R.i.p. Z34 12 0187
 

Well I just got the call last night from the body shop. It is now off to that big highway in the sky. Maybe her demise could help rescue another Z from life support out there somewhere (I actually imagine she will be fixed back up and sold in another state in reality, but I'm a romantic :icon17: ).

Was on my way to work at 4 am in the morning on the 21st during an ice storm that had begun the day before and hadn't totally abated yet. Was driving cautiously but not overly so. The roads were fairly clear and empty at that infernal hour of the morning. The overpasses were still sloppy but I would stay off the brakes and gas and coast across them without issue . . until . .

Came up behind a sand/salt truck on the highway. He was in the right most lane and I didn't want to get too close to him and his spray of payload on the road. So I moved over to the left most lane on the 3 lane road. Unfortunately that particular overpass had not been cleared yet and the left most lane had the least amount of traffic to clear ice build up. I hit the overpass at about 45 and slushy icy buildup of what appeared to be 2-3 inches of ice. The car started drifting sideways. I thought that once I cleared the overpass and got to the road on the other side it would straighten out again, so I didn't panic and gently counter steered. Apparently the ice buildup actually caused the front end to hydroplane (iceplane?) and there was no getting back control. Went off the highway on the right side, hit a light pole and then the end of the overpass on the way down the enbankment.

Cover your eyes, its not pretty . .

Wow.. sorry to hear it man.

I'd imagine you can't sell those NISMO wheels, huh? :roflpuke2::roflpuke2:

Sorry to hear brother! :( Poor Nismo.

Sorry man :(

Hey, at least you walked away!
And please buy a FWD or AWD beater if you know it's gonna freeze over

:iagree:

:iagree:

Wow.

Well it is Oklahoma, home of worlds most unpredictable weather (and if its not, it should most certainly be in the running). We had 60 degree weather just before the ice storm, go figure. Anyway it is (was) my only transportation and various sports cars prior to getting the Z were also my sole means of getting around, so I was fairly accustomed to driving it in all types of conditions. In most circumstances if the weather was truely bad I would just stay home and in a day or 2 it would be fine again (back to that unpredicatable weather). Hell I had a 1990 Thunderbird SC that I drove for a year and half in Anchorage.

Oh well, still sad days. Her life was cut far too short (I should have just stayed home that morning, hate working overtime anyway).

That honestly doesn't look too bad. Glad the hear that you are ok from the wreck tho. Maybe some high school kid will pull it out of the junkyard and fix it up into an Autozone Queen.

Well I didn't think so either until the estimate came in at $22,600. 3 air bags went off inside (drivers steering wheel, passenger side seat, and passenger side window), they also said 3 wheels needed replacement. Most of the mechanical damage was to the drivers side front knuckle and attachments. The rest of the damage was in body parts (front clip, rear bumper and quarter panel). $16,000 of the estimate was just in parts since they had to order original OEM Nissan parts as it was less than 2 years old.

On a side note, it is suprising how much smoke/dust/particulates those air bags discharge into the cabin. I could smell it for 2 days after and it about choked me out of the car right after it happened.

Really sad for you mate :(

So long as you are ok. Our cars are replaceable.

Bummer. Hate seeing an ice death.

:eek: sorry to hear buddy

Poor Nismo. But the important thing is that you are alright.

Man that really puts a damper on the day…you going to get another one? Good to know you got through it all safely.

I read the title at first and thought the worst "did a fellow member pass away?" :confused:

Glad to see that wasn't the case :) and sorry :( to see what happened But glad to hear your Okay and no one got hurt. :)

Sorry about the Z :(

Looking at the pics were you driving around with the stock tires instead of winter tires?

I don't know if that could've played a factor into what happened.

As someone else who totaled a z car, let me say that I'm sorry to see the car was crashed, but I'm glad that you're ok (which is the important thing). Cars can be replaced.

sorry to hear...

summer tires on icy roads is a big no-no, glad to hear you're ok though.

op ... were those stock tires... they don`t look like winters?

Glad you're okay

FWD, AWD, RWD you still only have four contact patches on the road and control on ice is marginal or virtually nonexistent If he was using the OEM summer tires they get hard as hockey pucks below 30 degrees and are literally worthless on snow and ice.

Im so sorry man...

:( sorry to see, op. but glad to hear you're okay.

That'll buff right out!

So we're deleting posts now? Cool.

I didn't care for the off topic discussion and yes it was removed.

The Op didn't ask for his thread about what sadly happened to his car to be derailed.

Back on Topic!

I was ok with it, we weren't adding to the discussion I admit

was VDC turned ON at the moment of the accident??

Why wouldn't it be? Guy was unfortunate on an icy road. Vdc wouldn't have mattered

I am just curious... lots of people turn it off right away...

it did save me couple times on icy roads.

I live in OK also, and I can tell you that when we say ice storm, we really mean pure ice on the road. It was bad, I doubt VDC would have made any difference. My DD Maxima was all over the place.

just asking... not a big deal bro... :icon17:

Sorry, wasn't trying to be a jerk. We just get a lot of crap down here for not being able to "drive on the snow". I wish it was just snow:happynewyear:

:icon17:

no problem man, cos I do believe VDC in snow/icy condition, otherwise I would have total my 350z (I used to have one) twice on icy road. :icon17:

Someone in the OK Z club saw this car and posted pics trying to figure out who it was. Glad you are ok, it looked nasty. That storm was bad and I am glad I still have my old jeep because the roads were solid ice and there isn't much you can do. I know a guy in the Z club who was selling his 2011 Nismo, not sure if he has sold it yet but if you want I can ask. He is only selling it so he can buy a new house. It's Black too

RIP my younger-numbered-twin MB '12.

Sorry to hear that man. At least you're okay.

Glad you walked away from that Yetamedi.

The ice on the car in the photos is pretty telling.

Any thoughts on the replacement yet?