Road Hazard last night in Annapolis! - LotusTalk

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 02:43 PM

Help!
Me and 15 or more other cars hit this monster on RT.50 lastnight.

I saw it 10 feet before it was under me. It went under the front and out the side. Could have been much worse. Other cars lost oil pans, gas tanks, two or more tires and deployed airbags.
They will be fixed by any average shop. I, on the other hand need advice and professional help.
I've had the car for only a few weeks and wouldn't begin to know who I can trust to put her back together correctly.
Any advice will be very helpful..
Thanks in advance, Steve

serpent · 10-15-2008, 02:51 PM

what is that and why the hell was it in the middle of the road??

def · 10-15-2008, 02:55 PM

Wow that really sucks, sorry to see. Do you have a better shot under the car? This may not go well...

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpent

what is that and why the hell was it in the middle of the road??

No f**king clue... It was 8 inches tall and looked like it came from a machine shop.
It was rolling when I saw/hit it.. it looked bigger spinning...

serpent · 10-15-2008, 03:00 PM

i'm thinking a construction truck dropped that on the street.....damn

I'd say lift up the car and see how its like under

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by def

Wow that really sucks, sorry to see. Do you have a better shot under the car? This may not go well...

The underside looks suprisingly good. The under pans are unmarked except for the one under the passenger door, it is dented ... that is the exit wound..

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpent

i'm thinking a construction truck dropped that on the street.....damn

I'd say lift up the car and see how its like under

I'm looking for a trusted place to take it... my insurance company is coming out in the next few days...

def · 10-15-2008, 03:19 PM

I think the tub is unrepairable... I can't tell if the tub is damaged or not

Terculees · 10-15-2008, 03:26 PM

I hate to be a pessimist, but from the aluminium sticking out from all the damaged fiberglass, I think the car may be totalled.

specialk · 10-15-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by def

I think the tub is unrepairable... I can't tell if the tub is damaged or not

milehitom · 10-15-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terculees

I hate to be a pessimist, but from the aluminium sticking out from all the damaged fiberglass, I think the car may be totalled.

I wouldn't be surprised if you're right. Deformed shear panels like that might mean a deformed tub. Let's hope not...

Tom

tesprit · 10-15-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terculees

I hate to be a pessimist, but from the aluminium sticking out from all the damaged fiberglass, I think the car may be totalled.

I would have to agree with you that there is a good chance this car is totalled. That appears to be a piece of the chassis that is bent up and seperated under the sill. If it is, that can't be repaired

I sincerely hope we are wrong on this............
Can you get a photo of the underside of that damaged sill showing the bent aluminum?

Chris Mackey · 10-15-2008, 03:42 PM

blows. good luck.

cstetter · 10-15-2008, 03:58 PM

There is a good chance this car is totalled due to chassis damage. I remember one person in the area here ran over a car bumper which punched a small hole in the floor pan - totalled.

Blows that this happened but good that you didn't lose control of the car.

Terculees · 10-15-2008, 04:03 PM

Post an underbody picture and we will be able to tell you for sure if you need to press the insurance to total the car. I'm sure there are enough shop guys reading this thread that can provide an accurate opinion, and I've hit enough sh*t on the road in my Lotus to have my opinion on the matter be worth more than $0.02.

Terculees · 10-15-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstetter

I remember one person in the area here ran over a car bumper which punched a small hole in the floor pan - totalled

Yeah, but then he bought a Maserati. Cough*sellout*cough. Though last I heard he's not driving the Cambiocorsa anymore, he's moved on to bigger and better things.

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tesprit

I would have to agree with you that there is a good chance this car is totalled. That appears to be a piece of the chassis that is bent up and seperated under the sill. If it is, that can't be repaired

I sincerely hope we are wrong on this............
Can you get a photo of the underside of that damaged sill showing the bent aluminum?

Come on guys... I drove it home without anything feeling a bit different.
I'm a newbie so help me out.... does tub=frame? sill?
Looks to me that 3 body parts need to be replaced...
There is a 3-4 inch panel under the passenger door that is bent...it runs the under

the passenger door... other than that not one dent on the underside..

Catbird · 10-15-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terculees

Post an underbody picture and we will be able to tell you for sure if you need to press the insurance to total the car. I'm sure there are enough shop guys reading this thread that can provide an accurate opinion, and I've hit enough sh*t on the road in my Lotus to have my opinion on the matter be worth more than $0.02.

Believe me, once it is up in the air, I'll post a pick... Didn't sleep well last night and this s**t is not helping....

Randy Chase · 10-15-2008, 04:15 PM

One downside of the way this car is made, is that the tub is considered one single no-separable assembly and not repairable by Lotus. The tub provides the structural integrity and stiffness. This does not mean you can't have it repaired or that it is not possible. But the corporate stance, which makes sense from that perspective, is that if the tub is damaged, including any suspension pick up points, that the tub is flawed and totaled. Once aluminum is deformed, it is changed.

The cost to replace the tub is normally more than the value of the car, so then the car is totaled. Would make a great candidate for someone building a racing car though.

kestrel74 · 10-15-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tesprit

I would have to agree with you that there is a good chance this car is totalled. That appears to be a piece of the chassis that is bent up and seperated under the sill. If it is, that can't be repaired

I sincerely hope we are wrong on this............
Can you get a photo of the underside of that damaged sill showing the bent aluminum?

+ another one....sorry... better get it to the dealer for an assesment...looks like it could have frame damage.

10-15-2008, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Catbird California Dreamin' Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Island of Kent Posts: 245	Road Hazard last night in Annapolis! Help! Me and 15 or more other cars hit this monster on RT.50 lastnight. I saw it 10 feet before it was under me. It went under the front and out the side. Could have been much worse. Other cars lost oil pans, gas tanks, two or more tires and deployed airbags. They will be fixed by any average shop. I, on the other hand need advice and professional help. I've had the car for only a few weeks and wouldn't begin to know who I can trust to put her back together correctly. Any advice will be very helpful.. Thanks in advance, Steve Attached Images __________________ Member of the Cali-Cartel One of 25... yes, we like playing hard to get...

10-15-2008, 02:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
serpent Driver!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,456	what is that and why the hell was it in the middle of the road?? __________________ Studies show 100% of people die. Might as well have some fun.

10-15-2008, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,609	Wow that really sucks, sorry to see. Do you have a better shot under the car? This may not go well... __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more SOLD

10-15-2008, 03:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
serpent Driver!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,456	i'm thinking a construction truck dropped that on the street.....damn I'd say lift up the car and see how its like under __________________ Studies show 100% of people die. Might as well have some fun.

10-15-2008, 03:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,609	I think the tub is unrepairable... I can't tell if the tub is damaged or not __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more SOLD

10-15-2008, 03:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
Terculees Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 360	I hate to be a pessimist, but from the aluminium sticking out from all the damaged fiberglass, I think the car may be totalled. __________________ 2006 Solar Yellow Elise \| Touring \| Tint \| Amp + Sub 2000 VW Passat 1.8 Turbo automatic yawn RIP 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise \| Touring

10-15-2008, 03:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	blows. good luck. __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

10-15-2008, 03:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
cstetter Nothing witty to say Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,443	There is a good chance this car is totalled due to chassis damage. I remember one person in the area here ran over a car bumper which punched a small hole in the floor pan - totalled. Blows that this happened but good that you didn't lose control of the car.

10-15-2008, 04:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Terculees Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 360	Post an underbody picture and we will be able to tell you for sure if you need to press the insurance to total the car. I'm sure there are enough shop guys reading this thread that can provide an accurate opinion, and I've hit enough sht on the road in my Lotus to have my opinion on the matter be worth more than $0.02. __________________ 2006 Solar Yellow Elise \| Touring \| Tint \| Amp + Sub 2000 VW Passat 1.8 Turbo automatic yawn* RIP 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise \| Touring

10-15-2008, 04:15 PM	#19 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,174 Images: 761	One downside of the way this car is made, is that the tub is considered one single no-separable assembly and not repairable by Lotus. The tub provides the structural integrity and stiffness. This does not mean you can't have it repaired or that it is not possible. But the corporate stance, which makes sense from that perspective, is that if the tub is damaged, including any suspension pick up points, that the tub is flawed and totaled. Once aluminum is deformed, it is changed. The cost to replace the tub is normally more than the value of the car, so then the car is totaled. Would make a great candidate for someone building a racing car though. __________________ * V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S * No Longer the ADMIN here, please do not PM me asking for help. Thanks! 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle.

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