People in Orlando can't drive worth a crap. I am so ready to leave this town.

So last night I was going to Wally World and there is a turn lane with it's own traffic light JUST for Wal Mart. Anyway, this is one of the Super Walmarts with TONS of traffic going in and out of it at all times of the day. When this turn lane turns green, people make a mad rush for the entrance, which is immediately blocked by a short T-intersection (HORRIBLE design)...anyway, so traffic comes to a DEAD stop in the middle of the intersection. People are getting antsy, the light is changing yellow, the guy in the SUV in front of me decides to go for it now (there is plenty of room and time before it turns red) ... he pulls forward quickly, so I decide to tail him in as well then he just comes to a dead stop.

Stupid hesitating moron!

So, my nose goes up under his trailer hitch and spare tire.

We pull into walmart and inspect vehicles. Nothing done to his of course except my paint on his trailer hitch. No harm done (WHEW!!)

I wasn't so lucky though... I had a huge black rubber mar on the front nose (under the emblem) and it cracked/dented in the (whats it made of, plastic?) nose right in the dead center crease of the body. The edge between the hood has a chip/crack/piece hanging off of it now. It looks bad.

I was able to sand the rubber off the paint, so now I have a nice dull area that isn't shiney anymore and theres the crack left over that I have no way to fix myself that I know of without major work.

LUCKILY it missed the hood and front bumper, so the ONLY part damaged was the nose piece I guess you call it that goes above the black trim and below the hood.

*sigh*

Granted... it was totally my own fault, but I do lay some blame on the stupidity of drivers these days. Either GO or STOP... DONT HESITATE!



I will get some pics up later to gawk at.

I still have damage on the top center of my hood too (on the cowl section) where some vandals threw a concrete block at it a few years back. It lines up nicely with the new damage... Guess it's time for that black GS Stripe to cover it all up

 

That sucks, but you have to watch out for those stupid drivers, they're everywhere! I had a guy back up into my vette with his SUV in the Walmart parking lot last year. Coincedence?

 

Rule #1, what is behind you is just as if not as important as what's in front of you.

I gaurantee the SUV had no idea you were back there, and even if he did, probably wouldn't care.

I agree that if you are going to go, GO! Don't stop.

As for the damage, got any pics? That will help the rest help you with possible solutions.

 

Sorry about your damage But don't blame the vehicle ahead of you

I've been where you're at before and it sucks, but this is one of those places in life where you have to suck it up and shoulder your own responsibility

You can replace the outer skin on the nose rather cheaply or if you know someone good with polyurethane repaires, doesn't sound that pad. Pic?

 

sorry your car got damaged. I hope it's not too bad.

 

I will get pics tonight of it... its not TERRIBLE< but it prevents me from even wanting to goto any car shows now until it's fixed.


The guy was cool about it. I made sure he looked his SUV over (no point, it didnt even touch it except for the hitch and spare tire) and asked if he was cool with everything. He said he had no issues, so I shook his hand and we parted ways.

I am not blaming anyone else except myself, it was totally my own fault... but still.. if people would pull their heads out of their azzes and just drive, then I am sure 50% of the accidents on the road wouldn't be there. You can only account for so much, but even with the best calculations (and I consider myself a darn good driver when it comes to speed, calculating distances, etc)... you still can't account for the guy in front of you.





.... I guess what I learned is something I can pass along. Just wait the next traffic light out. It's not worth the hassle to try making it though a yellow when you have dumb drivers in front of you hesitating and f'ing up the traffic flow.

 

Sorry about the damage. I would be angry too but the SUV driver may be saying the same thing. "I wish people knew how to drive". Since he's the one who go hit. By the way did I mention I hate all SUV's and the way that people drive them. Hope it get's fixed soon.

 

I love you too. ....1989 toyota Landcruiser FJ62 (aka: The Elephant Chaser ...if you want to call that an SUV?

 

Lot's of good advise already. Sorry to hear about the damage. Yeah, the guy should have kept driving. Those type of drivers are everywhere, leaving your town isn't going to help you avoid them . We have them here too. Just give yourself a little more room next time and always plan your exit (especially from Wal-mart). I got nailed last week leaving Home Depot. It totaled her car and my truck has minor damage on the bumper.
We all make mistakes, now move on and get her fixed!

 

When you are behind someone, the onus of responsibility for not running into them is on your shoulders...not theirs.
You have to drive defensively, and not depend that the driver you are tailgating is going to drive his vehicle in a manner that suits you.
...Just for future reference.

Regards,
-Ward

 

Sorry to hear about your bang-up.

I always assume the people around me on the road are idiots and are going to do something stupid at any time. I try to always have lots of room in front of me.

Get 'er fixed and back on the road soon!

 

I agree with Ward, if you didnt try to make it through this turn so close to his bumper you would have been fine, "Following to close"

I never drive close to any one in my vette, or I never try to make any risky moves. Ill take another cycle at a light any day.

Good luck and sorry

 

Hey GIJoe,

My orlando brotha -

I know a good fair-priced paint guy that is off of bennett road (near baldwin park). He's an old guy, cool as hell. You should see the early 70's cars he drives, they are immaculate show cars. He fixed my Avalanche after some crazy biatch on a cel phone came out of her lane and grazed my front passenger side with her mirror. Dented it. He fixed the dent, repainted the whole fender and blended the color back a whole other door. Can't even tell. $500 bucks is what it cost me, which is what my deduct is anyways.

If you want let me know and I can give you his contact info.

 

I agree with rule no.1.
Being a professional driver you have to drive safe, and it shows in your driving tips.

The other one that I use all the time was "why not just wait till its clear?"

That advice is the best I've read. I didn't do it one time saw my chance and blindly went for it. It would've have a 45 mph side crash except for "blind luck".

When it comes to driving your the man.

 

SUV? I have an Excursion 6.0 diesel, 4X4 does that count as a SUV?

 

Had a very simialr scenario happen to me at a left turn at an intersection, she decided to go then changed her mind, I went up in her bumper...I had to repaint her bumper. Lucky that was all that happened, she was a lawyer.

What sucks is her plastic Ford Contour bumper had nothing more than a few paint chips flake off and my big bad silverado needs an entire bumper, bent it (steel bumper, too) big time.

 

Told you I'd been there before..if it makes you feel any better, years ago I ran into the back of another officer doing EXACTLY what you described.

We were making a U turn on a busy highway. Isaw the break in traffic and thought he did as well. He started to move forward and I figured he would go on across the road.

So, I'm looking away as well when I see him move forward from the corner of my eye.

He moved, I ***-U-me-d, he stopped, I didn't...Bang!!

We're still friends to this day

Joke beween us: "Right behind you!"

**** happens Nobody died. Life goes on

 

Sorry bout your vette, I know how you feel, I think, like you sometimes I don't understand people, or myself either. My gripe I live on a straight Texas two lane road, good pavement, good sight line with lots of driveways and gravel roads intersecting with my paved road. Without a doubt some idiot will pull out of a drive way or gravel road when you are doing 70 which is is the speed limit when you are a 150 or 200 feet from them. You check your rearview and you are the only car on the road, they cant wait an extra 10 seconds and then pull out.

Whats even worse is when they pull out and pull into the other lane taking two lanes to make a right turn and then you really are screwed. When you go by them tires smoking they look at you like you are the idiot.


Cruizer

 

Go to the car shows anyway! I had some fool back into a 65 vert I used to own. When someone asked, "What happened?" I simply replied, "Termites!"

 

Here are a few pics of the damage.








...and enough "advice" guys.. i KNOW it was my fault, I said that from the very first post.