New respect for damp roads

[The Red Baron]

After coming off a roundabout and (fortunately) on to an empty dual carriageway near Gloucester I got a bit of a scare when the back end let go. Managed to keep it pointing close to the right way but not without the help of a heavy bounce off the kerb.

The road was damp and I was't really pushing it at all, but had been at the wheel for a couple of hours so was not paying full attention.

I reckon I hit a patch of oil/diesel, as I've accelerated harder on wet roads with a lot more predictable/managable results. I know these cars have a reputation but after spending a day a while back on an advanced driving day at an airfield I felt the car's limits were much higher than mine and when it reached them in corners it was predictable and managable. But this was sudden, wild and unpredictable.

Fortunately the only damage was a couple of nasty scrapes out of the nearside wheels and a big dent in my pride.

I don't suppose anyone has a front 15" and a rear 16" Estoril in good condition they're selling?

Could have been a lot worse - would have had to turn up to the Growl in a Fiat Panda!!!

[V8Bart]

Glad you got away reasonably ok. Unless your wheels are buckled they can be repaired so don't rush into forking out for replacements, there is a place over blackpool funny enough.

This is some thing I have been running through my mind over and over, when mine snapped I had done thousands of miles that week in the griff and knew grip levels and had good warning. but when it snapped it gave no warning and put me in a wall. It makes you doubt yourself and the car.

You want your wheel alignment checking as well after a knock like you've had to the side of the wheels.

Edited by V8Bart on Friday 22 July 20:13

[RIP_puffsorted2]

http://www.lepsons.com/ should be able to sort you out. Best in the business

[The Red Baron]

Thanks for the tips. Will check out Lepsons and will have to get it aligned once sorted. Although have seen a set of gun-metal Estorils in the classifieds. I wonder what that would look like on my Imperial Blue?

Sorry to hear your incident ended in a wall V8Bart. I got away lucky then!

[themac]

Happy to hear your ok!

When i picked up my Griff for the first time the weather turned nasty and wet.
It was bucketing down and i was driving from Kent to Bedfordshire.
As i started the journey i had to join a main road junction with heavy traffic.
Spotted a gap in traffic and went to pull off as if i was in my everyday car.
Big mistake
Back end came right out with the car all over the place.
To get back in control i ended up on the opposite side of the road in pretty much zero visibility.
Luckily there was nothing coming the other way and i slowly carried on!
Pulled over to gather myself together (change my pants)

These cars are great and i just love the whole experience, but they can bite you.
I know i pushed to hard on the throttle and paid the price. (my pride)

In some ways i am glad it happened early on in my Griff ownership, as i have full respect of what i am driving

Vince