Too Much Torque - First Wrecked FR-S/BR-Z

[Cousin Eddie]

"Hey everyone.

I’m the idiot that crashed the FR-S. Not really sure where to begin, so I’ll start with how it happened.

I was on my way to lunch with a coworker. There’s a right turn I’ve taken a million times over the past 4 years that’s very wide and has huge visibility, and I would sometimes get on the gas a little in my B16-swapped CRX through the turn. I never went over the speed limit, and I only did it if there was absolutely no one else around. Being a FWD, the front tires would break free a little and it would make the turn a bit more fun. Well, before leaving work I decided it would be a good idea to turn off the traction control and try something similar in the FR-S. That was my first mistake. I entered the turn at about 20mph, and halfway through it I got on the gas and I honestly can’t remember exactly what happened after that. I remember being extremely surprised and then all of a sudden I was careening for a telephone pole, and then bam. I don’t even think I hit the brakes. I must’ve hit the clutch pedal at some point because the car was still running when I stopped. Both airbags deployed. My passenger said he didn’t even touch the airbag, I grazed it a little bit and it felt like I got hit in the face with a soft pillow. I must’ve been going 15-20mph at the impact. I couldn’t believe how much the car just crumpled. I just looked at it and sat on the ground. I can’t even describe to you the feeling of seeing it like that. I just wanted to cry.

I’m 24 years old, been driving since 16, and this is my first accident/ticket. I was ticketed for “failure to maintain reasonable control”, which honestly was extremely generous given the circumstances. I feel like the world’s biggest idiot. I feel like I’ve shamed myself and done a huge disservice to the community. Sorry just doesn’t say enough. I swore I wouldn’t be one of those guys everyone was saying would do something stupid and wreck the car and drive up the insurance rates. Now I’m not only that guy, but it seems I’m the _first_ guy. Not exactly the best way to make an impression. I want you guys to know that I truly feel awful about the whole thing. I am truly sorry for letting my fellow FR-S owners down, and through making a complete ass out of myself, I feel I’ve learned a valuable lesson, albeit a hard one. I know some of you (a lot of you) will hate me, call me an idiot, tell me I shouldn’t have even tried anything like that on a public road, etc. And I agree with you 100%. I made a stupid, stupid, irresponsible choice, and now I’m paying for it. I don’t think any of you can hate me more than I hate myself.

I hope I can stand as an example of what can happen even at relatively low speeds when you’re being stupid. Please for the love of god don’t be me. Drive safe, keep traction control on on public roads, and don’t try to be Ken Block. Unless you are Ken Block, in which case, keep being awesome."

You can take the driver out of the Honda but you can't take the Honda out of the driver.

[corrago]

Poor guy, seems like a sensitive fellow to be so wrapped up over what was an accident.

Seems like the best place to get a hang of a RWD car is in an empty, very large parking lot (or on a track)

[elementpb]

Fake story is fake.
No way that guy is 24.
He uses punctuation and actually takes responsibility for his own actions.

Also, damn him for wrecking a whiteout fr-s. I'm in love with that color on that car.

[Big Morgan]

Also, damn him for wrecking a whiteout fr-s. I'm in love with that color on that car.

Well, here's your chance to own one cheap!

[Cousin Eddie]

Seems like the best place to get a hang of a RWD car is in an empty, very large parking lot (or on a track)

I just think it's funny that he managed to crash one of the lowest horsepower/torque RWD cars available today that is also touted to have amazing handling. 20 MPH my ass.

[Ubel GLI]

For that price he could've crashed a Mustang

I do feel bad for the kid though. This is why if friends get sporty cars I try to get them to 1 Auto-X asap so they at least have a shot at not doing this.

[DJMRDARK]

You can take the driver out of the Honda but you can't take the Honda out of the driver.

THIS.

Most Honda drivers I've encountered don't know sh*t about driving. They have no clue about vehicle dynamics. This is not true of all Honda drivers, but the majority of Civic guys are a bit lost.

/rant

[BRealistic]

" Well, before leaving work I decided it would be a good idea to turn off the traction control and try something similar in the FR-S."

Well.... that was a lesson learned.
If you are going to experiment, do it some place without barriers to hit.

And that made me think of something that made me "uncomfortable".

As all new vehicles now have traction and stability control standard as per mandated by the NHTSA, will the insurance industry start penalizing those that disable it and crash?
I could see wording in a policy that basically says voluntarily disabling standard safety equipment and then crashing voids any claim.

[titleist1976]

Note to self: don't turn off traction control until learning what the rwd on skinny tires will drive like.

Poor kid. That really sucks.

[TurboMinivan]

Poor guy, seems like a sensitive fellow to be so wrapped up over what was an accident.

An accident? An accident?!? The kid chose to disable the stability control (intentional action #1) and then he chose to hammer the throttle in a sharp turn (intentional action #2).

Accident, my ass.

[1Point8TDan]

Poor kid. That really sucks.

What do you have to say about the starving kids around the world?

Dude has insurance. I hope they fix it up rather than giving him a new one.

[Inspector Detector]

For that price he could've crashed a Mustang

.

Ouch that's gotta hurt.

[don5504]

I hope he had Gap insurance.

[yem_icculus]

This is what happens when you have a kid who's only ever driven FWD cars and you plop him into a RWD car. My cousin did the same thing to his 350Z after driving Celicas and Civics his whole life. He just didn't understand the concept, or how to correct oversteer.

[Egz]

Sounds like the second it stepped out on him, he lifted.

[85vrcoupe]

Thankfully he only damaged his own car. No one was hurt and thankfully he didn't hit any other vehicles. Hopefully lesson learned for him.

[155VERT83]

I'm glad you and your passenger made it out OK. Be sure to buy a VW or Audi as your replacement car and all will be forgiven.

PS Please always leave traction control in the On position. It owns you.

[DJMRDARK]

This is what happens when you have a kid who's only ever driven FWD cars and you plop him into a RWD car. My cousin did the same thing to his 350Z after driving Celicas and Civics his whole life. He just didn't understand the concept, or how to correct oversteer.

Exactly. Thank god I know my way around RWD, FWD, and AWD.

[BRealistic]

I'm glad you and your passenger made it out OK. Be sure to buy a VW or Audi as your replacement car and all will be forgiven.

I hope he does buy a VW or Audi.
He obviously lacks the skill to drive a real sports car.

[patrickvr6]

Must have been the Prius tires...

[Mike!]

At least he got rid of the Civic, he could have dead if VTEC kicked in.

Good on him for owning up

[Aonarch]

Hahahaahahahahaha

[Mike!]

An accident? An accident?!? The kid chose to disable the stability control (intentional action #1) and then he chose to hammer the throttle in a sharp turn (intentional action #2).

Accident, my ass.

Wrecking the car = unintentional, ergo accident.

[titleist1976]

What do you have to say about the starving kids around the world?
.

Wow, someones a little melodramatic...

[Hurt]

" Well, before leaving work I decided it would be a good idea to turn off the traction control and try something similar in the FR-S."

Well.... that was a lesson learned.
If you are going to experiment, do it some place without barriers to hit.

And that made me think of something that made me "uncomfortable".

As all new vehicles now have traction and stability control standard as per mandated by the NHTSA, will the insurance industry start penalizing those that disable it and crash?
I could see wording in a policy that basically says voluntarily disabling standard safety equipment and then crashing voids any claim.

x2, I'm wondering about this as well.

[Tracker_168]

Sounds like the second it stepped out on him, he lifted.

And clutched in at the same time. Who knew stomping on the gas mid turn would f*ck you up? Yes, Im armchair driving.

Oh and...151 ft/lbs is not even enough torks to pass a telephone pole. He must have been going uphill

[Dawg Dee-Lux]

Not at all surprised, driver took a risk, and got burnt. He's lucky noone got hurt.

What was it again that JC said about Ford Capris? Most of them ended up wrapped round telephone poles?


Well, only time will tell if history repeats itself.

[ATL_Av8r]

Not even a "YOLO"? I'm not convinced

[kiznarsh]

His apology does seem genuine and the remorse definitely comes across...I think he will definitely learn from it.

I'd like to get some eyewitness accounts though...doesn't seem like 20 mph should have caused that even with traction control off.

[rawk]

Definitely just not used to driving RWD, the power isn't really the point its the balance of the car that got him.

I've driven mainly FWD cars my whole life and remember taking my dads G35 Coupe out for the 1st time, did something similar but thankfully corrected it without any accident....since then I've learned the ins and outs of RWD and would never make the same mistake.

At least he was man enough to admit his fault and is obviously genuinely sorry about his error in judgement!

[elementpb]

Is this the first car wrecked thread where no one asked to buy the wheels?

[OOOO-A3]

turned off traction control, lost it in a corner, hit (tree/pole/other immovable object)..... where have I seen this before? Oh, right, 2004/5/6/7... on rx8club.com. The sequence goes like this, every time:

1. I hate traction control, it's stupid, it's a nanny, it shouldn't be on anything other than minivans, the gub'ment is killing sports cars, dumbing-down, waaahhh waaahhh waaahhh......

2. How do I disable ecs/dsc/tc/whatever PERMANENTLY? It's MY car nobody should tell ME what to do with it.

3. Turns it off to "see what's it's like" or whatever --> impact with immovable object.

4. Profit^-1 (car is totaled, or FUBAR)

Saw it so many times. Followed by excuses from forum members about RWD/rain/tires/foot-slipped-on-the-clutch, etc. Got really tired of seeing that on the RX8 forum; I predict the same cycle will occur with the toyobaru for the next few years.

[JDBVR6]

I hope he does buy a VW or Audi.
He obviously lacks the skill to drive a real sports car.

An FR-S, a real sports car????? Lmao!!!

It is nothing more than a "sporty" econobox.

[mookieblaylock]

This is what happens when you have a kid who's only ever driven FWD cars and you plop him into a RWD car. My cousin did the same thing to his 350Z after driving Celicas and Civics his whole life. He just didn't understand the concept, or how to correct oversteer.

i get the concept, i have had front rear and awd cars, for bombing around the city i will stick to my fwd set up as i am least likely to screw up

[ATL_Av8r]

An FR-S, a real sports car????? Lmao!!!

It is nothing more than a "sporty" econobox.

Scores of TT,A3, Golf R and GTI drivers should take note