I killed the Griff
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julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Absolutely gutted. Went out to meet everyone for the Brighton Burble yesterday, back stepped out as I went to overtake on a dual carriageway (going about 35mph, having justed turned onto the dual carriageway from a side road). Wet road, fraction too much throttle. Span it into the trees, luckily no one hurt, didn't hit anyone else.

Pi$$ed off like you wouldn't believe - it was to be my last drive before it went to it's new owner this weekend.

Damn.

anita

150 posts

279 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
julianhj said:
Absolutely gutted. Went out to meet everyone for the Brighton Burble yesterday, back stepped out as I went to overtake on a dual carriageway (going about 35mph, having justed turned onto the dual carriageway from a side road). Wet road, fraction too much throttle. Span it into the trees, luckily no one hurt, didn't hit anyone else.

Pi$$ed off like you wouldn't believe - it was to be my last drive before it went to it's new owner this weekend.

Damn.


Oh dear me...how much damage? Hope you sort it.

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
anita said:

Oh dear me...how much damage? Hope you sort it.


Mounted the nearside kerb, glancing front end blow by tree one, deflected into tree two about 10 metres away - hit that at around 10 mph I guess, dead on the rear.

I consider myself lucky that I wasn't going faster - coulf have been a great deal worse.

Car is FUBAR, only the passenger door escaped. Don't know if the chassis is damaged, but I'm guessing it is. Highly unlikey it'll be repairable IMHO.

j_s_g

6,177 posts

279 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
julianhj said:

Mounted the nearside kerb, glancing front end blow by tree one, deflected into tree two about 10 metres away - hit that at around 10 mph I guess, dead on the rear.

I consider myself lucky that I wasn't going faster - coulf have been a great deal worse.

Car is FUBAR, only the passenger door escaped. Don't know if the chassis is damaged, but I'm guessing it is. Highly unlikey it'll be repairable IMHO.

Really sorry to hear that. Try not to beat yourself up about it, though - it's done & the only thing left is to try & make the most of it you can. Assuming the car's written off, start shopping around to find the most expensive similar Griffs you can (at dealers), so you get top dollar from the insurance company for equivalent cars. I managed to get them to up the offer by 15% once by finding a couple of similar cars.

anita

150 posts

279 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
julianhj said:

anita said:

Oh dear me...how much damage? Hope you sort it.


I consider myself lucky that I wasn't going faster - coulf have been a great deal worse.

Car is FUBAR, only the passenger door escaped. Don't know if the chassis is damaged, but I'm guessing it is. Highly unlikey it'll be repairable IMHO.


Oh dear... you are probably beyond being consoled but at least you were not hurt...

My little sister went to a 16th party in Kent Saturday night, some of her friends got a lift home with a mate from the party (17), car crashed just down the road...driver is fine but 3 passengers ended up in hospital (one already dead, one on life support with an untreatable bleed on the brain, the other in critical condition)...it makes you stop and think....

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
I feel such a fking muppet. Two years of entirely incident-free pleasure, reading numerous stories similar to this, remembering what happens if the wheel is not straight when accelerating in the wet...

I can only hold my hand up, admit my mistake, and get on with it.

J S G - Thanks for the tip. At first glance it would appear that even the private sellers are asking £3k more than I had agreed to sell for. This is based purely on ads on PH placed in the last week or two, for similar age/miles/condition. Hmmm...

roadsweeper

3,789 posts

303 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Terrible news, but it sounds like you are taking it the right way - much as we love our cars and it is gutting when something happens to them, at least you are OK.

PetrolTed

34,468 posts

332 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
anita said:
My little sister went to a 16th party in Kent Saturday night, some of her friends got a lift home with a mate from the party (17), car crashed just down the road...driver is fine but 3 passengers ended up in hospital (one already dead, one on life support with an untreatable bleed on the brain, the other in critical condition)...it makes you stop and think....


Not good. I remember my early driving days. Showing off to mates nearly cost me dearly on several occasions (not saying that's what happened here - just that youth and inexperience are a dangerous combination).

apprentice

1,219 posts

289 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Adrian and I are are sorry to hear about the accident Julian....but glad to hear you are okay.

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:

anita said:
My little sister went to a 16th party in Kent Saturday night, some of her friends got a lift home with a mate from the party (17), car crashed just down the road...driver is fine but 3 passengers ended up in hospital (one already dead, one on life support with an untreatable bleed on the brain, the other in critical condition)...it makes you stop and think....



Not good. I remember my early driving days. Showing off to mates nearly cost me dearly on several occasions (not saying that's what happened here - just that youth and inexperience are a dangerous combination).


Likewise, when I first started driving I felt invincible, made some bad decisions and got away with it. Absolutely horrible to hear when people get it wrong and aren't so fortunate.

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
apprentice said:
Adrian and I are are sorry to hear about the accident Julian....but glad to hear you are okay.


Thank you. I think it will be a couple more years and a bunch of driver training before I'm back up to visit you guys. Hopefully T350s will be on your list by then!

Edt

5,236 posts

313 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
I know its so tough to say.. but it's only a car... it's only a car

Commiserations..Ed

lazyitus

19,931 posts

295 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
As above really.

No personal injuries is the one major factor here.

Glad you are OK.

bjwoods

5,018 posts

313 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Did something similar in my first griff (god that's now 10 years ago!!!!), 'only' £8k's worth though.

Had a few 'instances' this winter, so I'm getting traction control, as soon as Racing Green let me know when they can go ahead.

B

DustyC

12,822 posts

283 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Sorry to hear about the bad news Julian.

Trying to look on the bright side I hope you now get even more for your car then you were going to originally.

If you are insured with one of the regular TVR insurance companies it would be interesting to see how well the claim goes.

Also bare in mind that Im after a Griff similar to yours was. If you want I could compile a list of the ones I know of if it helps with the insurance valuation.

Fortunately it was only a car.
Sorry to hear about the other bad news on this thread.

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

296 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Jeez, so sorry to hear that Julian and so glad you are ok.
Dont beat yourself up to much about it mate as your not the first and I am sure not the last to get bitten.
If like mine its only mostly bodywork damage there is Hope that they might be able to repair it, but that will be up to you I think.Every panel of mine was damaged in some way, thats GRP for you it just shatters.But still got it repaired.

All the best mate, Drop me a mail if you need any info.



BB

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,868 posts

291 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Cheers BB. Had a good look today at the recovery depot. None of the alloys are even marked, but the wheels look odd in the arches - could well be the bodywork being shifted rather than the suspension/chassis - I'm certainly no expert. It might be Cat. C/D - given the value of the car, and the fact my progress was halted by two trees, I'd rather the insurance co. paid me off. I feel terrible about depriving the prospective purchaser of an immaculate car, and of course it's likely one less Griff on the road. If it can be reserrected, that would be great, but it was my last drive out in the car anyway, so I'd sooner settle up and let someone else get the pleasure of a bargain.