The Z and SUV's

In2Deep · 10-25-2009, 10:43 AM

Driving defensively, and anticipating the worst case scenario -- only goes so far. Z got bruised -- but isn't beaten.

Knowing very well that our low-slung Z's fly mostly invisible in SUV sideview mirrors, I keep that in mind whenever passing or coming up on one at a stop-light, etc. Unfortunately, sudden maneuvers by drivers of these large cars can't always be avoided.

So here's the quick run-down of my fender bender last week. Live and learn (or be reminded)....

Older woman driving a near-new Escalade is stopped at a light, about 10 cars back, in the left lane of a two lane major street.

I'm in the right lane, slowly approaching the line of about 5 cars stopped at the same light (so, true to human nature and the SUV driver, it presents a great opportunity to make up 5 positions in line).

Just as I'm rolling upon the Escalade (normal, as-expected speed in such a stop light scenario..maybe 5MPH, if that), with me being about 5 car lengths behind the last stopped car in my row of stopped cars, Ms. impatient Escalade driver, I guess trying to make up for 5 car lengths at a stop light (light is still red, no one moving) decides to jump out of her line, into mine. Crunch.

Basically this low-speed side-swipe of sorts -- wrinkles my entire left front quarter panel, and tags the left front fascia, separating the two slightly. Just body damage -- no wheel contact. Car was comletely driveable (as normal) -- just badly bruised.

Lady pulls immediately to the side of the road, apologizes profusely, gives all insurance and license info -- and we move on. I contact her insurance company the next morning, and they say she has already called in the claim, and stated was here fault. That said, and with all those uninsured and questionable people out there on the roads....I got lucky to be hit by someone "legit", and willing to accept the appropriate responsibility for the incident.

Now just have to find a capable body shop to fix my ride to new condition.
Definitely more an inconvenience than anything else. But gotta say....until she gets fixed....driving the Z with a black eye and abrasion....just doesn't deliver the same joyous emotional driving experience. I guess it's an ego thing.

Drive safe out there, Brothers, and just know that our low profiles are stealthy -- and the large, higher profile SUV's..basically don't know we're there.

I2D

Steven · 10-25-2009, 10:48 AM

damn, sorry to hear about that.. best of luck with the repairs!

Matt · 10-25-2009, 10:48 AM

Ugh, your story is definitely bittersweet. Good that everything worked out as well as it can in your situation, other than the lady dropping a suitcase of money for your troubles...

I don't buy the excuse that the Z is too small or low for these large vehicles to see us well enough. That lady would have hit a 707 coming down the highway because she was impatient and too lazy to even look in her mirrors.

jookiyaya · 10-25-2009, 10:50 AM

dayam another Z beaten.... hate to say this but pics? =/

Pheonix · 10-25-2009, 01:25 PM

Thats rough man, and your fortunate you managed to get hit by a decent and responsible driver. Hit and runs, or people with incorrect insurance information for just such a situation, are all too common today.

schrute · 10-25-2009, 01:28 PM

Sorry to hear about your Z. You're right, they don't see us!

That's good the other driver owned up. Good on her for that.

Pharmacist · 10-25-2009, 02:50 PM

Yeah, those big trucks and suvs are very dangerous. They take up way too much space on the road, have large blindspots, and their drivers almost always cut off other drivers. The other day, i was almost sideswiped by some moron in a chevy avalanche who cut from the right lane, through the left lane into the left turn lane to make a turn. And when I gave him a horn, the idiot started deliberately blocking me off and cussing me

kannibul · 10-25-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In2Deep

Driving defensively, and anticipating the worst case scenario -- only goes so far. Z got bruised -- but isn't beaten.

Knowing very well that our low-slung Z's fly mostly invisible in SUV sideview mirrors, I keep that in mind whenever passing or coming up on one at a stop-light, etc. Unfortunately, sudden maneuvers by drivers of these large cars can't always be avoided.

So here's the quick run-down of my fender bender last week. Live and learn (or be reminded)....

Older woman driving a near-new Escalade is stopped at a light, about 10 cars back, in the left lane of a two lane major street.

I'm in the right lane, slowly approaching the line of about 5 cars stopped at the same light (so, true to human nature and the SUV driver, it presents a great opportunity to make up 5 positions in line).

Just as I'm rolling upon the Escalade (normal, as-expected speed in such a stop light scenario..maybe 5MPH, if that), with me being about 5 car lengths behind the last stopped car in my row of stopped cars, Ms. impatient Escalade driver, I guess trying to make up for 5 car lengths at a stop light (light is still red, no one moving) decides to jump out of her line, into mine. Crunch.

Basically this low-speed side-swipe of sorts -- wrinkles my entire left front quarter panel, and tags the left front fascia, separating the two slightly. Just body damage -- no wheel contact. Car was comletely driveable (as normal) -- just badly bruised.

Lady pulls immediately to the side of the road, apologizes profusely, gives all insurance and license info -- and we move on. I contact her insurance company the next morning, and they say she has already called in the claim, and stated was here fault. That said, and with all those uninsured and questionable people out there on the roads....I got lucky to be hit by someone "legit", and willing to accept the appropriate responsibility for the incident.

Now just have to find a capable body shop to fix my ride to new condition.
Definitely more an inconvenience than anything else. But gotta say....until she gets fixed....driving the Z with a black eye and abrasion....just doesn't deliver the same joyous emotional driving experience. I guess it's an ego thing.

Drive safe out there, Brothers, and just know that our low profiles are stealthy -- and the large, higher profile SUV's..basically don't know we're there.

I2D

Wow, that's a rarity. I'd send the lady some flowers, with a "thank you for making the situation easier to deal with than most people do these days"

kannibul · 10-25-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

Yeah, those big trucks and suvs are very dangerous. They take up way too much space on the road, have large blindspots, and their drivers almost always cut off other drivers. The other day, i was almost sideswiped by some moron in a chevy avalanche who cut from the right lane, through the left lane into the left turn lane to make a turn. And when I gave him a horn, the idiot started deliberately blocking me off and cussing me

I've debated calling in a road-rage case on people like that. In fact, I did once, and they said "are you willing t ocome into court?" I said no, they said they won't bother until someone or something gets hurt.

Makes sense. I figured the officer could take a statement and/or witness it, and pull the person off the road to "duiscuss" the matter, but I guess not.

That said, I had a jack-a.. a number of months ago, get pissy because I jumped out in front of him in slow moving traffic. There was a gap, traffic was moving slowly, so I tooks it. He got all kinds of ticked off....what he didn't notice was the cop sitting behind him 1-2 lengths back.

First words out of his mouth was "didn't you see him, he cut in front of me" - officer said, So - move on, it happens, let it go and you can either go on, or if you want to press the matter, pull over and we'll discuss it with a citation"

Pointman · 10-25-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

Wow, that's a rarity. I'd send the lady some flowers, with a "thank you for making the situation easier to deal with than most people do these days"

+ 1

cpehaot · 10-26-2009, 04:28 PM

Yep, similar thing almost happened to me. A van almost merged into me. Its one of those "break in the middle of a free way" to change lane van. I may be bias, but woman in SUV are the deadliest thing out there.

kannibul · 10-26-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpehaot

Yep, similar thing almost happened to me. A van almost merged into me. Its one of those "break in the middle of a free way" to change lane van. I may be bias, but woman in SUV are the deadliest thing out there.

Soccer-Mom w/ Cell Phone and a pile of kids in an "escalade" (or similar sized SUV) tops that.

The counter-part is the dillhole Male Hummer H2 driver...

Couldn't get a "real" hummer, but still wanted to act like he did types...lol

I think vehicles should come with a cell phone jammer built in. If the ignition is on, jammer is operating with a 2' radius of the driver's seat.

In2Deep · 11-18-2009, 02:03 PM

UPDATE

Z has healed....and is as good as new.
Back on the road.

I2D

ChrisSlicks · 11-18-2009, 02:31 PM

Good to hear!

I avoid SUV's like the plague, don't drive near them, don't park anywhere near them.

cptspeed · 11-18-2009, 03:34 PM

Every time a Z gets into an accident, our rates go up.

10-25-2009, 10:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
In2Deep Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 48 Drives: Plat Graphite Spt/Tr Rep Power: 16	The Z and SUV's Driving defensively, and anticipating the worst case scenario -- only goes so far. Z got bruised -- but isn't beaten. Knowing very well that our low-slung Z's fly mostly invisible in SUV sideview mirrors, I keep that in mind whenever passing or coming up on one at a stop-light, etc. Unfortunately, sudden maneuvers by drivers of these large cars can't always be avoided. So here's the quick run-down of my fender bender last week. Live and learn (or be reminded).... Older woman driving a near-new Escalade is stopped at a light, about 10 cars back, in the left lane of a two lane major street. I'm in the right lane, slowly approaching the line of about 5 cars stopped at the same light (so, true to human nature and the SUV driver, it presents a great opportunity to make up 5 positions in line). Just as I'm rolling upon the Escalade (normal, as-expected speed in such a stop light scenario..maybe 5MPH, if that), with me being about 5 car lengths behind the last stopped car in my row of stopped cars, Ms. impatient Escalade driver, I guess trying to make up for 5 car lengths at a stop light (light is still red, no one moving) decides to jump out of her line, into mine. Crunch. Basically this low-speed side-swipe of sorts -- wrinkles my entire left front quarter panel, and tags the left front fascia, separating the two slightly. Just body damage -- no wheel contact. Car was comletely driveable (as normal) -- just badly bruised. Lady pulls immediately to the side of the road, apologizes profusely, gives all insurance and license info -- and we move on. I contact her insurance company the next morning, and they say she has already called in the claim, and stated was here fault. That said, and with all those uninsured and questionable people out there on the roads....I got lucky to be hit by someone "legit", and willing to accept the appropriate responsibility for the incident. Now just have to find a capable body shop to fix my ride to new condition. Definitely more an inconvenience than anything else. But gotta say....until she gets fixed....driving the Z with a black eye and abrasion....just doesn't deliver the same joyous emotional driving experience. I guess it's an ego thing. Drive safe out there, Brothers, and just know that our low profiles are stealthy -- and the large, higher profile SUV's..basically don't know we're there. I2D __________________ ...and now a message from our sponsors

10-25-2009, 10:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
jookiyaya Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 262 Drives: 2010 40th Z!?!? Rep Power: 15	dayam another Z beaten.... hate to say this but pics? =/ __________________ "370z gives you wings!! "

10-25-2009, 01:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pheonix Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Memphis Posts: 626 Drives: Black 370 6MT Rep Power: 16	Thats rough man, and your fortunate you managed to get hit by a decent and responsible driver. Hit and runs, or people with incorrect insurance information for just such a situation, are all too common today. __________________ "The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being." - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

10-25-2009, 01:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 16	Sorry to hear about your Z. You're right, they don't see us! That's good the other driver owned up. Good on her for that. __________________ my journal \| 2009 370z touring \| 6mt \| platinum graphite \| my album second skin \| mr works \| fast intentions \| ssr \| eibach \| hotchkis \| spc \| toyo \| bluebatmobile \| v-led \| jwt \| ventureshield \| tinted tails

11-18-2009, 02:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
In2Deep Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 48 Drives: Plat Graphite Spt/Tr Rep Power: 16	UPDATE Z has healed....and is as good as new. Back on the road. I2D __________________ ...and now a message from our sponsors

10-25-2009, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Steven Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clear Lake, TX Posts: 130 Drives: 09 370Z M6 Rep Power: 15	damn, sorry to hear about that.. best of luck with the repairs!

10-25-2009, 10:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Matt A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA Age: 41 Posts: 1,680 Drives: 2010 Avalanche LT Rep Power: 18	Ugh, your story is definitely bittersweet. Good that everything worked out as well as it can in your situation, other than the lady dropping a suitcase of money for your troubles... I don't buy the excuse that the Z is too small or low for these large vehicles to see us well enough. That lady would have hit a 707 coming down the highway because she was impatient and too lazy to even look in her mirrors.

10-25-2009, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pharmacist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,249 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 17	Yeah, those big trucks and suvs are very dangerous. They take up way too much space on the road, have large blindspots, and their drivers almost always cut off other drivers. The other day, i was almost sideswiped by some moron in a chevy avalanche who cut from the right lane, through the left lane into the left turn lane to make a turn. And when I gave him a horn, the idiot started deliberately blocking me off and cussing me

10-26-2009, 04:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
cpehaot Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California Posts: 46 Drives: Black STD Z370 Tour Rep Power: 15	Yep, similar thing almost happened to me. A van almost merged into me. Its one of those "break in the middle of a free way" to change lane van. I may be bias, but woman in SUV are the deadliest thing out there.

11-18-2009, 02:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Good to hear! I avoid SUV's like the plague, don't drive near them, don't park anywhere near them.

11-18-2009, 03:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 16	Every time a Z gets into an accident, our rates go up.