lorrainecallison

Just seeing if anyone else can report any similar mishaps.....was driving thru country roads in Essex yesterday, terrible weather, pouring with rain, not driving particularly fast but obviously took a corner a bit too fast for the weather conditions, as did the merc coming in the opposite direction at the same time - swerved slightly to avoid and ended up totally losing grip and skidding for about 50 yds, initially on my side then veering onto the opposite side of the road, finally managing to correct but ending up in bushes/ branches which sheered into the bumper, wrecking half of it.
I do seriously thank God or whoever is up there that no other vehicles were on the other side of the road at the same time as I was, but have already had comments from (?) friends along the theme of 'told you a woman shouldn't be driving one of them', etc.
I now have to find out the cost of a new bumper (any ideas?) and am wondering whether anyone else has tales of any similar misdemeanours... or is it time to listen to the voice of reason (my mother) and start looking to trade in for Nissan Micra perhaps .....

Steve169

To be fair tho if you had lost it in a Micra you would have prob been off the road in a much bigger way !

Anger

iTrader: (4)

Letting off the gas peddle mid-corner in the wet is allways a No No in the wet as it un settles the car and normaly ends up with the back stepping out, even worse if you swerved as well

Glad your ok to tell the story as you never know what could have been coming the other way....

lorrainecallison

Very true!

Steve169

Thats always my argument with my mum (yes im 29 and she still complains about my car) I tell its "safer" for pulling out of junctions and on corners etc...

lorrainecallison

I appreciate yr advice.... to be honest I can't remember what I did; fortunately back didn't swing out, but yes, I was v.lucky and hope will learn from it

lorrainecallison

Good one......I'll remember that! I daren't tell you how old I am but I bet you'll find your mum is still saying the same things when you're my age!

EmEm

Opps, Sorry to hear of your misfortune!!
What year is your car? If your in Essex, try ESB (Essex Subaru Breakers), they deal with second and new parts, and are very fairly priced! Give them a call 01268 572149.
I hate driving my car in the rain!! Good luck!

Lippy x

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

Lorraine,
Sorry to hear that hun, when I bought mine the dealer always said give it respect otherwise it will kick you in the ****, that statement has aleays stayed with me, fair play to you though, as someone has alrady said if it had been a smaller car it could have been a lot worse hope you get it sorted soon.
Cheers
Colin

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Keep the car.
Just a bit of a wake up call. (correct entry speed is vital)
Which slid first the front or the back end?
Glad you are OK

dpb

Sounds as tho you aquaplanned , could of happened in any car although 40 profile tyres on my sti and rock hard susupension just made it more susceptible



slow in ,fast out

DCI Gene Hunt

All cars have the ability to 'lose' grip, swerve, skid & slide, but not all of them are as recoverable as the Subaru

girl-in-a-scoob

Glad you are okay... Car can be mended.... They do have a tendency to aquaplane Ive found... I guess its all about set up and tyres

DCI Gene Hunt

Mine seems to ****** violently to the left during waterskiing sessions at high speed .... quite offputting at times!

girl-in-a-scoob

nice one DCI...

Hi

speedking

LorraineCollision

tyres = Goodyear Eagle F1.

I find that I can drive just as fast in the rain as the dry. Big difference to other cars on the road. I look forward to the rain, it's when all that expense pays off.

Smooth driving style is also essential.

You're joking right

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

Chin up. everyone involved is ok. that's all that matters!

Sound like you aquaplanned, deep standing water is a problem for any car. Either than or you're telling us porkies about your cornering speed.

Driven smoothly -and that's the key- Scoobies are great in the wet. I actually enjoy driving mine in the wet and it's running significantly more than std power- it's a very sure footed car.

What tires did you have on? What condition were they in?

Ns04

billythekid

Go and see the guys at Cadence Driver Development. Spend a day on the skid pan with them and you will learn a lot and also if you can get out on the road with Hugh and you will enjoy your driving a lot more for it too.

Shark Man

Sounds like, going by op that the car understeered (scooby tradition ) onto the wrong side of the road, and then came back too sharply.

If so then, possibly too much corrective steering was used when the car went into the slide. So when grip comes back the, car veers off wildly due to excessive angle the wheels are at.

With understeer it is a temptation to turn the steering far more than nessercery - this makes the slide worse, and "if" grip does come back, you have to turn the wheel back very very quickly to stop the car veering off the road...which sometimes can unsettle the back end, which if not corrected quick enough, then fishtails and spits you into a field...usually backwards (another scooby trait)


Country roads are notrious for poor grip at this time of year, due to muddy water running off fields and from farm machinary. Add to that summer tyres that don't work at their best in cold temepratures and you have what is essentially very greasy and slippery conditions on what looks like a normal wet/damp road. And you only find that out once you go into a slide.

If it scares you, try a skid pan course.

dpb

But like ^^ he said once youve lost it the whole set up doesnt let you get back on like a front or rear wheel drive motor .

lorrainecallison

Thanks for that! Car is 04 WRX and am in Essex so will definately give them a go if cannot be repaired (unlikely!) but have someone looking at it this week so will see what they say

lorrainecallison

Definately will! But will show it more respect in future, as Scoob 99 (Colin) said. Thinking back was the back end slid first, but as someone else said, felt more like aquaplaning

lorrainecallison

Just had a look at tyres (not easy in the dark I can tell you!) - Bridgestone in front, Potenza RE 050 at rear - doesn't mean much to me I'm afraid! Recent MOT said tyre condition good.

lorrainecallison

I like it : am definately changing my name to Lorraine Collision

lorrainecallison

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my tale of woe - you may all have thought 'silly cow' but were polite enough not to say it, just offered good advice and help instead x

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

you may all have thought 'silly cow' but were polite enough not to say it,


Not at all Lorraine, just because it could have been anyone of us, at least you had the bottle to admit you were maybe going a little bit too fast (a woman admitting she's wrong) but on a serious note glad you are OK and your Scooby can be sorted
Cheers
Colin

sportwagonred

lorraine,
Don't let anyone tell you they haven't had a fright when driving a scooby at some time. If you haven't frightened yourself at some point during your driving career yopu aren't driving your car properly( fast enough). Been sat at the side of a Police driver when he's taken to the grass verge to avoid standing traffic around a bend, then a couple of days later ditto, but fortunately where the verge has been wide enough to avoid hitting anything.
You were just on the wrong road otherwise you'd have been as lucky as me and not caused any damage.
As alreadt suggested a day, hour, on a skid pan does wonders for car control and as important it's great fun.

andy97

iTrader: (1)

stiffer front and rear ARB would reduce the snap from lift off oversteer

Stevesbluewrx

iTrader: (4)

Lorraine,

Take it with a pinch of salt mate. Wrong time wrong place. Chin up.

I am not a mad driver nor do I take any risks (Anger will back me up on this). However I've had two crashes this year. Both were not my fault.
One was in my WRX when a idiot pulled straight out of a petrol garage on a duel carridgeway.Resulted in my rolling the car three times and being hit by a van coming the opposite direction. Car written off as you would have thought.
And in the STi some idiot on the wrong side of the road over taking cars hit the whole side of the car.

Its just one of those things. Get the car fixed and enjoy it.

Steve

lorrainecallison

Blimey, you have been very unlucky - hope it was just your cars that were injured, not you.
Thanks for telling your stories; I am certainly not going to give in over this; it's taken me too many years to get to the point where I can drive what I want!