that s pure bad luck... but I do understand what K3lv think

you're alive buddy, enjoy !

 

k3lv, I've got nothing against you either, but let us review: I posted a simple note about the loss of my car, and a thanks for all the info here. You then posted a simple note that said basically I got what I deserved.

Well, I didn't deserve to lose my car because some highway workers at midnight forgot the signs. The problem for me is that without knowing a thing about me, you made a judgement about my driving.

I am going to be 50 in January. I have been driving high performance cars all my life. I was taught how to drive in a full race Triumph TR6 in the mountains of Colorado when I was 11, by a guy that slugged me for leaving my lane, passing poorly, and basically anything that could endanger other motorists or my own passengers. When I lived in Europe (11 years) I had 2 friends who raced professionally; one raced Porsche for Kaufhaus(SP? Like a Sears or Penny's), the other raced formula until his wife forced him to quit. Both of these guys spent time driving and riding with me- giving me advice, and tips. They are the reason I love front wheel drive sleeper cars.

In 39 years of driving I have had 3 accidents-one was because of black ice in an underpass,- one was because I was cut off in the fast lane in a curve and instead of hitting the car that did it and risking a big accident with following traffic, I turned into the median, - and the third accident was the one we are talking about now.

Now about the learning to drive slow again: Do we drive the same cars? 'Cause if you drive a Ralliart without looking at the speedo, you find yourself safely (no loss of road feel, no sliding, certainly no loss of control) exceeding the posted speed limits. I am not now, nor have I ever been into straight line speed. The art and the fun of driving for me is found in negotiating curves at higher speeds. I don't speed into blind curves, I never leave my lane because to me that means instant death, and I never drive recklessly.

The Ralliart with just the stuff (handling) I had installed is a phenominally well handling car for the buck. After two and a half years of driving it in all weather conditions and road types, I was just getting too used to getting where I needed to go so quickly (roads around here wind through rolling hills). The Tundra added just over 15 minutes to my commute, 45 miles of turns (one way) that I now have to slow down for, and I can no longer safely get around the slower drivers in shorter straights. After driving my wife's Taurus, and the Tundra I just got, I realize how much I took the performance of the Ralliart for granted.

Another thing I do not do, must come with age, is make assumptions about people. Maybe in the future you should ask for details before pronouncing judgements like " hope you learned your lesson, bud."

I traded the Tundra in today for a Scion Xa-14 mpg v. 30 some mpg- and I wont have to slow down as much in the turns, but I still wont be able to safely get around slow drivers in short straights!

Thanks again for all the helpful info guys!
Tim

 

I think that because most accidents are caused by inexperienced drivers that people start to think that if theres an accident that it was probably caused by a lack of experience. Often some of the best drivers get into accidents. Drive safely.