My mate 180'd my Tuscan into a curb..
Discussion
So i hand my keys over to a mate who is 20..
The roads are also wet..
Christ Big Mistake...
Came out of my drive turned left drove straight for 5 minutes came to a set of traffic lights at an intersection, traffic lights turn green.. off we go.. but he underestimated the power behind those wheels in a tuscan and put his foot down too hard.. before i could say look slow down your going to lose control.. the back begins to slide and swings right round, it gets to where the front is supposed to be then the whole car starts to slide across the road, front end of the tuscan hits a curb really badly or so it felt that way in the car and the back end of the car stops just before it was about to swing into the traffic light post and smash the whole rear wing..
I got out of the car and looked at the damage expecting the whole front left part of the car to be smashed up and to be honest it didn't seem as bad as i had thought it would be! the wheel had seemed to take all the impact / damage and none was done to the actually bodywork / body of the car which was a relief..
So the car was sitting sideways along the right side of the intersection with incoming traffic so it had to be moved asap regardless of the damage, so very slowly i reversed the car back, and into the lane on the left and drove straight across and right into a car park of a little covenant store.. to cut the story short in the end i did not call the RAC (i didn't really want all the fuss it was 2am+ they come in that truck with flashing lights and everyone down my street starts opening there curtains and peeking) so phoned a friend who owns a garage nearby he came along and escorted me in the tuscan (his car following behind) at an extremely slow speed back to my place as it was only 3 - 5 minutes away, i reversed it into my drive and its locked up and sleeping now...
After actually looking a bit closer it looks like i might need a respray on one of the doors, the front left wheel is badly done in from the impact of hitting the curb i am thinking that it has also damaged something under the bonnet / engine too
As when i now start the car i hear what sounds like a whistle starting off loud and going silent coming from the engine (the ones that have a tiny fan in them and you put your mouth over one end and blow and it makes a whistle'ey noise) now i am thinking what could this be? as i have never heard that in the 11 months of owning the car..
anyone?
I really hope the impact from the wheel hitting the curb has not damaged or bent any metal parts that come off the wheel and across the engine if it has, this is going to cost me loads of £££
So i now have to sort out the money to pay for this
And off to GatwickTVR it will go with me dreading the thought of something major and a huge bill...
No one will ever drive my TVR again except from me & this is the last time its wheels touch a wet road!
>> Edited by Hussy on Wednesday 10th August 07:05
The roads are also wet..
Christ Big Mistake...
Came out of my drive turned left drove straight for 5 minutes came to a set of traffic lights at an intersection, traffic lights turn green.. off we go.. but he underestimated the power behind those wheels in a tuscan and put his foot down too hard.. before i could say look slow down your going to lose control.. the back begins to slide and swings right round, it gets to where the front is supposed to be then the whole car starts to slide across the road, front end of the tuscan hits a curb really badly or so it felt that way in the car and the back end of the car stops just before it was about to swing into the traffic light post and smash the whole rear wing..
I got out of the car and looked at the damage expecting the whole front left part of the car to be smashed up and to be honest it didn't seem as bad as i had thought it would be! the wheel had seemed to take all the impact / damage and none was done to the actually bodywork / body of the car which was a relief..
So the car was sitting sideways along the right side of the intersection with incoming traffic so it had to be moved asap regardless of the damage, so very slowly i reversed the car back, and into the lane on the left and drove straight across and right into a car park of a little covenant store.. to cut the story short in the end i did not call the RAC (i didn't really want all the fuss it was 2am+ they come in that truck with flashing lights and everyone down my street starts opening there curtains and peeking) so phoned a friend who owns a garage nearby he came along and escorted me in the tuscan (his car following behind) at an extremely slow speed back to my place as it was only 3 - 5 minutes away, i reversed it into my drive and its locked up and sleeping now...
After actually looking a bit closer it looks like i might need a respray on one of the doors, the front left wheel is badly done in from the impact of hitting the curb i am thinking that it has also damaged something under the bonnet / engine too
As when i now start the car i hear what sounds like a whistle starting off loud and going silent coming from the engine (the ones that have a tiny fan in them and you put your mouth over one end and blow and it makes a whistle'ey noise) now i am thinking what could this be? as i have never heard that in the 11 months of owning the car..
anyone?
I really hope the impact from the wheel hitting the curb has not damaged or bent any metal parts that come off the wheel and across the engine
if it has, this is going to cost me loads of £££ So i now have to sort out the money to pay for this
And off to GatwickTVR it will go with me dreading the thought of something major and a huge bill...
No one will ever drive my TVR again except from me & this is the last time its wheels touch a wet road!
>> Edited by Hussy on Wednesday 10th August 07:05
BTW this is Cyberhuss and i posted under a diff username as, after time i want this to fade away and no be kind of be tattoo'd into my other profile..
I did think to myself how funny that after replying to the "Young Tuscan Driver... 18?" thread, 8 hours later this happens.. (after 11 months of owning the car and nothing like this happening) i mean the car could have been written off & im really lucky it wasn't.
I did think to myself how funny that after replying to the "Young Tuscan Driver... 18?" thread, 8 hours later this happens.. (after 11 months of owning the car and nothing like this happening) i mean the car could have been written off & im really lucky it wasn't.
Don't beat yourself up too much about this. At the end of the day you didn't do it. The only mistake you made was being over generous to one of your friends. Metal and plastic can always be put back together, be thankful you or your friend we not hurt.
Gatwick will put it all together and you can move on. I hope your friend offers a little financial help though, that would be decent thing.
Gatwick will put it all together and you can move on. I hope your friend offers a little financial help though, that would be decent thing.
So you let your young friend drive at 2am+ in the morning, errm what were you doing out at that time?
Seems a bit silly to let someone do this, had you been drinking, hence why you let him drive? were you giving it jonny large potatoes down the road as it was in the early hours and no-one was around?
Hmm well you'll learn...
Seems a bit silly to let someone do this, had you been drinking, hence why you let him drive? were you giving it jonny large potatoes down the road as it was in the early hours and no-one was around?
Hmm well you'll learn...
I was going to post with little sympathy thinking it was pretty dumb to let your friend drive it, especially with the wet road conditions. Then thought well we all do things like this at one time or another, so who am I to judge.
Krusty is right, the car can be sorted, just thank whoever watches over us that you are both ok. With an inexperienced driver it could have turned out a lot worse. Does your friend have insurance as it could turn out an expensive spin.
Best of luck
Di
Krusty is right, the car can be sorted, just thank whoever watches over us that you are both ok. With an inexperienced driver it could have turned out a lot worse. Does your friend have insurance as it could turn out an expensive spin.
Best of luck
Di
You have my sympathy. But dont let it get you down too much. Lets face it we all do reckless things sometimes (Otherwise we would all own Volvo`s). The fact is you both walked away a unhurt and a little wiser (and in you case probably now a little poorer).
If I was your age and had a Tuscan I would show it off to my frieds.(As it is I'm a lot older have a Tuscan and show it off!)
You only live once but it least try to make it to your thirties ;¬)
>> Edited by kipper_ on Wednesday 10th August 09:25
If I was your age and had a Tuscan I would show it off to my frieds.(As it is I'm a lot older have a Tuscan and show it off!)
You only live once but it least try to make it to your thirties ;¬)
>> Edited by kipper_ on Wednesday 10th August 09:25
Really sorry to here about your car but glad you both walked away.
It can freak you out a bit when you hear the "crunch" and think "hmmm, thats the wheel off then!", but get out and see no damage - you start to wonder where the "real" damage is....
Years ago I ran into a heard of sheep that had escaped from a local farm. No real damage to the bodywork, but a strange knocking sound from the front.
To cut a long story short, turns out one of the sheep was still under the car, and I had given it a short back and sides courtecy of the front transmission - it still walked away though !!
Anyways, a quick rule of thumb I use for people who wanted to drive my car (Primera Excluded), is what car do they drive.
I fully understand not wanting to do the tow/drive of shame back to your house and attracting attention, as I am sure some of your neighbours would want to instill some "perls of wisdom" if they saw the car.
Hope the repair bill is not too insane..
James...
It can freak you out a bit when you hear the "crunch" and think "hmmm, thats the wheel off then!", but get out and see no damage - you start to wonder where the "real" damage is....
Years ago I ran into a heard of sheep that had escaped from a local farm. No real damage to the bodywork, but a strange knocking sound from the front.
To cut a long story short, turns out one of the sheep was still under the car, and I had given it a short back and sides courtecy of the front transmission - it still walked away though !!
Anyways, a quick rule of thumb I use for people who wanted to drive my car (Primera Excluded), is what car do they drive.
I fully understand not wanting to do the tow/drive of shame back to your house and attracting attention, as I am sure some of your neighbours would want to instill some "perls of wisdom" if they saw the car.
Hope the repair bill is not too insane..
James...
Was your friend insured?
If not then get them to pay for it, if you ever let anyone drive a car of yours do it on a "you bend it, you mend it" basis. No one hurt which is the important thing.
I'd wager that some suspension parts need replacing, and the chassis will have to go on a jig to make sure it isn't bent.
If not then get them to pay for it, if you ever let anyone drive a car of yours do it on a "you bend it, you mend it" basis. No one hurt which is the important thing.
I'd wager that some suspension parts need replacing, and the chassis will have to go on a jig to make sure it isn't bent.
m12_nathan said:
...if you ever let anyone drive a car of yours do it on a "you bend it, you mend it" basis...
Yes indeed. It is a shame but you guys are ok and this will be one of them things in years to come that you will look back on with experience and hindsight as 'the time when'.
As for the cash, if he is any sort of mate at all, he should pay 100% of it. Now is not the time to be all nice about it - he spanked it, he mends it. At the garage of your choice.
Good luck with the car, hope it's nothing too serious.
Required: 1 new wheel ~£200
Required: Full geometry check ~£120
Possibly: 1 new tyre ~£120
Possibly: Door respray ~£? (depends on paint, whether it can be touched up, etc)
Possibly: Suspension damage from an impact like that (no idea how fast you were going) ~£?
Sorry, can't think what the whistling noise is, unless rather than the wheel taking all of the impact a lot of it went through to the engine bay and twisted something out of place.
Would definitely get your mate to foot the bill for this. And, as others have said - you're both in one piece - a spin in a Tuscan could've been much worse.
Best of luck.
Required: Full geometry check ~£120
Possibly: 1 new tyre ~£120
Possibly: Door respray ~£? (depends on paint, whether it can be touched up, etc)
Possibly: Suspension damage from an impact like that (no idea how fast you were going) ~£?
Sorry, can't think what the whistling noise is, unless rather than the wheel taking all of the impact a lot of it went through to the engine bay and twisted something out of place.
Would definitely get your mate to foot the bill for this. And, as others have said - you're both in one piece - a spin in a Tuscan could've been much worse.
Best of luck.
How long ago was this? If the police appear on your door step you need to make sure your mate is still your mate as witnesses may have seen 'young ruffians' racing in a funny looking car. If you damaged the curb you may still get a bill for it 
If he refuses to pay anything, he's the sort of mate who will shop you and nick your bird!
If he refuses to pay anything, he's the sort of mate who will shop you and nick your bird!
To be honest, looking at the wheel I don't think the impact can have been huge. The TVR spiders are really easy to damage, and when mine got curbed it smashed the wheel to bits. Only damage to suspension was a bent push rod in the nitron shock.
Get it all checked out fully by dealer to make sure.
Get it all checked out fully by dealer to make sure.
Just reread your post and would like to add that saying "this is the last time its wheels touch a wet road!" is not the right thing! You need to get back out there, just remember that you have a powerful car with organic traction control and you'll be fine (as you have been for many months). It wasn't the wet road that caused the crash, it was the driver.
m12_nathan said:
Just reread your post and would like to add that saying "this is the last time its wheels touch a wet road!" is not the right thing! You need to get back out there, just remember that you have a powerful car with organic traction control and you'll be fine (as you have been for many months). It wasn't the wet road that caused the crash, it was the driver.
I agree! In the first few weeks I had my M3 when I was at a similar age I managed to do a 180 around a damp roundabout! Its one of those things that reminds you that you and your car are not invincible!
I drove my Tuscan as an everyday driver all through last winter. I think the Tuscan drives quite well in the wet... as long as you are not trying to drive fast. The only time which was a bit hairy was driving last Christmas when there was snow on the ground. I thought I was clever by diverting off the blocked motorway onto ungritted country lanes. In stop start traffic, the back end was snaking even just getting the car to move at a crawling pace!
basil brush said:
To be honest, looking at the wheel I don't think the impact can have been huge. The TVR spiders are really easy to damage, and when mine got curbed it smashed the wheel to bits. Only damage to suspension was a bent push rod in the nitron shock.
Get it all checked out fully by dealer to make sure.
The action of a wheel shattering will absorb a huge amount of force. Without shattering, it transfers a lot more of the force through into the bits behind it.
salty-nlv said:
So you let your young friend drive at 2am+ in the morning, errm what were you doing out at that time?
Seems a bit silly to let someone do this, had you been drinking, hence why you let him drive? were you giving it jonny large potatoes down the road as it was in the early hours and no-one was around?
Hmm well you'll learn...
2am+? what was i doing out at that time?
I am always out at around 12am to 7am and no none of us had been drinking! and no he was not trying to show off he was taking it very easy, but the wet road + corner.. his foot just pushed the pedal down a little to far and it went..
lady topaz said:
I was going to post with little sympathy thinking it was pretty dumb to let your friend drive it, especially with the wet road conditions. Then thought well we all do things like this at one time or another, so who am I to judge.
Krusty is right, the car can be sorted, just thank whoever watches over us that you are both ok. With an inexperienced driver it could have turned out a lot worse. Does your friend have insurance as it could turn out an expensive spin.
Best of luck
Di
Yes he does have insurance and i know i admit it was pretty dumb to hand over the keys to him given his age and the weather conditions i thought if i could drive it fine being younger than him i didn't think it would be so hard for him.. but i've learned my lesson..
>> Edited by Hussy on Wednesday 10th August 21:17
J.P said:
I fully understand not wanting to do the tow/drive of shame back to your house and attracting attention, as I am sure some of your neighbours would want to instill some "perls of wisdom" if they saw the car.
Well the thing is they know im young and own that car and they must be thinking that this is bound to happen, it has already come back on the back of a truck several times from braking down..
Even though i made it back home quietly last night i suppose they could hear the car a mile off as when i got to my house i could see them bloody looking through there curtains..
tonyhetherington said:
As for the cash, if he is any sort of mate at all, he should pay 100% of it. Now is not the time to be all nice about it - he spanked it, he mends it. At the garage of your choice.
IMHO i don't think he can afford to pay 100% of it that is if it where something major.
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