Crashed Tuscan

[M5Sime]

Just 10 mins ago I saw the M4 Eastbound between Jn7 and 6 blocked after a black/anthracite Tuscan had spun in the fast lane leaving the nose and arse broken. Cabin looked fine though... so hopefully driver was ok.

Plenty of Fire brigade etc... Makes you wonder what causes these things...

M5Sime

[schford]

I saw it to - when I got there car was on hard shoulder - Saw a guy in a suit walking around so assume he was driver and was ok.

tuscan was in a bit of a statethough - light damage to rear front was mashed though!

[cacatous]

Damn I live near there!

A member of Pistonheads?

[beano500]

Hmm! Someone I know has just sold his Black Tuscan through HH, too.

[Don]

M5Sime said:

Makes you wonder what causes these things...

Oh dear. Dry day. Good light and visibility. Unfortunately it is overwhelmingly likely to have been "driver error". Glad to hear the cabin was OK.

One of these type of accidents unfolded in front of me a month or two back. In that case it was caused by the driver attempting to change lanes abruptly whilst accelerating....

[beano500]

Don, we've told you before about putting one of "those" shirts on and coming over all "Miami Vice" on the M3!



[serious]
But it is so easy to be a plonker in a killing machine. Any car has enough power, or can reach enough speed, to get into problems. Most numpties have no idea, though.
[/serious]

[RichB]

Up goes the insurance for us all again!

[all black]

eeekkk

hope it wasnt mine - what did the guy look like?

[_dobbo_]

all black said:

eeekkk hope it wasnt mine - what did the guy look like?

a bit gutted and embarrassed!

[RichB]

Oh dear - just read the local Maidenhead paper and it mentions another crash on the M4 last Tuesday near Reading ( I guess between J8/9 & J10) involving just one car which was a... TVR. Bloke got out ok apparently.

That's TWO in one week - what's up with people? I went out for a real good blast lunchtime ande didn't get wobbly once and that was on twisty roads not a straight bit of tarmac! Doh!!! Rich...

[Michael.McD]

Hi Dudes,

That'd have been me! Jumped on the brakes and the car spat me into the barrier.

I already had a few really scary moments braking hard in the old Tuscan, but its response was not expected. Maybe the geometry got out of wack when it curbed curbed the day before, anyway... shit happens...

Probably a right of...

Oh,I was fine apart from a v. brused ego, and sorry if any of you were held up because of me.

Later,
Michael

>> Edited by Michael.Mcd on Saturday 8th November 21:57

[schford]

Wasn't held up that much mate - just glad to know you are ok

Stuart

[luca brazzi]

Glad you walked away.
LB

[T88CAN]

Yet again it shows that we must be extra careful out there as the weather/road condition deteriate glad you were o.k Tony

[apeebles]

Interesting.... I too have applied the breaks under pressure on my old Tuscan S (Within speed limit!!!) and had a nervous moment. Good conditions too...... My take is that it must have been some ridges or something in the road which through the car out of kilter.....

[mcspreader]

Sorry to hear about your woes under braking. Mine did exactly the same to me a couple of months ago but luckily I managed to just about keep it under control. I was driving at about 50mph in a 60 limit when round ing a bend I found a car parked in the opposite lane and another pulling out to pass. I had loads of room to pull up safely but I hoofed the brakes (because you can?) and it snapped away, back end heading down camber for the verge. I stopped braking and with a car that was now badly out of shape and with an oncoming vehicle approaching I steered overoptimistically to correct. The back wheel touched the verge lightly and spat the car the other way. Fortunately the other driver was helpfull and stopped sharp to watch the drama unfold. The front end then sough the verge and hit with an almighty clatter at by this time about 15 to 20 mph an the car stopped square in the road after I just locked it up to scrubb of any remaining speed. (If the car isn't travelling straight then cadence braking is bugger all use.) I would rather bugger my insurance than hit someone elses car. After the inevitable 'oh my god this will cost' moment I got out to look, as did the driver of the other car. I was shocked to see that apart froma bit of vegetation caght in the tyre beading and a scrape on the nearside very low down under the nose ther was no significant damage. Later on, when I examined the car properly, the damage to the nearside front was a bit more pronounced, with slight cracking to the grp but my chap at the bodyshop can repair it in the oven quite easily. I have been driving that road almost every day for seven years in a variety of cars and had never found trouble there before.

I think the salutory leson for me is to not brake harder than you have to. No one else cares how sharp the brakes are.

[jigs]

Is there a major problem with Tuscans under heavy braking?

[HarryW]

Glad you're OK, thats the main thing.
I wonder if they, the Tuscans, are like me old V8S where there is too much rear brake bias as standard. Heavy on the brakes in anything but a very straight line in perfect conditions can get the back squirming. Thought it was me at first but talking to most V8S peeps its the car, perhaps the Tuscan has a similar trait . A good indication to me was after a track day with newish pads the rears had burnt the paint off but not the front, green stuff btw so easy to spot.
Just a thought, sorry if its way off the mark. I know the V8S isn't quiet in the same league for general braking capabilty but its the principle.

Harry

[pubman]

jigs said:

Is there a major problem with Tuscans under heavy braking?

Guys,
I am going to be a pain in the arse! Tough! I have been driving for 35 years, NEVER had an accident. Rules are distance,speed, braking,awareness. It is so simple.Time for Grandad to go to bed!

[cdd]

Even Mr Schumacher has the occasional problem under braking, nothing to do with being a good driver just how far you get to the limits.