MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: vetch1 on January 6, 2014, 18:24

Title: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: vetch1 on January 6, 2014, 18:24
...hit a patch of black ice on a dead straight road doing about 50mph - MR2 vs crash barrier? No contest!

(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff50/stuey2010/IMG_20140106_105611.jpg)

Only had it 3 weeks.

I owned my PFL for 18 months without ever pranging it!
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: nathanMR2 on January 6, 2014, 18:31
Ouch  s:( :( s:(  sad times. Just shows how well this cars hold up to damage though. Everyone ok?
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: vetch1 on January 6, 2014, 18:37
Just me in the car, walked away with a deepish cut to the back of my head and that's it.

These are tough little cars though, I must've hit that rock solid barrier at 40+mph head on.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Wabbitkilla on January 6, 2014, 18:40
Glad the car did its job looking after you, walking away is the best result.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: StuC on January 6, 2014, 18:41
Oh my days.  s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
You have done well to walk from that.
Have you had yourself checked over?

Weird how the bumper beam is there but the bumper isn't.  s:-| :-| s:-|
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Treboeth on January 6, 2014, 18:42
As above you walked away these cars look after us well.

Hope you get another with the payout   s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: cptspaulding on January 6, 2014, 18:44
Such a sad sight. Glad to hear you're ok though.

Replacing it?
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: s12vea on January 6, 2014, 19:00
Bang!! You can replace the car - as long as your ok

On the plus side time for an upgrade
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: mrzwei on January 6, 2014, 19:04
Quote from: "StuC"Have you had yourself checked over?

Plus one on that, particularly if the airbag deployed, it's easy to crack stuff!

Absolutely nothing you can do on black ice, bad luck!
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: nathanMR2 on January 6, 2014, 19:50
Quote from: "s12vea"On the plus side time for an upgrade

I know where there is a lovely replacement for sale *shameless plug*  s;) ;) s;)

As a matter of interest what did you split your head on?
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: vetch1 on January 6, 2014, 20:30
Ambulance and Police were on the scene, I was checked over by the paramedic and I went to A&E today to have the cut in my head sorted.

Upgrade to what? Not sure if I'll get another '2, they really are a pain in the arse in poor driving conditions. Or maybe I dont have the skills! I did own a PFL for some time without crashing it though. Incidentally, both the traffic cop in his Audi A6 Quattro and the Ambulance almost crashed on the same patch of black ice as they arrived on the scene.

I think that I bumped my head on one of the steel supports in the canvas hood, although the car hit the barrier with such force that wing mirror was flying about the cabin.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: onion86 on January 6, 2014, 22:48
Really sorry for you, but glad you're still in one piece!
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: puma2 on January 6, 2014, 23:54
very sad times with the 2. the main thing is your walked away from that, people and life are more important.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Mike G on January 7, 2014, 07:25
Really sad.
Look how little deformation there is from the A pillar back , considering the damage up front
Testimony to a good shell, I would'nt have wanted that hit in an X19
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: tomaky on January 7, 2014, 09:31
Bad times buddy :0 you were lucky like me  s:) :) s:)  there is light at the end of the tunnel i hit a wall at approx 35mph due to how well the car built both me and my passenger came out uninjured, cars replaced and ive got a new set of golf clubs to match  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: alboy on January 7, 2014, 11:01
Post by Mike G » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:25 am

Really sad.
Look how little deformation there is from the A pillar back , considering the damage up front
Testimony to a good shell, I would'nt have wanted that hit in an X19

Just out of interest, if you look up the history of the X19 you will find that it was the only car that passed the proposed Californian crash test law back in the 70s. These were never enforced because all the other manufactures were able to stop the implementation of the law on cost grounds. Yes you have guessed, I have had four X19s & in fact still own an X19 which I have had from new, it is the only other car ( I have had over 40 including some of the so called prestige makes), apart from the MR2, which has put a smile on my face every time I drive & in my eyes is one of the prettiest cars ever made & no I am not a hairdresser. My only regret, is that I can no longer drive it, as I have problems with my left leg which prevents me driving it, which is why my MR2 is the SMT version. So if anyone out there fancy's a bit of retro fun let me know.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: MR TWO on January 7, 2014, 12:39
Quote from: "vetch1"Just me in the car, walked away with a deepish cut to the back of my head and that's it.

These are tough little cars though, I must've hit that rock solid barrier at 40+mph head on.

Glad you are OK
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: james_gt3rs on January 7, 2014, 16:31
Sorry to hear that. I can't quite work out how you hit the back of your head in a head on crash? Good to know the cars do protect in a crash though.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Mike G on January 7, 2014, 18:41
Quote from: "alboy"Post by Mike G » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:25 am

Really sad.
Look how little deformation there is from the A pillar back , considering the damage up front
Testimony to a good shell, I would'nt have wanted that hit in an X19

Just out of interest, if you look up the history of the X19 you will find that it was the only car that passed the proposed Californian crash test law back in the 70s. These were never enforced because all the other manufactures were able to stop the implementation of the law on cost grounds. Yes you have guessed, I have had four X19s & in fact still own an X19 which I have had from new, it is the only other car ( I have had over 40 including some of the so called prestige makes), apart from the MR2, which has put a smile on my face every time I drive & in my eyes is one of the prettiest cars ever made & no I am not a hairdresser. My only regret, is that I can no longer drive it, as I have problems with my left leg which prevents me driving it, which is why my MR2 is the SMT version. So if anyone out there fancy's a bit of retro fun let me know.
Oddly the X19 is the one car thats alluded me all these years .........  always wanted one and always will, got pretty damn close to buying a minter  at a classic car show in the summer
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: James and his MR2 on January 7, 2014, 18:57
Ouch these cars are too low and the crash bar looks like its in super condition... amazing after a front end crash tbh

Glad you are ok
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: chimpman on January 7, 2014, 22:04
Quote from: "alboy"Post by Mike G » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:25 am

Really sad.
Look how little deformation there is from the A pillar back , considering the damage up front
Testimony to a good shell, I would'nt have wanted that hit in an X19

Just out of interest, if you look up the history of the X19 you will find that it was the only car that passed the proposed Californian crash test law back in the 70s. These were never enforced because all the other manufactures were able to stop the implementation of the law on cost grounds. Yes you have guessed, I have had four X19s & in fact still own an X19 which I have had from new, it is the only other car ( I have had over 40 including some of the so called prestige makes), apart from the MR2, which has put a smile on my face every time I drive & in my eyes is one of the prettiest cars ever made & no I am not a hairdresser. My only regret, is that I can no longer drive it, as I have problems with my left leg which prevents me driving it, which is why my MR2 is the SMT version. So if anyone out there fancy's a bit of retro fun let me know.

I had an X1/9, brilliant little car. Handled like a roller skate. Mine was held together by the paint, the doors were bottomless, door windows dropped into the doors, caught fire in the rain, brakes were shonky, gearbox shot. Other than that it was great! It was that that got me thinking about getting the mr2. The mr2 is an x1/9 put together properly.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: bigbear007 on January 8, 2014, 00:28
Hi
So glad your alright, looks a shocker guess the front end when under the barrier crushing the bonnet and wings  
Was this on the M4 near Slough ?
As I got a report from one of the other truck driver at work that; 'he saw a MR2 hit the center reservation just near Slough on Monday 6th Jan at around 11:00 ish (well in the morning anyway), he couldn't stop as he was going the other way'.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: vetch1 on January 8, 2014, 12:46
Thanks for all the kind words  s:) :) s:)  

The accident happened just outside Swansea. And to the poster who suggested that the car slid beneath the barrier (which then caused the damage to the bonnet and so on), that is exactly what happened. There is no doubt that the robust shell of the car saved me, but if I had been travelling at a higher speed, I daresay that the car could/would have slid further under the barrier and potentially caused me more serious injury. That's a risk with such low cars I suppose.

I haven't heard back from the insurance company as yet (accident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning). It will be interesting to see how they value a FL MR2, 1 owner, full history, average miles).

Not sure if I'll get another '2, I have a few cars on the radar, Mazda RX8 being one of them.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: nathanMR2 on January 8, 2014, 12:51
Ive not heard great things about RX8. Theres a member here who had one and would never gain. Drink fuel and oil even more so i hear.

Insurance wise. Id recommend getting some examples of similar cars to yours from autotrader and the likes for when the insurance company call you so you can negotiate the value
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: vetch1 on January 8, 2014, 13:15
Nathan, thanks for the info regarding insurance, I will certainly heed your advice.

I am happy to listen to suggestions for my next purchase? I'd like to think the insurance payout would be at least £2.5k. Who knows though.

Regarding the RX8, I'm a long term Alfa Romeo man, oil usage is par for the course with me! And fuel isnt too much of a concern, I only do about 5k miles per year.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: nathanMR2 on January 8, 2014, 13:32
Well worth getting your back up ready for when they give you a low offer. At least it will show you mean business. You need to consider that the examples given need to be as close to your own vehicle as possible i.e same sort of mileage and age. However if older vehicles with more miles on are selling for more than they are offering you then this will also support what you feel the vehicle is worth.

For that kind of price range i think you'll be hard pushed to find a much better car than a 2. Unless you want something more sensible and that will cost you more to run.

I liked the look of the RX8 and they are pretty quick too. Just with that engine and that kind of price range you could be looking at spending a lot more in the long run.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Anonymous on January 10, 2014, 00:31
Really sorry to hear about the accident. glad your ok!

Im gonna be so careful with my car from now on.

Rx-8 seemed very heavy to drive... so i wouldn't recommend one (i only test drove one, never owned one).

Other options = 350z / celica / leon fr.   s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: tomaky on January 10, 2014, 09:15
Its also well worth getting a glasses guide price, just to show whats possible i had a 04 50k miles i managed to get the £100 glasses franchised dealer price of £3900 and that was with part service history  s:) :) s:)  have as much ammunition as possible i got stuck into them  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: venomizer on January 12, 2014, 16:19
Just got the payout on mine (very similar crash incidentally!) - red 03, 72k miles. They gave me £3100 which I was a little disappointed with but the claims handler was a bit of a douche who wouldn't budge one bit even with me showing him evidence of higher priced cars. Good luck with yours mate and glad you walked away with just a cut.
Title: Re: Another one bites the dust...
Post by: Anonymous on March 6, 2014, 21:05
Quote from: "vetch1"Nathan, thanks for the info regarding insurance, I will certainly heed your advice.

I am happy to listen to suggestions for my next purchase? I'd like to think the insurance payout would be at least £2.5k. Who knows though.

Regarding the RX8, I'm a long term Alfa Romeo man, oil usage is par for the course with me! And fuel isnt too much of a concern, I only do about 5k miles per year.

Nasty crash, glad your ok. The mR2 not so  s:( :( s:(

I've owned 2 Rx8s - they are great cars for the money. You need to be careful of engine failures (milky oil) though.

Excellent chassis, very practical, bit funky, but terrible on fuel. I used to get about 20mpg at best.

Try one, do some sums on fuel (oil isn't TOO bad, a 1 ltr bottle from Mazda for £12 used to last me about a month, so 1000 miles at the time - That's not too bad in my opinion.

There is lots of info on the internet about them, do some research.