Well, i had a helluva day yesterday. I went to Canterbury for a job interview, and got it :-) (20k payrise - woop!)
However, it went badly wrong on the way home at 9pm i clearly hit some black ice going at 65 in the middle lane of the M3. I suddenly felt the car sliding bit like aquaplaning, and eased off the accelerator slightly, but the car jumped and spun in an instant, and i twirled 500m down the motorway, bouncing off the central reservation and a few trucks. I counted at least seven crunches! I came to a standstill in the outside lane, engine cut out, saw bonnet crumpled and steam spraying out so pressed the hazard light button and jumped out - few other cars pulled onto the hard shoulder - i dialled 999 on my mobile and dodging traffic ran to the hard shoulder in a fair state of panic. operator said police on their way, and the "slow down 50mph limit" motorway lights came on. Other drivers were slowing down and avoiding my car for a couple of minutes then whump, some woman in a merc estate hit my car at full pelt (?probably 70+) catapulting it 100yards further down the carriageway. If i hadn\'t run to the hard shoulder i would have been squashed! Thank god i got out! Fortunately the woman got out of her car and walked to the hard shoulder with the help of someone who gratefully stopped to help. Her car was destroyed too. The amount of debris strewn over the carriageway was incredible, my car was half the size and unrecognisable. The police though i\'d been hit by a lorry and couldn\'t identify the car at all. Anyway, i dodged requests to go to hospital and spend 6 hours in A&E so the recovery guys dropped me off at Basingstoke train station - i got home four hours ago. Heres a quick snap taken with my crappy mobile, i\'ll upload some proper gory pics when i get to the recovery compound later on. I hope the insurance pays out!
anyway, i\'m still alive, hopefully i\'ll get another rex if the money comes through. I would like to stress that i wasn\'t speeding, swerving, stamping on the accelerator or forgetting about the second turbo when the tail end went, it was absolutely unexpected. Tyres were all new with >5mm tread too. So watch out folks, its icy on the roads! If i get another one, i will be surely a fair weather driver!
This maybe the end - for now,
ash
i\'d like to add that i\'ve got a nice circular purple bruise occupying most of my chest - so much for momos -wish i\'d had an airbag!
These cars do bite unexpectedly sometimes.
Thats another one to the winter list hope not many more bite the dust this winter.
doesn\'t sound like there was much you could do about that.. good job you got out the car in time!
hey dandan - we should start a new club!
//www.mazdarotaryoffs.co.uk
Terrible news :eek :eek but good god mate that was a lucky escape !!
It may not feel like it but you are very lucky to be here to tell the tale from the sounds of it !!
It\'s been said many times before, you can always replace a car, but you only get one shot at life :chat
Hope the insurance company gives you a big fat payout and you buy yourself a nice replacement, at least you did a proper job of it and don\'t have to worry about them deciding to fix it !!
You walked away, that the best Christmas present you will get this year! Hope it all gets sorted out relatively pain free.
Well done on getting the job!
Flippin eck mate sorry to see this post, don\'t think I can stand the bad news of another Southampton Rx7 mangled. Are we jinxed down here? glad mine\'s tucked up safe at the moment. Watch out Rich looks like the odds are against us at this time.
On a better note Ash it\'s good to know you only came away with some bumps and bruises. You could have given me a shout last night for a lift back home. But nice to know you made it home safe.
If you need any help with sorting the car etc let me know and I will try and help out. Hope this is not the end of your Rex ownership mate, try not to be put off after this nasty experience. I remember picking up my car and the seller saying respect the car at all times, soon found out what he ment the first time I took it out in the rain. Think that was my first ploppy pant\'s moment in the Rex :p .
Good luck with all the insurance payout etc Ash. Like I say at least you are ok God bless mate cheers Leigh.
Glad you got out of that one alive!!!
Must have been surreal watching the Merc slam into your car, something like out of "Final Destination"
Well with your payment you should get yourself an already modded Single Turbo RX
Glad you walked away mate!
G
Good job you didn\'t stay with the car as that could have been disaster.
As sad as it is to lose the car its very lucky you are ok as when bouncing off trucks you could have gone underneath them, so count your blessings chap and have a happy christmas.
Hope to see you on here again soon.
Gurj
thanks everyone - i\'ll wait to see what the insurance co turn up with - hopefully a rex-sized amount!
ash
oh and heres the merc
Good to hear that your ok mate and that everyone walked away. Should of really got checked out at A+E though mate, but thats just me talking :)
Lets hope your insurance company are good and get everything sorted out quickly.
Well done for getting your new job, im sure that payrise will go a long way to helping sort out a new rex :)
Adam
Ash
Glad you\'re ok :)
Does that mean there will be 2 consultants in Kent with RX7s? (when get your replacement, of course :) )
Regards
Mark
I\'m speechless................so so lucky you got out when you did
wow, lucky escape mate, it was only a car you surivived with something much more important....
P.S. Well done on the job front, a 20k pay rise should easily see you back ont he road in no time with another nice motor
Congrats on the job front... wow.. what a fudging nightmare on the car front!
Glad to hear you are ok mate, I am gonna be driving about like captain paranoid until April!!
sorry to hear about the car...
glad your ok though..
I am sure with a hammer and bit of filler you could make good on the body work though new set of wheels and you are away!!!
good luck in the new job... what a car you could get for 20k....mmmmm
whoa, glad your ok mate and congrats on the new job. Looks like one hell of a smash!
[snip]
Seriously though that is a nightmare but it\'s good that you are ok, you seem pretty cheerful about the whole thing to be honest, best way IMO.
[snip]
Quote from: ashchey dandan - we should start a new club!
//www.mazdarotaryoffs.co.uk
I\'m up for that, lets go out pouring diesel on the roads to increase our membership.... :D
Glad to hear you made it relatively unscathed from that accident.
Good luck with your new job and the the rex hunt.
Have you heard anything more about your coilovers ??? I tried getting in touch myself and have had no reply ?!?
Dan - told u those wheels were cursed!!!! haha
Ian - got through to srb today at last, obviosly i cancelled the order as i dont have a car anymore!! - they charged me 10% cancellation fee though!
by the way, anyone dubious about that recent thread about the new series of traffic cops on the m3/m27 next year, there is no doubt its real - there were tv cameras all over me, i\'m famous!!!
went and visited it this afternoon, pulled my stereo and managed to get a few tools out of the bins etc. Will upload some decent photos later!
Ash
pics - note rx-7s didn\'t come with independent 4 wheel steering as standard.
Also, both strut braces sheared off and storage bins compressed into thin plastic storage wallets.
Holy Sh1t!! You are a lucky man by the looks of that matey!
Comiserations.
Ha, the very best thing, was you got out OK. stuff the car. get another one anytime but get get another you! Na. Still it\'s very sad it happened good luck for the future! All the best Normski!!!!!!! :wiggle
thank god your ok matey!!
another warning to us all, we are never as good as our cars, lets hope this is the last of the year.
at least your ok ash.
N
ouch thats a bit of a mess :( ... lucky you weren\'t in it at the time !
Jesus... werent messing there!! SO So glad you got out of that one mate..as has been said..you can replace a car but not your life.. Hopefully ull get a nice fat payout soon..and get back into another awesome rx... ull have to give me a call if you want a hand sourcing one ill be more than happy giving u a hand bud... And congrats on that payrise... which i got payrises like that!!! All the best bud...take it easy! we all look forward to seing you back in a another superb rx.....
Cheers
matt
It is good you are not to severly injured bro.....I have taken people out of cars not half that damaged and they were \'broken\',your body would never have dealt with the forces generated there,I am sorry to say.Whatever\\Whoever you believe in....give Thanks bro..
whoa!! Glad your OK mate, that looks one hell of a smash!!
[snip]
Leigh- not to worry mine tucked up too!! Not chancing this weather!!
Well with a 20K pay rise you should be able to get another pretty easy!!
Shameless plug time- If/when you get the insurance, maybe you\'d be intrested in mine?? Check the for sale section for details!!
Take care bud,
Rich
Glad your ok, i was imagining myself doing this last week on the M1 - mega slippery. We should deffo have a \'gone but not forgotten\' section on the forum.
Nasty, it could have been a whole lot worse for you mate, glad to hear you came out of it relatively unscathed.
Might be worth grabbing a few other bits from it if you get the chance I\'m sure there are some bits that survived.
Glad you walked away from that Ash, somebody must have been watching over you.
Holy sh1t :eek: :eek:
Glad you are OK mate.
glad to hear your ok
hope that bloody mercedes driver is getting a good slap on the wrists for doing that sort of speed when told to do 50, potentially making it a fatal situation! just think how bad it could of been if there had been children or something trapped in the car. Obviously she couldnt be arsed slowing down for an accident, she drives a Mercedes :yes
Was the car a definite write off before her impact??
You know I have noticed here, all these comments! Even when things go tits up. we are there as one team. I like that! :wiggle. Thats what I like.....
ryan- after the first spin, there was steam coming out of the bonnet so i presume i split the radiator, i dunno whether it would have been a write off, didn\'t look as bad as dandans though. As it was stationary straddling the outside lane / central barrier, i left all the lights on etc and went for the hard shoulder pronto on foot. After a few minutes of folk slowing down and avoiding it, i was just half-nearly-thinking about getting back in it and attempting to drive it back to the hard shoulder when it got hit, thank heavens i didn\'t!! And thanks to the dude that stopped to help who also told me that was a bad thought!
Regarding breaking the remnants, the car was fully serviced by re:worx 900miles previously, compression tested at high 8s all round and a brand new x-treme single plate clutch was fitted. The engine bay didn\'t look too bad, but i know both axles were snapped and i reckon the whole transmission was a bit telescoped, so probably fubar. ergo, i am going to relinquish it to the insurance co. Also, i don\'t have anywhere to dismantle it. But if anyone\'s interested, let me know and i\'ll find out where its going.
Here\'s the last photos i took of her the weekend before:
RIP FD3S-202119
Looking at the "after" pics, i think you can salvage the spare wheel ? :)
Thats about it by the looks of it, very bad good job you were not in the car :(
Holy crap, make you happy to be out of it.
holy crap!!!! :eek
you are very lucky , id send the pictures in to redline as they give free stuff away , then sell what ever it is, you are bound to win!!!!
Err Ash,
[snip]
Anyone see Lost with Hurley and his cursed numbers?..... ;)
[snip]
damn jinxes.
Quote from: dandanErr Ash,
not being funny here but the wheels kind of look intact......
Anyone see Lost with Hurley and his cursed numbers?..... ;)
Whatever you do, don\'t sell those wheels on! it\'s time they were crushed. damn jinxes.
oh dear someones been watching too much telly :wiggle
Holy crap!
Figured it must have been bad when I got the txt\'s yesterday, but I had no idea untill I saw these pics. Was Stevie Wonder driving the Merc then?
Glad to hear/see that your all right dude. Gis a shout and well have a beer some time soon.
Ian
cheers ian - gotta get some transport then we should catch up - at least yours went to a good home (shame i didn\'t **** mine earlier - i\'d have had it!!)
Anyway, watch it on that bike of yours this winter dude!
ash
good tip on redline - i\'ll have a go - but it means i\'ve got to buy a copy! arrgh!
Bikes in the garage...and its staying there!!!!!
Im white van man now as Dan will testify!!!!
Sorry to hear about your awful trip home!
Glad your fine, thats the main thing. Nice one on the job too!!
Quote from: iiyamaIm white van man now as Dan will testify!!!!
hey I didn\'t spend a saturday morning sticking stuff on your van for you to call it white! it\'s white and blue now!
Keep us updated on the insurance process ash, i think a lot of people will like to know what they can expect if the worst happens.
:)
Damn...you are very lucky mate, cars can be replaced but limbs and lifes cant...congratulations on the payrise though
btw, any chance i you can get the centre caps off them mazdaspeed wheels for me, been looking for a set of them for ages :p
Quote from: dandanErr Ash,
[snip]
Anyone see Lost with Hurley and his cursed numbers?..... ;)
[snip]
damn jinxes.
dont be saying things like that...
check out the number plates
hope there is no bad omen...
well, i got bored of waiting for the insurance to come through so i\'ve *cough* gone and bought a cheap s14 to pootle about in - goes well but nothing like the rx7 did. At least its jap, rwd and tubbed. Hopefully cheaper to run for a year while i save up for the mother of all rexes. I\'m still in love with rx-7s so i\'ll be back as soon as funds allow! I\'m going to have to migrate to sxoc *ahem* for a bit i\'m afraid. All the best - i\'ll still be keeping up with the rotary scene. I\'ve got a few nice fd bits for sale i\'ll get round to posting in the sale section soon.
Ash
Whoa!!!!!! is that even a rex!! Glad your ok and well. Dont enjoy yourself too much on the other side though and come back soon. Congrats on job
Rixio
Ash,
Sorry to hear of another FD getting wiped out, but very pleased to hear that you are OK.
Cars can be replaced.
Noyzboy100dB
Ash,
No doubt you\'ll be back... Silvias are OK, but they\'re not as much of an event to drive as a rex.
Been seeing a lot of news about people smashing their cars this winter. The roads in the UK must be lethal with so much black ice around.
Good to see you\'re taking it so well anyways. Good luck!
Miguel
whoa, glad to hear your alright, these Rx\'s are really tough arnt they (and so are you!!!) mate maybe you should go to the hospital and get the all clear, sometimes you dont know.
and well done on getting the job matey!
Miguel, in Japan what do they put on the roads when it snows? I understand they don\'t salt or grit the roads, so do they snow plough the roads and make you use snow chains?
well, got the insurance co cheque from NIG and banked it today. I have to say, apart from being a bit slow (six weeks, seemed a long time but i\'m told it isn\'t!) they were very good really. Car was valued by the insurance co inspector at the expected price, which was exactly the same as i bought it for - so zero depreciation in 6 months - not bad. (but £1800 spent which is lost, obviously). I had "maximum protected" no claims, so switching to the silvia hasn\'t cost me any more in premium. When i can afford to run a rex as a weekend/trackday toy i\'ll definitely get another one - theres some awesome ones for sale at the moment - but this year i\'m going to be doing a lot more commuting so i\'m going to wait and see what pans out. Also moving house from Southampton to Canterbury area in April, so financially all a bit tight at the moment (guess i could have bought a micra...naaah). So, there you go, its all over on the rotary front for a bit - but i\'ll be back!
take care y\'all now,
Ash