176 replies to this topic

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

It's not the diesel ........ it's the way you react to it (if there is any actually there) when the arse goes it has to be controlled properly It's a rear wheel drive car that weighs fcuk all in the wet it can kill. Best thing any of us owners can do is a bit of driver training. So when it goes you know exactly how do deal with it. Just breaking whilst aquaplaning can result in a serious spin. I've lost the back end in the cold on a straight bit of road and very nearly hit the kerb You don't often hear owners on here tell of there misses but we all have them even the cook from kent Sorry to hear of your bump maybe you could buy it back and repair it ???? You know the car and you know what the bump was like. Might be worth thinking about or sit on it wait till someone else spanks their ARSE and the clam will end up on ebay It may even be the same colour !!!!!!

Edited by Baron Von Scubadaddy, 08 December 2009 - 09:51 PM.

[jonnyboy]

Nobody should be relying on ESP/TC to save them in normal road driving conditions, only collision avoidance helping you control the car more.

Very true but I'd guess a lot of what my wife would call "normal people" haven't spent a lot of time doing trackdays/drifting/arsing around on roundabouts/in carparks learning what a car does when it looses grip.

Oversteer is the oddest feeling in the world if your not used to it. I think thats what catches a lot of people out is just not knowing how to handle that scenario if it comes up *again I'm not commenting at all on this or any other individual accident*

If you panic your almost bound to crash. I'd like to think I'm at a stage where if it happens unexpectedly I can react instinctively to sort it out. In fact now I remember I did test this theory at Rockingham the other week when I was doing about 80 and lost all grip.....4 wheel drift towards the kitty litter. Gulp. Nice light inputs and throttle feathering sorted it. a Few years ago I would probably have gripped the steering wheel too tight, panicked and crashed!

I do feel for people in this situation though as forum keyboard heroics aside the VX is not an easy car to handle on the limit in the same way something like an M car or something similar is.

Theres a lot to be said for arsing around getting used to oversteer.

[Pooh Bear]

in 37 years of driving and around a million miles I have seen diesel on the road plenty of times, when you ride a motorbike (as I have for well over 20 years as well as cars and trucks) you learn to spot the rainbow effect on the tarmac and can even smell it sometimes it's usually on the exits of petrol stations or on roundabout frequented by buses and lorries (in the past I've often seen fuel sloshing out of filler caps of overfilled lorries)

(though not the 37 years of driving bit )

I work near a big fuel depot where tankers are coming and going all day long, spilling overfill of diesel on at least 2 round-abouts and one very main road. Loads of fun to be had when I'm driving my Omega but potentially treacherous in the VX.

Nonetheless you've got to drive differently in the wet in a RWD, but you know that now and you have my sympathy. Hope you get it sorted soon

Edited by Penny, 08 December 2009 - 09:57 PM.

[RobNA]

... and how most ALL of the time they do exactly what YOU tell them to - nothing more and nothing less

[jonnyboy]

Unless it s a Stratos replica

[RobNA]

(Or something breaks)

[cthomas443]

maybe you could buy it back and repair it ????


Might be worth thinking about
or sit on it wait till someone else spanks their ARSE and the clam
will end up on ebay

It may even be the same colour !!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item20ae63205e

[Mangham54]

Hey Tom, I am gutted to hear your news after all the effort you have lavished on it in recent months. Whereabouts were you, was it local? Which Just Car Clinic is it, the Bradford one? If so, I know two colleagues that have had work done there, one excellent the other 50:50. If they do repair it, and fingers and toes crossed that they do for you, then it won't come with a category, but just double check the quality of the paint finish as Emma's was a little rough around the panel joins ('54-reg Mini Cooper S) Also if it is the Bradford centre then I can pop down at lunch tomorrow and ask to have a nosey as I work about 5mins walk from it. If it is a write-off and they offer a decent amount for buying it back, then any help I can provide will be offered without question. I was coincidentally gonna PM you yesterday to see if you fancied joining a couple of us for a Mini meet just outside Wakey. Turns out my car is sidelined again for a little while anyway needing a nearside Track Rod Ed after I have fcuked it trying to check it.

[Yellow_or_black?]

... and how most ALL of the time they do exactly what YOU tell them to - nothing more and nothing less

There are probably times when anyone of any level of driving experience would get caught out?

And there are times when it comes down to whether you are skilled enough to deal with being caught out - as you allude to. If I got caught out by diesel, the only thing I remember Walshy saying if the car goes into a spin is hands off the steering wheel, and clutch and brakes down to the floor. I wouldn't have the skill/wherewithall to do anything else eg try to correct it

Don't panic OP; sit tight and see what your insurance company say. Keep us updated

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

I like a bit of 'Point and squirt' work that one out if you can

[TOMVX220]

maybe you could buy it back and repair it ????


Might be worth thinking about
or sit on it wait till someone else spanks their ARSE and the clam
will end up on ebay

It may even be the same colour !!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item20ae63205e

Would the damage on this one not put you off??? Also, is the turbo clam exactly the same as the N/A?

[rsg]

Also, is the turbo clam exactly the same as the N/A?

Not exactly, its got holes in for the front splitters. So yeah you can use a turbo one

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

maybe you could buy it back and repair it ????


Might be worth thinking about
or sit on it wait till someone else spanks their ARSE and the clam
will end up on ebay

It may even be the same colour !!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item20ae63205e

Would the damage on this one not put you off??? Also, is the turbo clam exactly the same as the N/A?

Looks like there is a bit of work there
a front clam will come along

Ask Fab !

or you could buy it as a silly project and learn to fibre glass and do it your self.

Then get it spayed by a bodyshop
by then the head lights have been on ebay too

Roberts your mothers sister

Edited by Baron Von Scubadaddy, 08 December 2009 - 10:20 PM.

[Sutol]

Walshy day, left hand bend, seen quite a few 'good' drivers go round and spin, strangely from where i was standing not one of them remotely came close to rescueing it. And that was when they were expecting it!

[TOMVX220]

Hey Tom,

I am gutted to hear your news after all the effort you have lavished on it in recent months. Whereabouts were you, was it local?

Which Just Car Clinic is it, the Bradford one?

If so, I know two colleagues that have had work done there, one excellent the other 50:50. If they do repair it, and fingers and toes crossed that they do for you, then it won't come with a category, but just double check the quality of the paint finish as Emma's was a little rough around the panel joins ('54-reg Mini Cooper S)

Also if it is the Bradford centre then I can pop down at lunch tomorrow and ask to have a nosey as I work about 5mins walk from it. If it is a write-off and they offer a decent amount for buying it back, then any help I can provide will be offered without question. I was coincidentally gonna PM you yesterday to see if you fancied joining a couple of us for a Mini meet just outside Wakey. Turns out my car is sidelined again for a little while anyway needing a nearside Track Rod Ed after I have fcuked it trying to check it.

Hi Mangham

I know, the whole thing is a sickening nightmare. It happened at Woolley Edge service station leaving the petrol station on the slip road heading towards West Bretton southbound. I was going so bloody slow, it was like a slow motion clip, it was more of a bump than a smash......

Theyve taken it to the Just Car Clinic in Wakefield. Might be good if you could perhaps take a look at it sometime with me, would be a BIG favour!! Ive just planned a trip to France in June in the car too.

It was still driveable, I drove it myself up onto the loader truck.

No side damage or airbag deploy or damage to wheels / tyres.

I just hope they can sort it. Have you ever had any misfortune in yours?

[Mangham54]

Hey Tom,

I am gutted to hear your news after all the effort you have lavished on it in recent months. Whereabouts were you, was it local?

Which Just Car Clinic is it, the Bradford one?

If so, I know two colleagues that have had work done there, one excellent the other 50:50. If they do repair it, and fingers and toes crossed that they do for you, then it won't come with a category, but just double check the quality of the paint finish as Emma's was a little rough around the panel joins ('54-reg Mini Cooper S)

Also if it is the Bradford centre then I can pop down at lunch tomorrow and ask to have a nosey as I work about 5mins walk from it. If it is a write-off and they offer a decent amount for buying it back, then any help I can provide will be offered without question. I was coincidentally gonna PM you yesterday to see if you fancied joining a couple of us for a Mini meet just outside Wakey. Turns out my car is sidelined again for a little while anyway needing a nearside Track Rod Ed after I have fcuked it trying to check it.

Hi Mangham

I know, the whole thing is a sickening nightmare. It happened at Woolley Edge service station leaving the petrol station on the slip road heading towards West Bretton southbound. I was going so bloody slow, it was like a slow motion clip, it was more of a bump than a smash......

Theyve taken it to the Just Car Clinic in Wakefield. Might be good if you could perhaps take a look at it sometime with me, would be a BIG favour!! Ive just planned a trip to France in June in the car too.

It was still driveable, I drove it myself up onto the loader truck.

No side damage or airbag deploy or damage to wheels / tyres.

I just hope they can sort it. Have you ever had any misfortune in yours?

Nearest thing I have managed is getting the arse end untidy as I came out of Halfords the other week, but managed to correct it. Had only just got the car back and forgot what I was driving and gave it a bootfull... could have been messy.

As for visiting the Just Car Clinic in Wakey that's fine with me... If you can arrange an evening this week (Tomorrow or Thursday would be best) then I will be there no problem... Weekends are not so good for me as I am always in Newcastle upon Tyne. I'll PM you my mobile number and we can try and arrange something.

My car just keep having rattles, squeeks and other noises that spook me and then I park it up and start splashing the cash on it again. Spent the best part of £2-3k on mine alone and that is just bits and pieces. I love the car, but it is becoming a real money pit. Just trying to get the cash together to do a suspension / steering parts refresh and hopefully that should be ready for Spring.

[NickB787]

Glad your OK and looking at repairing it, it will be written off almost certainly. Just be careful out there PLEASE it cost us ALL in the end, (not at anyone in particular)

[Anarchy]

I know exactly how you feel and happened to me very close to there just off the motorway at Bretton. I do blame my driving though, had the car six years driven daily in all weather and one day I put my foot down on a muddy roundabout at about 15 mph, 5mph impact on sill £3500 claim. Took mine to Grange moor coachworks, done many Elises and was a good job and got some extras thrown in. But surely is that not what GAP insurance is for so you dont loose out and can buy an exact replacement? Oh and the guy who thinks 1/2 of them are write offs, yourej ust taking the p*ss right, or am I missing something?

Edited by Anarchy, 08 December 2009 - 10:40 PM.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

is it just the lenses on the head lamps? or have the units gone too ?

[Zoobeef]

But surely is that not what GAP insurance is for so you dont loose out and can buy an exact replacement?

Your normal payout from the insurance should allow you to buy an exact replacement. The gap means you will get the same money back that you paid for your car. Meaning that with the value coming down since you bought the car then you should have a bit of cash in the pocket