A lucky escape.. ..what checks to do?
Discussion
Hi,
On way back to London late Sat eve/ Sun morning on a small B-road in the countryside was forced to take evasive action for some local wildlife in road… ended up going off and careering along the long grass/ shrubbery to the side of the road (think bordering a field) before coming to a halt after some 40-50 yards.
Brakes were ineffective on damp grass but miraculously appeared to have picked a spot with no trees, fences, hidden walls or other hard immoveable objects – common in the vicinity. Car came to a rest at an angle but just adjacent to road. Given incline of verge and raised level vs. road decided not to move it. Called Porsche Assistance (who were v. good) and had recovery vehicle on scene in little over an hour. Winched car back onto road fairly easily and then flat bedded home.
Inspecting car this morning and amazingly there is very little cosmetic damage aside from some scuffing to the bottom of front pu and broken lip spoiler,… …oh and bits of countryside in wheel arches, radiator grilles. Etc. Not a single dent or scratch otherwise?!?? Car starts fine and was able to drive it into garage. No obvious fluid leaks, steering issues etc either. Cursory inspection of underbody too doesn't show obvious damage.
Am still shaking my head in disbelief. Recovery vehicle driver was somewhat surprised as well, given apparently more used to extracting vehicles embedded in trees or upside down in fields in that area… As it was happening I remember thinking this was going to be very bad, so am just stunned that both I and the car are intact. Perhaps fact it was middle of night, pitch dark etc. made it seem a lot worse. My first “off” in over 6 years of Porker ownership and needless to say been thanking the powers above it wasn’t much significantly worse.
Of course will be sent to OPC for full inspection first thing tom, but was wondering from collective experience of those on here, whether there is anything major from mechanical perspective that is vulnerable to damage in this kind of incident and needs to thoroughly checked.... radiators?.. steering?... tracking? Etc. Car is 996 C4S Cab btw.
All advice greatly appreciated.
On way back to London late Sat eve/ Sun morning on a small B-road in the countryside was forced to take evasive action for some local wildlife in road… ended up going off and careering along the long grass/ shrubbery to the side of the road (think bordering a field) before coming to a halt after some 40-50 yards.
Brakes were ineffective on damp grass but miraculously appeared to have picked a spot with no trees, fences, hidden walls or other hard immoveable objects – common in the vicinity. Car came to a rest at an angle but just adjacent to road. Given incline of verge and raised level vs. road decided not to move it. Called Porsche Assistance (who were v. good) and had recovery vehicle on scene in little over an hour. Winched car back onto road fairly easily and then flat bedded home.
Inspecting car this morning and amazingly there is very little cosmetic damage aside from some scuffing to the bottom of front pu and broken lip spoiler,… …oh and bits of countryside in wheel arches, radiator grilles. Etc. Not a single dent or scratch otherwise?!?? Car starts fine and was able to drive it into garage. No obvious fluid leaks, steering issues etc either. Cursory inspection of underbody too doesn't show obvious damage.
Am still shaking my head in disbelief. Recovery vehicle driver was somewhat surprised as well, given apparently more used to extracting vehicles embedded in trees or upside down in fields in that area… As it was happening I remember thinking this was going to be very bad, so am just stunned that both I and the car are intact. Perhaps fact it was middle of night, pitch dark etc. made it seem a lot worse. My first “off” in over 6 years of Porker ownership and needless to say been thanking the powers above it wasn’t much significantly worse.
Of course will be sent to OPC for full inspection first thing tom, but was wondering from collective experience of those on here, whether there is anything major from mechanical perspective that is vulnerable to damage in this kind of incident and needs to thoroughly checked.... radiators?.. steering?... tracking? Etc. Car is 996 C4S Cab btw.
All advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks for that Flat Six.... yeah, somewhat miraculous escape... almost 24hrs later and the adrenaline is still pumping... will see what OPC has to say... ..and maybe time to sign up for another car control course, tho' hard to say it would have helped in the situation
Clearly u dont need a Cayenne to go off-road...
Clearly u dont need a Cayenne to go off-road...
andyglos said:
what was the "wildlife"? It must have been pretty big to choose the option of driving off road?
Was going to ask the same. Some people want to avoid everything. I'll take on anything up to bonnet height rather than off. I have recently lost a fog light to a peasant though. Or was it a pheasant?
Olf said:
Was going to ask the same. Some people want to avoid everything. I'll take on anything up to bonnet height rather than off. I have recently lost a fog light to a peasant though.
Or was it a pheasant?
Olf its easy to tell the difference. Pheasants arent really in season until late Autumn and so can be a little tough and stringy. Best avoided for a while. Or was it a pheasant?
Peasants, however, are in season all year round and just need 2-3 weeks hanging in a cool larder to make them ready. You will need a fairly large oven. Aga will not do, so I suggest spit roasting outside. They feed on kebabs, KFC and McDonalds and so are generally self basting, but if you do manage to run over a vegetarian, rub liberally with oil and wrap it in pig fat or bacon to make sure the meat doesnt dry out.
Wine wise, we find that a good Pinot or a Brunello does the trick, but if youve barbequed it makes sense to perhaps use something spicy from the south of France or Oz. A Beajolais can be overpowered by the fattiness of the meat.
Bon appetit!
ADDLED said:
Olf said:
Was going to ask the same. Some people want to avoid everything. I'll take on anything up to bonnet height rather than off. I have recently lost a fog light to a peasant though.
Or was it a pheasant?
Olf its easy to tell the difference. Pheasants arent really in season until late Autumn and so can be a little tough and stringy. Best avoided for a while. Or was it a pheasant?
Peasants, however, are in season all year round and just need 2-3 weeks hanging in a cool larder to make them ready. You will need a fairly large oven. Aga will not do, so I suggest spit roasting outside. They feed on kebabs, KFC and McDonalds and so are generally self basting, but if you do manage to run over a vegetarian, rub liberally with oil and wrap it in pig fat or bacon to make sure the meat doesnt dry out.
Wine wise, we find that a good Pinot or a Brunello does the trick, but if youve barbequed it makes sense to perhaps use something spicy from the south of France or Oz. A Beajolais can be overpowered by the fattiness of the meat.
Bon appetit!
Tell me, do you find that the peasants sex is important in deciding whther to spit roast or not?
I would look under the car for obvious signs of damage, its pretty flat bottomed so should be ok.
I would remove all road wheels and check brakes for mud and stones.
If the car drives exactly the same, i.e. steering wheel is in exactly the same position at straight ahead you will most certainly have got away with suspension damage, if not and the wheel is slightly one way or the other, get the alignment checked.
Also is there any more vibration from wheels, could indicate dirt or damage
Mostly its obvious what the problems are
I would remove all road wheels and check brakes for mud and stones.
If the car drives exactly the same, i.e. steering wheel is in exactly the same position at straight ahead you will most certainly have got away with suspension damage, if not and the wheel is slightly one way or the other, get the alignment checked.
Also is there any more vibration from wheels, could indicate dirt or damage
Mostly its obvious what the problems are
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