You should have seen the other guy.......

[Dave Lewis]

Bah! 2 nights ago, I had my first ever prang, after 38 years of a clean sheet. A young driver in a y-reg Fiesta pulled out of a side turning a few yards in front of me. I was doing not much more than 20mph, emergency braked, but t-boned her, my bonnet star was about level with her A-pillar. She was pretty shook up, but unhurt, and immediately admitted liability. Three witnesses immediately offered their contact details, and the claim is going through on her insurance. Damage to my W124: cracked number plate, and half the bumper insert fell off having done it's job. Damage to Fiesta: total write off, we had to bounce it out of the road. Front suspension and driveshaft mangled, bent A-pillar, wing and door stoved in. She really chose the wrong car to make a bad decision in front of.

 

[partsspecialist]

Unlucky, Could've been worse though. She could've 'not seen' a biker.

 

[Stratman]

Unlucky, Could've been worse though. She could've 'not seen' a biker.

Exactly that happened to me many years ago riding my Kwacker Z650. A dozy bint started to pull out, saw me and stopped halfway out. I slammed on the brakes and stopped about six inches away from her door. She had her window open. I had air horns on the bike. You know the cartoon moment when Tom is in front of the foghorn as it goes off? She looked exactly like that as she received the full benefit of twin Fiamms.

 

[CE230]

I've noticed that drivers in small hatchbacks tend to not chance their luck when I'm driving the MB but don't give a hoot if I'm in SWMBO Rover.

 

[Chattonmill]

I've noticed that drivers in small hatchbacks tend to not chance their luck when I'm driving the MB but don't give a hoot if I'm in SWMBO Rover.

Maybe they assume that because it's a Rover It is Broken, so not moving

 

[grober]

As long as no one was injured that's the main thing. Having a young driver injured in a collision with your car just before Christmas would not make for a "festive" season. Hard luck tho!

 

[SilverSaloon]

testimant to 124 build quality! however it would be worth making sure all your geometry is OK on the car aswell as mounting points etc/radiator etc behind the grille.

 

[Dave Lewis]

As long as no one was injured that's the main thing. Having a young driver injured in a collision with your car just before Christmas would not make for a "festive" season. Hard luck tho!

My thoughts exactly Graeme. The first thing I did on getting out of the car was to make sure she was ok and help her out of the car. Strangely, I didn't feel the least bit angry, just glad no one was hurt. I guess my luck just ran out
She even phoned me up the next day to apologise.

 

[Dave Lewis]

testimant to 124 build quality! however it would be worth making sure all your geometry is OK on the car aswell as mounting points etc/radiator etc behind the grille.

Yes, checked all that, nothing moved at all. The assessor came and had a look this morning, and it needs the centre vertical chrome bar of the grille, and a new bumper insert. It was already booked in for it's MOT the day after the prang, and passed with no advisories once they'd replaced the number plate. Those bumpers really work well in low-speed collisions. I was shocked at the damage to the Fiesta. Just as well I wasn't driving at or near the speed limit, which was 30mph. If I'd been on a bike, I would have ended up over the car and flung onto a blind corner.

 

[mercboiuk]

W124s seem to be able to take alot! Reminds me when my Mum and Dad were on their way to pick me up from school a few years back.

A woman in some little Metro ran into the back of a car, which was then shunted into my parents. (I can't remember what the middle car was.)
Both the Metro and the middle car were written off. Total damage to the W124 - a new rear bumper insert! (Not even a full bumper was required!)

Sounds like your 124 can, and will, be repaired?? I'm glad everyone walked away. It's a bit of cliche, but cars are replacable, lives are not!

Darren

 

[rf065]

Have you had the air con checked?
I had a bump before Xmas years ago, and did not notice until April that the air con no longer held any gas, damaged during bump.

Russ

 

[Dieselman]

Although undoubtedly the W124 can take some punishment we should remember that the hard, strong part of the 124 hit a weak part of the Fiesta.

Any car hitting the side of any older car will come off pretty unscated whilst inflicting pretty heavy damage.

It should be a warning to us to ensure we don't suffer a side impact, if any.

Still, nice to hear no-one was injured.

 

[Meldrew2]

She really chose the wrong car to make a bad decision in front of.

You were doing a careful speed - 20 mph - and you reacted quickly. She could have pulled in front of a drugged up idiot doing 40 mph.

At least she chose the right driver to make the wrong decision in front of.....

 

[Dave Lewis]

Any car hitting the side of any older car will come off pretty unscated whilst inflicting pretty heavy damage.

I'm not convinced Mrs L's Rover 200 would have got off as lightly. But as it's the first time I've hit anything, I don't really know

 

[mw2510]

Maybe they assume that because it's a Rover It is Broken, so not moving

i know its only a joke, but my little old rover runaround has never failed to start, never broken down or needed any thing done to it apart from servicing. i wish my mb was as reliable (i still think its a great car even with its problems).


mark.