murray Motor Lotus...
The second cam can catch you out if your on very wet/greasy roads. He'll hopefully learn from the mistake though.
I think many new Elise/Exige owners read too much into what is said about the handling of the car and expect it to be able to cope with anything you chuck at it........the car will reward good drivers.......bad drivers however will be sucked in and simply spat out. The car isn't idiot proof. The roads at the moment are super slippy....despite looking OK.
At least your mate is in one piece with little more than dented pride.........plus no one else was injured etc.....could have been much, much worse.
I suggest all new Owners seriously think about doing a trackday or similar when buying a new motor like this....it's the perfect way to explore the limits of the car and yourself in a relatively safe environment. Paying the £20 or so for a few instructor laps will also be the best £20 you've spent.
I think many new Elise/Exige owners read too much into what is said about the handling of the car and expect it to be able to cope with anything you chuck at it........the car will reward good drivers.......bad drivers however will be sucked in and simply spat out. The car isn't idiot proof. The roads at the moment are super slippy....despite looking OK.
At least your mate is in one piece with little more than dented pride.........plus no one else was injured etc.....could have been much, much worse.
I suggest all new Owners seriously think about doing a trackday or similar when buying a new motor like this....it's the perfect way to explore the limits of the car and yourself in a relatively safe environment. Paying the £20 or so for a few instructor laps will also be the best £20 you've spent.
Go fast = trackdays.
I can't understand people that want to go fast on the roads, especially when they don't know the machine.
And many of these people believe tracks are dangerous.
Where else can you learn the dynamics of your car in complete safety? no cars coming the other way, no curbs, no lampposts, no pedestrians, no speedlimits, no police, if you find a car it's bound to be going in the same direction and about the same speed, etc.
Especially passing from a FWD car to a mid engine, RWD.
Yokohamas A048's are not that bad in the wet, unless it's standing water (they have no water clearing-capabilities) but the rubber is grippy in the damp.
OTOH, I don't understan how he accepted that credit deal, he's paying more than £41K for a £30K car
I think here the issue is driver education (again).
And this time I would point to his parents. If my daughter or son was going to drive a sportscar I would make sure they know the dynamics involved.
If I didn't know, I would learn with him, at the track.
Because I would want him to be with us for some time, and not put anybody else in danger.
BTW, my daughter is 11, she's going to start racing karts in 2005. And when I'm driving with her on the road I keep on describing the differences, and all the extra dangers that a road presents.
And I have put my wife through 3 advanced driving courses, just to keep her on her toes.
I'm doing all I can on this side not to be a contributor to the increasing number of numpties on the road.
I wish others felt some sort of obligation as well.
>> Edited by uldis on Thursday 16th December 09:35
>> Edited by uldis on Thursday 16th December 09:35
I can't understand people that want to go fast on the roads, especially when they don't know the machine.
And many of these people believe tracks are dangerous.
Where else can you learn the dynamics of your car in complete safety? no cars coming the other way, no curbs, no lampposts, no pedestrians, no speedlimits, no police, if you find a car it's bound to be going in the same direction and about the same speed, etc.
Especially passing from a FWD car to a mid engine, RWD.
Yokohamas A048's are not that bad in the wet, unless it's standing water (they have no water clearing-capabilities) but the rubber is grippy in the damp.
OTOH, I don't understan how he accepted that credit deal, he's paying more than £41K for a £30K car
I think here the issue is driver education (again).
And this time I would point to his parents. If my daughter or son was going to drive a sportscar I would make sure they know the dynamics involved.
If I didn't know, I would learn with him, at the track.
Because I would want him to be with us for some time, and not put anybody else in danger.
BTW, my daughter is 11, she's going to start racing karts in 2005. And when I'm driving with her on the road I keep on describing the differences, and all the extra dangers that a road presents.
And I have put my wife through 3 advanced driving courses, just to keep her on her toes.
I'm doing all I can on this side not to be a contributor to the increasing number of numpties on the road.
I wish others felt some sort of obligation as well.
>> Edited by uldis on Thursday 16th December 09:35
>> Edited by uldis on Thursday 16th December 09:35
Some mate!!
The guy smashes up his Exige (admittedly it sounds like it was coming) and you splash it all over the internet saying what an arse he is and how you 'told him so'.
Just to compound things you reveal the finance deal he got to all and sundry too.
Scratch one 'mate' in Edinburgh I think if he sees this.
It's a shame but it seems like he's OK which is after all the main thing his friend should be worried about.
Uldis - what ever happened to I Spy?
The guy smashes up his Exige (admittedly it sounds like it was coming) and you splash it all over the internet saying what an arse he is and how you 'told him so'.
Just to compound things you reveal the finance deal he got to all and sundry too.
Scratch one 'mate' in Edinburgh I think if he sees this.
It's a shame but it seems like he's OK which is after all the main thing his friend should be worried about.
Uldis - what ever happened to I Spy?
uldis said:
Sorry, thick moment here, I Spy?
you said:
BTW, my daughter is 11, and when I'm driving with her on the road I keep on describing the differences, and all the extra dangers that a road presents.
When I was eleven we played I Spy in the car! You know,
"I spy with my little eye, something beginning with E"
Egg? No
Exocet missile? No
Exige? Yes!
It's nice in my little world
Thats a shame, however if your mate was to read PH perhaps he'd been more aware. i started to read some notes from you guys before i bought my S2 and therefore, have always taken great care in the wet DLMD (drive like my dad) because of the risk of loosing the back end.
Yeh great cars, but respect has to be there and know your limits as a driver.
Tanman
Yeh great cars, but respect has to be there and know your limits as a driver.
Tanman
It can happen to anyone. Just look at Jethro Bovingdon in EVO this month, stacking his Mitsubishi EVO into a lamp post after loosing it on a roundabout.
Cars like these with reputations for 'sticking to the road like glue' can and will catch you out if you dont respect them. It doesnt matter how controlable the chassis is or how strong the brakes are at the end of the day all you have between you and the road is 4 contact patches of rubber which will fit onto a sheet of A4 paper, which isnt much.
My Elise has only got about 125 bhp but I still drive it like a granny in these weather conditions and am very careful with the throttle if the wheels arent all in a straight line.
Sounds like your mate has learnt a valuable albeit an expensive lesson.
Glad no one was hurt.
Cars like these with reputations for 'sticking to the road like glue' can and will catch you out if you dont respect them. It doesnt matter how controlable the chassis is or how strong the brakes are at the end of the day all you have between you and the road is 4 contact patches of rubber which will fit onto a sheet of A4 paper, which isnt much.
My Elise has only got about 125 bhp but I still drive it like a granny in these weather conditions and am very careful with the throttle if the wheels arent all in a straight line.
Sounds like your mate has learnt a valuable albeit an expensive lesson.
Glad no one was hurt.
cuzza said:
When I was eleven we played I Spy in the car! You know,
"I spy with my little eye, something beginning with E"
Egg? No
Exocet missile? No
Exige? Yes!
It's nice in my little world
Ah, I see, in fact, we do something similar, but alonge the lines of:
I spy with my little eye a nutter on the road!...
cuzza said:
Some mate!!
The guy smashes up his Exige (admittedly it sounds like it was coming) and you splash it all over the internet saying what an arse he is and how you 'told him so'.
Just to compound things you reveal the finance deal he got to all and sundry too.
Scratch one 'mate' in Edinburgh I think if he sees this.
It's a shame but it seems like he's OK which is after all the main thing his friend should be worried about.
Uldis - what ever happened to I Spy?
I see your point, but I think the main thing is that he didn't collect anyone else on his way to the scene of the accident.
I hope he's alright I'd be heartbroken Kitcarnewbie said:
Whats the insurance going to be like for a 26 year old on an Exige? Never mind the £40+ grand Wacky Racer worked out he would end up paying for the thing. indeed!
I'm paying £1500 (25, 0 NCB, no points etc with 12K per year mileage).
Really wish more insurance companies would "mirror" the NCB (5 years on my other car!
He's had a costly lesson that's for sure.....luckily the cost is only £££'s and not injuries/lifes!
This kind of thing needs to be posted, frankly I agree with lavaman, the guys a twat - I don't feel sorry for him at all.
- He bought a car which was well beyond his driving ability and didn't take time to learn its characteristics.
- He bought it on a sh!tload of credit, so really he can't really afford it and he deffo can't afford to drive it like a twunt!
- He stacked it because, despite the good advice of a mate who knew, he was driving like a tosser in dodgy road conditions.
What's there to feel sorry for? Plenty more people have been bitten when at low speeds trying to drive sensibly in these conditions.
Frankly he's bl--dy lucky that's all he did and that he didn't take out some poor unsuspecting sod in the process.
Edited to add:
... and please don't take this out of context, Schadenfreud it's not meant to be. I just feel that given the circumstances, there are worthier causes to feel sorry for at this time of year. Like my friend from work who lost a baby this weekend.
>> Edited by S Works on Thursday 16th December 15:33
- He bought a car which was well beyond his driving ability and didn't take time to learn its characteristics.
- He bought it on a sh!tload of credit, so really he can't really afford it and he deffo can't afford to drive it like a twunt!
- He stacked it because, despite the good advice of a mate who knew, he was driving like a tosser in dodgy road conditions.
What's there to feel sorry for? Plenty more people have been bitten when at low speeds trying to drive sensibly in these conditions.
Frankly he's bl--dy lucky that's all he did and that he didn't take out some poor unsuspecting sod in the process.
Edited to add:
... and please don't take this out of context, Schadenfreud it's not meant to be. I just feel that given the circumstances, there are worthier causes to feel sorry for at this time of year. Like my friend from work who lost a baby this weekend.
>> Edited by S Works on Thursday 16th December 15:33
I have to agree with S Works. I have a mere 150-160 bhp and I'm not really taking my car out at all at the minute. When I do I'm very very careful considering the current conditions. This is the first mid-engined, rwd car I've owned and although I'm only 25 I'm not stupid enough to think that I can drive like Ayrton Senna straight out the box.
I do think that Lotus should offer some sort of subsidised driver training package when buying these cars. Especially the Exige considering its running cut slicks for everyday use.
Just my 2p!
Dan
I do think that Lotus should offer some sort of subsidised driver training package when buying these cars. Especially the Exige considering its running cut slicks for everyday use.
Just my 2p!
Dan
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