One Less 500 On The Road
Discussion
Having driven the 400 for two years and 14,000 miles then the 500 for almost a year and a half I thought I was wise to the ways of the Chimaera. No big movements, no large throttle changes, easy in the wet and all that. Like all of us I've felt the first signs of the rear end moving and know when it's coming.
Tonight I eased onto a nearby dual carriageway taking it easy as the engine was still warming up and it was raining heavily. At about 60mph/5th gear I noticed that the tailgater I'd acquired a mile or so before joining the DC was still right behind me. Fine, let him pass if he wants to. The road's dead straight, I'm in the N/S lane and in no hurry.
Without any warning all hell broke loose. The car snapped into a spin, just as I passed the last streetlight, so I couldn't even see the road. Christ it was dark!! I saw the central reservation coming at an angle of about 45 degrees but it was so close there was no time/room to avoid the impact. The car then continued to rotate (left) until I'd turned 180 degrees then began bouncing along the central reservation, one of those with posts and cables (I've always hated those) finally coming to rest after about 150 yards wondering "Why am I getting wet?". Why? Because the roof panel had come off, that's why and it was being run over, along with the bootlid, by vehicles on the other side of the carriageway. Hope it didn't do anyone's car any damage.
I was on the median strip so thought it might be a bad idea to open my door in the dark. Good job the roof had gone then. I put my hazard lights on before climbing out over the door. No side window to worry about, it shattered on impact. I remember it happening and leaning across the transmission tunnel to get away from the debris as the car spun.
Luckily a police car was sitting on the roundabout that I'd just joined from so was there in two minutes. He loaned me a jacket and we set about clearing the debris and awaiting the tow truck. The cars's a sorry state but it's just a car. I got one small cut on my earlobe and another on my cheek, that's all. Looking back down the road toward the streetlights leading to the roundabout it became clear what might have happened. Rainwater was filling the drainage gully along the median and flowing across both lanes of 'my' side of the road just shy of the light. No wonder I'd not seen it when travelling from the light into dark.
The tailgater? I think he may have got an even bigger shock than I did but I'll never know seeing as how he never even bothered to stop.
Take it easy out there folks. I cannot emphasise just how quickly this happened. One moment I was pootling along and the next......... If I'd been accelerating, braking or steering I could understand it but this took me completely by surprise. Remains to be seen if there's any component failure that might have contributed.
Of course the sad part is I spent last summer sprucing the car up. New suspension, radiator, induction, hood refurb. If anyone wants a (genuine) 300bhp engine I may just know where there'll be one as salvage (front end damage is reasonable light, rear took the brunt).
Tonight I eased onto a nearby dual carriageway taking it easy as the engine was still warming up and it was raining heavily. At about 60mph/5th gear I noticed that the tailgater I'd acquired a mile or so before joining the DC was still right behind me. Fine, let him pass if he wants to. The road's dead straight, I'm in the N/S lane and in no hurry.
Without any warning all hell broke loose. The car snapped into a spin, just as I passed the last streetlight, so I couldn't even see the road. Christ it was dark!! I saw the central reservation coming at an angle of about 45 degrees but it was so close there was no time/room to avoid the impact. The car then continued to rotate (left) until I'd turned 180 degrees then began bouncing along the central reservation, one of those with posts and cables (I've always hated those) finally coming to rest after about 150 yards wondering "Why am I getting wet?". Why? Because the roof panel had come off, that's why and it was being run over, along with the bootlid, by vehicles on the other side of the carriageway. Hope it didn't do anyone's car any damage.
I was on the median strip so thought it might be a bad idea to open my door in the dark. Good job the roof had gone then. I put my hazard lights on before climbing out over the door. No side window to worry about, it shattered on impact. I remember it happening and leaning across the transmission tunnel to get away from the debris as the car spun.
Luckily a police car was sitting on the roundabout that I'd just joined from so was there in two minutes. He loaned me a jacket and we set about clearing the debris and awaiting the tow truck. The cars's a sorry state but it's just a car. I got one small cut on my earlobe and another on my cheek, that's all. Looking back down the road toward the streetlights leading to the roundabout it became clear what might have happened. Rainwater was filling the drainage gully along the median and flowing across both lanes of 'my' side of the road just shy of the light. No wonder I'd not seen it when travelling from the light into dark.
The tailgater? I think he may have got an even bigger shock than I did but I'll never know seeing as how he never even bothered to stop.
Take it easy out there folks. I cannot emphasise just how quickly this happened. One moment I was pootling along and the next......... If I'd been accelerating, braking or steering I could understand it but this took me completely by surprise. Remains to be seen if there's any component failure that might have contributed.
Of course the sad part is I spent last summer sprucing the car up. New suspension, radiator, induction, hood refurb. If anyone wants a (genuine) 300bhp engine I may just know where there'll be one as salvage (front end damage is reasonable light, rear took the brunt).
Edited by Flintstone on Sunday 20th January 02:35
Sorry to hear that Flintstone - glad you escaped (relatively) unscathed. A frightening experience no matter the cause I'm sure you'd agree ? As for the tailgater - well.........I don't think that kind of language should be used on here. I can't stand it, people have no excuse for not stopping after an accident no matter whose fault . . . . . what if you'd been injured ? 
Sorry to hear the tale mate, glad you lived to tell it !
Mike
Sorry to hear the tale mate, glad you lived to tell it !
Mike
I did wonder about the tailgater actually as it was so incredibly sudden but don't think it was him. Perhaps he had other reasons for not wanting to be around when the police arrived.
The good news is I woke today with no aches and pains
so the missus says I can get on with the decorating
The good news is I woke today with no aches and pains
so the missus says I can get on with the decorating 
I hate decorating! 
Glad to hear you're ok, lots of more cars out there to buy etc.
Are you sure the tailgater (who might have been in a raving hurry to overtake and impress) didn't clip you as he pulled out to go past?
It wouldn't take much of a tap in those conditions, just a thought, seems like an odd thing to happen otherwise.
No witnesses I guess, cameras?
Are you sure the tailgater (who might have been in a raving hurry to overtake and impress) didn't clip you as he pulled out to go past?
It wouldn't take much of a tap in those conditions, just a thought, seems like an odd thing to happen otherwise.
No witnesses I guess, cameras?
What a devatating tale, i'm so sorry to hear it Paul. It really is a hard remnder to us all, especially with all of the lying water at the moment.
I know "its only a car", and i'm delighetd to hear you are ok, but once you realise you are fine, your thoughts do go back to the car again.
I hope that the insurance company sort things out quickly, and you are soon back behind the wheel of another Tiv. Good luck, David
I know "its only a car", and i'm delighetd to hear you are ok, but once you realise you are fine, your thoughts do go back to the car again.
I hope that the insurance company sort things out quickly, and you are soon back behind the wheel of another Tiv. Good luck, David
Chimjunkie said:
Paul, that wasn't on the A10 near the A120 roundabout was it? Just been past and seen a large section of damaged cable on the armeco. Glad you are OK. Hope you get another car. Jon.
Yeah, that was me Just had t'officer of the leur around to check my documents. Saw he'd written "Extremely bad weather resulted in water flowing across the road..." which made me feel slightly better but I'm still kicking myself.
'er indoors said "Now. Will you get something sensible with four seats?". I don't think the reply "Cerbera?" went down too well
Edited by Flintstone on Sunday 20th January 17:55
Sorry to hear that mate, must have been scary as hell but at least you're OK!!!
I went out yesterday in mine in the pissing rain, even just pootling along the amount of standing water on the road just made me feel so on edge and in the bad light it was very hard to tell where the standing water was.
I went out yesterday in mine in the pissing rain, even just pootling along the amount of standing water on the road just made me feel so on edge and in the bad light it was very hard to tell where the standing water was.
The important thing is you're ok. Cars can be replaced, lives can't!
Almost certainly a combination of standing water, wide tyres, light back-end & a powerful engine - doesn't take much to aquaplane & once you start, there's not much you can do about it.
Don't blame yourself - it could happen to any of us. So sorry about the car though.
Good luck,
Mick
Almost certainly a combination of standing water, wide tyres, light back-end & a powerful engine - doesn't take much to aquaplane & once you start, there's not much you can do about it.
Don't blame yourself - it could happen to any of us. So sorry about the car though.
Good luck,
Mick
A sad occasion, but glad you escaped. Similar thing has happened to me when hitting deep water on one side at speed. It pulls the car dramatically to the side.
Just wondering what tyres you had fitted, in case there's any lessons to learn from that? I'm looking at changing soon, and am a bit worried when looking at the Toyo's or the Eagle F1s tread patterns that they surely can't deal with dissipating big water quickly... But then, I guess, what tyres can?
Just wondering what tyres you had fitted, in case there's any lessons to learn from that? I'm looking at changing soon, and am a bit worried when looking at the Toyo's or the Eagle F1s tread patterns that they surely can't deal with dissipating big water quickly... But then, I guess, what tyres can?
Chim Chim Cheree said:
Just wondering what tyres you had fitted
Toyo Proxes, T1S with about 2.5mm of tread left which, on reflection, might not have been enough. In the past I couldn't fault them though.Oddly enough a pair of TS2's are in the post having been ordered last week. Don't suppose I'll need them now <clicks link to Classifieds>
Flintstone said:
Chim Chim Cheree said:
Just wondering what tyres you had fitted
Toyo Proxes, T1S with about 2.5mm of tread left which, on reflection, might not have been enough. In the past I couldn't fault them though.Oddly enough a pair of TS2's are in the post having been ordered last week. Don't suppose I'll need them now <clicks link to Classifieds>
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