Observation over the last 2.5 years.
01-31-2007, 10:55 PM
#11
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
I drove a '69 Charger Daytona with the 440/6-pack for over 3 years in southern NH and central MA when I was 20-23 (studded snows in NH), and a number of other high-performance RWD cars "up there" over the next 20 years[/align][/align]It can be done, but as Dirty Harry said (the Enforcers IIRC), "A man's got to know his limitations."--same is true for any man/car combo...[/align][/align][/align] [/align][/align]--sorry, it was Magnum Force, see what happens when you get old...[/align]
01-31-2007, 11:03 PM
#12
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 321
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
ORIGINAL: Jaybird79
Exactly! The only real problem with driving a Mustang in the winter is the lack of traction because the car is RWD and has a powerful engine. But, with PROPER SNOW TIRES, and being slow, cautious and giving yourself alot of time/room during turns, braking, etc., you can avert many accidents. It's probably perferable you have a beater, but that's not an option for everybody. I love how so many of the accident threads were "I was driving slow, very normally and all of a sudden my car lost control". Doesn't work that way., you were either:
1.) going too fast
2.) not giving yourself enough time to stop
3.) downshifting to too low of a gear thus causing the car to fish tail/lose control
And I do agree that wayyyy too many kids own these cars. They aren't Z06s or Ferraris, but they are faster than most cars on the road, and are very tail happy. That's a dangerous combination for an inexperienced or immature driver. I'm 27, and I'm glad I never got a Mustang GT at age 16.
ORIGINAL: Dan04COBRA
These cars are becoming more affordable. Parents will buy their kids anything...
But, most of the wrecks are from people not slowing down for the conditions. You should never ever ever ever crash because of the conditions. If you drive accordingly for the conditions - you'll never crash, bottom line.
These cars are becoming more affordable. Parents will buy their kids anything...
But, most of the wrecks are from people not slowing down for the conditions. You should never ever ever ever crash because of the conditions. If you drive accordingly for the conditions - you'll never crash, bottom line.
1.) going too fast
2.) not giving yourself enough time to stop
3.) downshifting to too low of a gear thus causing the car to fish tail/lose control
And I do agree that wayyyy too many kids own these cars. They aren't Z06s or Ferraris, but they are faster than most cars on the road, and are very tail happy. That's a dangerous combination for an inexperienced or immature driver. I'm 27, and I'm glad I never got a Mustang GT at age 16.
I know what the winters are normally like here in Chicago. Unfortunately I don't have a beater to drive during the winter but I really don't need one since I'm lucky enough to be able totake the train in to work. But if I do have to drive after it's snowed I damn well take my sweet @ss time and make sure my car doesn't get squirrelly. And it doesn't take much for that to happen. And this is no knock on teenagers who own GT's and whatnot, but it's true that with age comes experience.
01-31-2007, 11:08 PM
#13
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,862
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
Good point Laser. I also think too many people equate a "good driver" as one who races well, shifts fast, etc., but in my opinion a good driver is one that can drive safely in bad weather, and make smart decisions on the road, and can use his reflexes to avoid an accident. And, like you said, that comes with experience.
01-31-2007, 11:23 PM
#14
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location:
Posts: 82
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
Its no suprise that more power coupled with an inexperienced or young driver could cause problems, but Im only 18 and my friend is the same age and owns an SVT cobra. Right now where I live there has been a decent share of ice and snow, and we have both been fine. Not a ticket or fender-bender for either of us. I consider myself a responsible driver, like anyoneI havemy fun but there is a right time and place. Bottom line is be smart and be safe, and hope you dont end up in a situation where there was nothing you could do to prevent it.
01-31-2007, 11:27 PM
#15
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 321
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
Thanks Jaybird. But Iunfortunately know about the "unavoidable" accidents too. Twice I had my rear end smacked into while my car was not moving. First time a pick-up backed into my parked car, then on the second go round adipsh*t in a 911 Carrera smacked me as I was sitting in traffic. I got the last laugh on that one though. First the brainiac paid for all my repairs and car rental and it was actually his BOSSES' 911 that he F'ed up. [sm=loser.gif]
01-31-2007, 11:36 PM
#16
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
Very rarely are automobile crashes "accidents"--that's what happens when you thought you had to fart--generally the driver (or one or all of the driver's in multicar smash-ups) fails to maintain control by driving improperly for given conditions, or by driving beyond their or the machine's competencies...[/align][/align]They are never "caused" by weather conditions.[/align]
01-31-2007, 11:40 PM
#17
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 3,151
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
ORIGINAL: LaserGT
Thanks Jaybird. But Iunfortunately know about the "unavoidable" accidents too. Twice I had my rear end smacked into while my car was not moving. First time a pick-up backed into my parked car, then on the second go round adipsh*t in a 911 Carrera smacked me as I was sitting in traffic. I got the last laugh on that one though. First the brainiac paid for all my repairs and car rental and it was actually his BOSSES' 911 that he F'ed up. [sm=loser.gif]
Thanks Jaybird. But Iunfortunately know about the "unavoidable" accidents too. Twice I had my rear end smacked into while my car was not moving. First time a pick-up backed into my parked car, then on the second go round adipsh*t in a 911 Carrera smacked me as I was sitting in traffic. I got the last laugh on that one though. First the brainiac paid for all my repairs and car rental and it was actually his BOSSES' 911 that he F'ed up. [sm=loser.gif]
01-31-2007, 11:40 PM
#18
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 88
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
There has been a change in our culture,driving a 71 road runner at 17yrs old which in most cases would roast amustang gt now adays.people arent thinking they are held to account for their f...k ups.But they are.I slid by back in those days but I knew the ol man would come down hard so as a famous man once said "a man has to know his limitations".Just hope that these folks dont get hurt too bad or worse....
01-31-2007, 11:40 PM
#19
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,561
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
i wouldn't say its teen drivers there's alot of us in the 5.0 section and there never is a topic about us wrecking.
teen/5.0= smart teen/4.6=dumb
i live in michigan and drive every other day in 2 inches of snow on the road i dont even have snow tires just 200 pounds of kitty litter and fertilizer. the key is to drive safe and dont drift unless in an open parking lot
teen/5.0= smart teen/4.6=dumb
i live in michigan and drive every other day in 2 inches of snow on the road i dont even have snow tires just 200 pounds of kitty litter and fertilizer. the key is to drive safe and dont drift unless in an open parking lot
02-01-2007, 12:00 AM
#20
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
RE: Observation over the last 2.5 years.
"I knew the ol man would come down hard..."[/align][/align]Yup--I crashed my first car, a '59 Hillman sedan with 4-speeds on the column, 'cause I was driving way too fast on a dirt road; and my very first thought was "my father's gonna'kill me!"[/align][/align][/align]