Even like this, she's still a beautiful car
03-17-2007, 11:30 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by BrotherKoW
By bringing the back end out, I meant straighten the car out, because it was pointing to the left and I was moving to the left. I don't remember, but I'm sure I had the sense to turn the wheel towards the road. The whole thing didn't last very long. Let's be honest, when something like that happens you act on instinct, you don't think it through.
How old are you?
In Phoenix one time, in perfectly dry weather in 50 MPH traffic, someone came to a complete stop two cars ahead of me in order to make a right turn. When we all slammed on the brakes, my non-ABS 87 Jetta GLI locked up its tires. I calmly released the brakes as the car started to **** to the right (road crowning) and simply drove the car up over the curb on one side to avoid hitting the back of the car immediately in front of me. I came to a stop with my front bumper even with the middle of the guy's trunk, and alongside him on the right hand side with my right wheels squarely on the curb. It wasn't beautiful, but, by keeping my head, AND TURNING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE, I steered out of it and avoided a nasty collision. Time elapsed? Perhaps 2.5 seconds. Thinking back now, it feels like forever, but it certainly wasn't much
I also looped my sister's 4 door, FWD GM sedan off the road in a 3 or 4" snowfall once because, even with winter tires, I was driving too fast for the conditions. The road made a slight bend to the right, and I was going too fast and got the front tires out of the "grooves" in the unscraped snow surface. The back started to come around, and I made the situation worse even though I steered in the direction of the slide (i.e. to the left) because I lifted off the gas suddenly. Weight transition slewed the back of the car around, through a shallow ditch, then up onto some poor guy's driveway! I was able to drive it right back on the road (gravel driveway for traction!). I couldn't believe my luck (all of 20 years old at the time) but in hindsight, had to admit that I was the cause, driving 45 mph in the snow!
I just want you to see what you did wrong personally and learn from it. If there had been a corner in that road, the rail wouldn't have caught you. The RX-8 would have had enough momentum when the back came around to carry you right over it and down into the trees below.
03-17-2007, 12:13 PM
#29
To me, driving with summer tires on snow or ice would be about as safe as blindfolding myself and attempting to walk cross Fifth Avenue—I'll probably make it, but…
I sense that many, many people (not just 8 owners) simply don't realize you can't use summer tires when there's snow or ice. Or they seem to think winter tires are preferable—but not really necessary. And I think that's because not a big enough deal is made of the fact when they buy the car. Yes, the info is buried in the owner's manual, but that's not enough for something this important. It's easy for someone to assume their new car comes with all-seasons which, to most people, is the only kind of tire there is. Perhaps car companies are afraid they'll lose sales if they made a big deal about warning people to switch tires in winter—the last thing a new car buyer wants to hear is that they'll have to buy a second set of tires—but I think they should. There ought to be a card on the dashboard stating "Caution: This car is equipped with summer performance tires. Do not use these tires in winter!" (And believe me, no one hates legal disclaimers more than me! Maybe people would actually READ their owner's manual if 2/3 of it weren't legal bullshit.) But this is something that really ought to be shouted.
(Needless to say, in this instance there really is no explanation as to why summer tires were being used.)
Just my 2¢.
I sense that many, many people (not just 8 owners) simply don't realize you can't use summer tires when there's snow or ice. Or they seem to think winter tires are preferable—but not really necessary. And I think that's because not a big enough deal is made of the fact when they buy the car. Yes, the info is buried in the owner's manual, but that's not enough for something this important. It's easy for someone to assume their new car comes with all-seasons which, to most people, is the only kind of tire there is. Perhaps car companies are afraid they'll lose sales if they made a big deal about warning people to switch tires in winter—the last thing a new car buyer wants to hear is that they'll have to buy a second set of tires—but I think they should. There ought to be a card on the dashboard stating "Caution: This car is equipped with summer performance tires. Do not use these tires in winter!" (And believe me, no one hates legal disclaimers more than me! Maybe people would actually READ their owner's manual if 2/3 of it weren't legal bullshit.) But this is something that really ought to be shouted.
(Needless to say, in this instance there really is no explanation as to why summer tires were being used.)
Just my 2¢.
Last edited by New Yorker; 03-17-2007 at 12:30 PM.
03-17-2007, 02:09 PM
#30
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Originally Posted by ZoomZoomH
are you located near the mid-atlantic region brotherkow?
And monkey man, you're an ***. no one asked about your past, no one cares. do you need the ego boost That Badly?
03-18-2007, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by BrotherKoW
And monkey man, you're an ***. no one asked about your past, no one cares. do you need the ego boost That Badly?
I was sharing experiences directly related to car control vs. road conditions in a futile attempt to share what I've learned in the past. Based on your comments, you haven't learned one iota yet. That's the saddest point of this entire thread.
03-19-2007, 02:09 AM
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Originally Posted by CarAndDriver
It is rather strange how their have been a lot of 8 drives bragging about their crashes. Crazy!
I once saw a jacked-up 4x4 truck with muddin' tires on it wreck (in 4WD) on a road with just 2 inches of snow in Kentucky! I drove right on past it easily in my 1978 VW Scirocco and just shook my head wondering what they hell they were doing. It *IS* possible to wreck any car, if driven with enough stupidity and conviction.
Now if you'd been at work all day, didn't know that Al Gore was flying back into an airport near your town, and your 9-month-pregnant-wife had just gone into labor, and you had just one running vehicle in your household by which to get home, by all means that certainly absolves you of any stupidity Except for failing to buy, ahem, WINTER TIRES at the start of winter.
Okay, heheheheheh, perhaps I AM an ***! But you have to admit I'm a FUNNY one! :D
03-19-2007, 10:02 AM
#40
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Originally Posted by PhotoMunkey
. . . yet, fail to follow even the most simple instruction from Mazda about seasonal tire requirements. Do we really think we know that much more about this car's chassis than Mazda?
Not that it makes winter driving on the summer tires ok, or even somehow justifiable. I just really don't recall EVER hearing such info from any Mazda/dealer source.
03-19-2007, 02:38 PM
#41
It's just a flesh wound!
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DarkBrew's post #13 did give you mucho advanced warning of being flamed, you have to admit. Probably doesn't ease the sting though. At least you were prepared for the pain.
Sorry for your accident.
Michael
Sorry for your accident.
Michael
03-19-2007, 08:07 PM
#42
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black ice is dangerious, no matter what tires you have on there, you WILL lose control...
Thank goodness you're alright.. last thing we need is another member tragedy.
but i'll have to say, that picture is definately Calendar worthy!
Thank goodness you're alright.. last thing we need is another member tragedy.
but i'll have to say, that picture is definately Calendar worthy!
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