It’s Drowned Car of the Year Time…

[SS427 Camaro]

It’s that time of the year again where people think that their car / van etc can also double up as a boat…..
This ford floods every January and unable to get through to a family members house for a late lunch today, as both roads leading to their property are flooded, I had to park the 182 up and take to the footpath. Sadly my Land Rover is down ATM, but on numerous occasions I’ve turned back when in that, as the force of the water coming in can be scary. Walking back at 6 this eve we could see flashing lights in the distance and sure enough another muppet has drowned their car.
Back in Jan 20, a BMW was driven in here. The force of the water coming in from the right, pushed it through that steel barrier under the footpath, over the concrete edge and down into the narrow river. The BMW turned turtle and was swept about 200 yards downstream !

Edited by SS427 Camaro on Sunday 5th January 22:23

Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 6th January 14:33

[SS427 Camaro]

[SS427 Camaro]

[Soloman Dodd]

The Dolphin hotel in St Ives has a car park that floods regularly.

[Krikkit]

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

[eliot]

Krikkit said:

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

They do, but it easily overlooked:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtXHiDNMYBdTZaHKA

[Krikkit]

eliot said:

Krikkit said:

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

They do, but it easily overlooked:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtXHiDNMYBdTZaHKA

Madness

[Nomme de Plum]

eliot said:

Krikkit said:

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

They do, but it easily overlooked:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtXHiDNMYBdTZaHKA

Oh look a part of the hotel is on stilts. How quaint.

Do people not engage brain?

[Zetec-S]

Nomme de Plum said:

eliot said:

Krikkit said:

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

They do, but it easily overlooked:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtXHiDNMYBdTZaHKA

Oh look a part of the hotel is on stilts. How quaint.

Do people not engage brain?

You've been shown a photo of a car park underwater, with part of the hotel next to it raised on stilts. So of course it's obvious now. Perhaps less so if you're unfamiliar with the area, maybe turning up when it's dark and unaware of the proximity of the river. Of course I bet all the locals know all about it and happily cackle away when some out-of-towner gets caught out.

[J4CKO]

Do people get paid out when they drown their car intentionally ?

So many times you see videos of someone drive a normal car into a metre of water, sometimes the cars are new and quite expensive, so do you get paid out if you drown 60 grands worth of BMW ?

Now I know some get caught out like all those in Stockport where the car park got flooded but so many seem to think driving into deep water is a great idea ?

I mean, the mental process to think that its a viable course of action, its like they cant cope with changing their plan one iota, cant possibly take an alternative route that doesnt have standing water, or even just abandon the journey ?

The compulsion to not lose a few minutes plotting a course round the obstruction then ends up in masses of claims paperwork, courtesy cars, negotiation and ultimately shopping for a new car as the old one is waterlogged with a ruined engine ?

is it a similar mentality that means people chance driving three miles home when pissed as getting a taxi is a faff ?

If nothing else I dont want to be the next viral sensation with lots of comments saying what an utter derp I am for dunking my car and breaking it.

If there is a video circulating of your car bobbing up and down as you get out into waist high cold water, will they still pay out, I am half tempted to say in that case, no, you can pay for it as you are obviously too fking stupid. Are there not enough examples out there to suggest its not a great idea ?

[Nomme de Plum]

Zetec-S said:

Nomme de Plum said:

eliot said:

Krikkit said:

What a stupid design for a car park - put the hotel on stilts and don't tell the guests!

They do, but it easily overlooked:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtXHiDNMYBdTZaHKA

Oh look a part of the hotel is on stilts. How quaint.

Do people not engage brain?

You've been shown a photo of a car park underwater, with part of the hotel next to it raised on stilts. So of course it's obvious now. Perhaps less so if you're unfamiliar with the area, maybe turning up when it's dark and unaware of the proximity of the river. Of course I bet all the locals know all about it and happily cackle away when some out-of-towner gets caught out.

It is in the Fens right next to the River Great Ouse. The whole area is known for flooding. There is even a picture on the hotel's own website showing the hotel surrounded by water.

It is people as lack of curiosity or enquiring from the hotel.

[vikingaero]

J4CKO said:

Do people get paid out when they drown their car intentionally ?

So many times you see videos of someone drive a normal car into a metre of water, sometimes the cars are new and quite expensive, so do you get paid out if you drown 60 grands worth of BMW ?

Now I know some get caught out like all those in Stockport where the car park got flooded but so many seem to think driving into deep water is a great idea ?

I mean, the mental process to think that its a viable course of action, its like they cant cope with changing their plan one iota, cant possibly take an alternative route that doesnt have standing water, or even just abandon the journey ?

The compulsion to not lose a few minutes plotting a course round the obstruction then ends up in masses of claims paperwork, courtesy cars, negotiation and ultimately shopping for a new car as the old one is waterlogged with a ruined engine ?

is it a similar mentality that means people chance driving three miles home when pissed as getting a taxi is a faff ?

If nothing else I dont want to be the next viral sensation with lots of comments saying what an utter derp I am for dunking my car and breaking it.

If there is a video circulating of your car bobbing up and down as you get out into waist high cold water, will they still pay out, I am half tempted to say in that case, no, you can pay for it as you are obviously too fking stupid. Are there not enough examples out there to suggest its not a great idea ?

With most Insurers yes. There are a small handful that specifically exclude it. And we all pay in the end for this lot.

I love these videos of amoebas driving gormlessly into fords, looking all perplexed afterwards, and the inevitable wet walk of shame as they get out.

[Sheepshanks]

J4CKO said:

Do people get paid out when they drown their car intentionally ?

I guess it's like the difference between murder and manslaughter - they didn't intend to drown their car.

Whether it's reasonable to expect insurers to pay out for the car equivalent of manslaughter is another matter.

[BrettMRC]

I've nearly been punched for trying to get people to turn around as the lane was 6ft deep further down.

People inside their metal box know best...

[anonymous-user]

vikingaero said:

With most Insurers yes. There are a small handful that specifically exclude it. And we all pay in the end for this lot.

I love these videos of amoebas driving gormlessly into fords, looking all perplexed afterwards, and the inevitable wet walk of shame as they get out.

What really pisses me off is the ones that won't walk through the water afterwards and just expect someone to come and help them.

[ITP]

J4CKO said:

Do people get paid out when they drown their car intentionally ?

So many times you see videos of someone drive a normal car into a metre of water, sometimes the cars are new and quite expensive, so do you get paid out if you drown 60 grands worth of BMW ?

Now I know some get caught out like all those in Stockport where the car park got flooded but so many seem to think driving into deep water is a great idea ?

I mean, the mental process to think that its a viable course of action, its like they cant cope with changing their plan one iota, cant possibly take an alternative route that doesnt have standing water, or even just abandon the journey ?

The compulsion to not lose a few minutes plotting a course round the obstruction then ends up in masses of claims paperwork, courtesy cars, negotiation and ultimately shopping for a new car as the old one is waterlogged with a ruined engine ?

is it a similar mentality that means people chance driving three miles home when pissed as getting a taxi is a faff ?

If nothing else I dont want to be the next viral sensation with lots of comments saying what an utter derp I am for dunking my car and breaking it.

If there is a video circulating of your car bobbing up and down as you get out into waist high cold water, will they still pay out, I am half tempted to say in that case, no, you can pay for it as you are obviously too fking stupid. Are there not enough examples out there to suggest its not a great idea ?

Anyone who intentionally drives into deep water shouldn’t be paid out really. It’s moronic, no different from driving it into a tree or a ditch intentionally. I suppose if you want to get rid of your car for a full insurance payout it’s less risky than driving it into a tree or a ditch, setting it on fire, or just smashing it up with a hammer on your own driveway.

[WhiskyDisco]

SS427 Camaro said:

It doesn't seem very deep. Is there a characteristic among BMWs that they don't handle deep water? Or was it perhaps a "bad approach"?

[phil4]

I think they'd pay if you drove into a tree or ditch as well. The problem is they can't prove intention vs accident... unless of course you purposely posted on FB or somewhere and they then found it.

Stupid people do stupid things, and the rest of us suffer for it.

[SS427 Camaro]

WhiskyDisco said:

It doesn't seem very deep. Is there a characteristic among BMWs that they don't handle deep water? Or was it perhaps a "bad approach"?

Go into water at speed and it’s forced into the air intake. What makes me laugh is that there is a clear and accurate depth gauge there.

[vikingaero]

WhiskyDisco said:

It doesn't seem very deep. Is there a characteristic among BMWs that they don't handle deep water? Or was it perhaps a "bad approach"?

I think that's a Volvo XC40 in the picture - a soft roader. But it's true with BMWs, many of the air intakes on them are low down for cool air and "pow-ah!" If I had a BMW I wouldn't drive it in water that touched the lower spoiler/bumper. In general on most cars you can drive it in water about 30-45cm deep. Most of the drivers in the videos make a complete hash of it and go in too fast, causing water to go over the bonnet. You need a slow to moderate speed to make a bow wave which pushes the water away from any intake.