Since we have fun threads about complete strangers admiring our cars, I thought I'd start one to relive heart-stopping terror of *almost* ruining your nice, new sports car in an accident.

Point in case on my drive home today I got a refresher on two things: 1) how nicely my 8 handles, and 2) why some old people shouldn't have licences.

Cruising along about 40 on my way home, hit this stretch that is *almost* straight with a very, very slight curve towards the left.. more of a lean than a curve. So I see this beige sedan pulling up at a side-street, and thought to myself "idiot better not pull in front of me."

Sure enough, without even so much as *glancing* in my direction, this old moron just pulls right out into my lane... at this point I would measure the distance between us in feet rather than yards, to the point where if I hadn't reacted I would have plowed right into the side of his car in *front* of the driver's door. Yup, that's how close I was when this idiot decided to pull out. As it was the lane next to me was blessedly empty and I yanked to the side, and missed him by a few inches at best. It was so close I checked the paint on the right side of my car as soon as I got home.

The good news is in almost any other car I've ever driven except my mum's Miata, I think I would definitely have had an accident right there, and a bad one to boot. Gotta love that handling.

Last week, 10pm at night I was doing 60 down a street by my house and I vw new bug shot out in front of me from the side to go up the street. I saw the car coming and knew it was going for it. I shot to the left to miss the bug cutting me off. I got a huge scare from that and everytime I drive down that street it replays in my mind.

Yours was nuthin'
Alright: Friday 8pm, I was with a few other friends and wife having dinner at a Thai restaurant. Car parked at 90º on the parkinglot with a slight downhill incline.

By 9pm, I had had one beer and lots of those beef brochettes & peanut butter. I was laughing like a maniac, until this guys approaches from my right. He was asking "Whose that red rx8 from?"

By then, my mind was telling me: "oh, another guys wants to compliment me for the car -so bad, he couldn't resist it and had to start stalking everyone at the restaurant."

To his question: "sure, that 8 is mine!!" I said
Guess by now what HE said??
OK, I'll leave for now....and tell you all later....

:eek:

What? What? What happened next !?!

"Ohh....your car is in the middle of the parking lot....it hit another car."

I turned white, no no no, not white....transparent. I have witnesses, the poeple I was having dinner with.

My brain pictured a twisted mass of red sheet metal....xenon headlamps crushed, airbags deployed and busted (ha, with the car shutoff..), rims bended...

I ran outside without saying a word. Looked at the spot were the 8 used to be parked....nothing. I was in panic. I looked up right downhill...and saw it.

My 8 had smashed its rear bumper against another parked car. My heart started to beat again, color was coming back to my face.
"It is not as bad as I thought" I said to myself, "the side panels are OK."

I reached for it, looked carefuly, avoiding the rear bumper. Then I looked...the rear lights were fine. The bumper seemed to be alright as well. The Nissan Sentra that got hit was also alright!

I proceeded to push the car uphill (I didn't want to hop in, start the car and drive...too complicated.)

Parked it once again were it used to be, pulled the park brake all the way, and 1st gear. Went to the rear bumper....not a scratch. NOTHING, NADA, ZERO damage.

Went back to see the Nissan....the same, it was clean like a brand new pair of shoes.

This my friends taught me a good lesson...."don't be good with the god damn park brake, and if you think its not going to be enough...set in in gear -1st or 2nd, and if you are still not satisfied..put a brick behind each tire....and if thats not enough either....drive away..find another spot. BUT NEVER, EVER park your 8 on a downhill spot."

Originally posted by RX8-TX
This my friends taught me a good lesson...."don't be good with the god damn park brake, and if you think its not going to be enough...set in in gear -1st or 2nd"This must be yet another area where the US licence test differs from that in Australia and the UK. Over there, we are taught that you should always put the car in gear as well as engaging the handbrake when parking. It's called "making the vehicle safe," and it also includes turning the wheels towards the kerb when parking on a significant slope.

Glad your baby escaped unscathed.

Originally posted by eccles
another area where the US licence test differs from that in Australia and the UK. Over there, WE are taught..

Eccles, are you from the UK or Australia???
Edit: never mind my stupid question. I just saw your Bio.

And trust me, I will NEVER park again, not matter what the slope is..without egaging a gear....NEVER.

Originally posted by RX8-TX
Eccles, are you from the UK or Australia???Bit o' both, actually. Originally British, but spent most of my life in Oz before moving here five years ago. :)

Thats not a close call its a accident


Glad everything is ok

Originally posted by mikeb
Thats not a close call its a accident

Glad everything is ok

I guess the 8 runs with its own guardian angel or something. Comes from factory.....

Originally posted by RX8-TX


I guess the 8 runs with its own guardian angel or something. Comes from factory.....

Yikes- glad your car is ok- this is like my worst nightmare.

I did this too, but with a bright red turbo beetle- and what was worse was that it was the ONLY time I didn't put it in gear while I had it. Lucky for me, the front wheels caught on a curb and stopped it from rolling down a hill onto an interstate. I know exactly what you mean that you turned transparent- I about had a heart attack when it happened, and my dinner partner said I turned white. Unfortunately, the beetle had some body damage (not too bad but noticible), but fortunately, it was a work vehicle, and when I returned it and explained, they told me not to worry, because one of our buyers had totaled a new 5 series that morning, so what I did was nothing in comparison.

Learned my lesson, though- I'll run out 2-3 times during the day to make sure I put it in gear and the parking brake was engaged well. Made me completely paranoid.

Being a San Francisco resident, I never remove my keys until my car is in gear with the parking brake (not "emergency brake") engaged and the wheels curbed.