Very very sad day for my NSX!!

[Zman]

Very very sad day for my NSX!! Pics added

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I lurked on the forum but I feel that fellower NSXers can help me get through this terrible time.

Well I have had my baby out of winter hibernation for just over a week. I'm heading into work this morning on a rainy, wet, dreary Michigan day when my car hydroplanes on the expressway in the inside lane and goes into an uncontrollable spin back and forth all lanes of traffic during rush hour. Luckily I did not hit or get hit by anyone else. The car struck the median on the right rearend/bumper. The damage is significant with the trunk, back bumper and right fender totally crushed. It was not driveable because the fender was crushed into the right rear wheel. The check engine light also came on but the muffler/exhaust pipes were also crunched(I hope that is the cause!!). It is a black/tan 1997 that I have had for 9 years. I was just thinking last night as I was driving her how much I loved the car. I need a little pick me upper as I am mourning my car big time. I escaped with a laceration on my nose, black right eye and a lot of soreness in my neck. My CT scan of my head, neck and facial bones was negative. I would post pics but they are on my cell phone.

It is strange how your life can change in an unexpected second. My wife and kids were really upset but I am really lucky that I am here typing this post, the outcome could have been so much worse than it was. We can replace things.

 

[clr1024]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hopefully its cosmetic and not structural.
As you said the upside is you're alive. :smile:

 

[Erik B]

even if its structual it can be reparted...stay positive and glad to hear you werent that badly hurt.

 

[docjohn]

sorry to hear of your misshap.Always make a mental note of how much tread your tires have before splish splashing.I would look for local recomendations on the best body shop with the most Aluminum experience(nsx,audi ect) Don'yt let the ins. co railroad you into treating the nsx like just another accord.Do a search on prime about how others have navigated the waters of nsx crumpling and the issues of total vs fix and the options to you as the owner if it is totaled.Glad to hear you are ok:smile:

 

[4AU4LIFE]

sorry to hear about the car....
sounds like the car took a lot of abuse in the crash but kept you alive.
that is nice to hear.
do you think it is totalled?

 

[N Spec]

So sorry to hear that. It is an instant that tragedy can strike on the road and I and everyone else who drives or ride are not unfamiliar with the sound of crunching matter. Atleast you are fine and the NSX may be salvageable? This is why I hate all forms of precipation during driving hours... Rain when I sleep dammit... lol

 

[Zman]

Thanks for all the support guys. I don't think it is totalled but hitting a wall at 70mph can not be too good to an aluminum car. I hope the engine and mounts, etc.. were not damaged, hopefully not as the back window did not break. Maybe I'll be lucky twice(once with my wellbeing!!) and it will all be structural.

For years I never drove the car if there was even a hint of rain. Now I enjoy the car and drive it as much as I can before winter sets in. The rear tires are starting to wear and no doubt caused the sudden hydroplaning. Several other cars had accidents in this same area earlier in the rush hour but the news reported that the standing water conditions improved. Apparently not for an NSX. There was no warning, the car went sides and started spinning, I was along for the ride.

I had the car taken by my friend who owns a towing company to another good friend who owns a collision shop to fix my car. He is not approved by AAA but they did not object. I don't trust anyone but him with my cars. My M5 sustained over $5,000 of front end damage when someone hit me in a parking lot and he did such a great job that you really can't tell it was in an accident.

I still have my M5 to drive until I get her back. Not all is lost!!

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Most importantly, glad you are OK. It is a car and can be fixed or replaced.

Just as a point of reference, did you by chance have your cruise control on?

Regards,
LarryB

 

[Texas91Brent]

Glad to hear you are ok......Sounds like it is time for a widebody conversion.....There is light at the end of the tunnel.....And your family still has you here......You are much more important than your car, if don't think so, just ask your family!!!:smile::smile::smile:

 

[Zman]

Most importantly, glad you are OK. It is a car and can be fixed or replaced.

Just as a point of reference, did you by chance have your cruise control on?

Regards,
LarryB

Larry,

Thanks for the kind words. I am getting sorer by the minute!!

No, I did not have the cruise control on. I was moving along in the morning rush. It really is amazing that I did not get hit by other cars as I was spinning out of control.

 

[blodi]

Glad to hear you are ok and hopefully its easily fixed and back up. On a side note...jump on over to the SE michigan thread sometime in the midwest forum...we are always happy to see more primers around here.

 

[pgilliam1]

Everyone just needs to slow down when it's wet (70mph with worn rubber in the rain ) - let that be the lesson we learn from this. I have also learned the hard way, but luckily in inferior cars that could be replaced. The NSX probably won't be duplicated and with all the effort it took to manufacture such an automobile it's just a shame to hear of one more wrecked. That being said - I'm glad you're OK and the car's fixable.
Happy Motoring!

 

[Zman]

Everyone just needs to slow down when it's wet (70mph with worn rubber in the rain ) - let that be the lesson we learn from this. I have also learned the hard way, but luckily in inferior cars that could be replaced. The NSX probably won't be duplicated and with all the effort it took to manufacture such an automobile it's just a shame to hear of one more wrecked. That being said - I'm glad you're OK and the car's fixable.
Happy Motoring!

You make a great point. I was looking at the tires before I got it off the lift. They were showing some signs of wear typical to NSX tires on the inner 1/3 but not too bad. They were not nearly as bad as the previous set that was on the car but I did not drive the car in the rain at that time. My speed was keeping with the flow of traffic probably not 70mph but that is what it felt like when the car decided to stop abruptly. I'm the first to admit that I drive the car aggressively but not this am. It was pouring rain in the early morning hours and still raining when I was on the road. There was also a dip in the freeway and it was turning slightly to the left. It was if I hit ice. I probably will never drive the car in those conditions again.

 

[Liquid]

I remember driving my NSX back from buying it in Chicago and going through some heavy rain and being very, very scared. The tires had plenty of tread but when I took it in for service, found out the alignment and toe was completely out of whack. Perhaps that might be a contributing factor since it appears the tread was sufficient. Of course, you will never know, but it is an idea.

The most important thing is you have your health.

 

[Steven Allen]

Cars can be replaced.

 

[anesthesia]

so sorry to hear that, glad you are okay, hope things will work out for you.

ANesthesia

 

[Motegi]

So sorry to hear about your accident! I'm glad that you were not seriously injured.

Where was it on the 94? 696? or 75? You were really lucky to have avoided all of the other cars during rush hour!

BTW, I couldn't believe the lightning and thunder last night here in Macomb county. It sounded like it was coming down right on top of my house!
The thunder was almost as bad as the electrical storms I remember from the summers living in west Florida (lightning capital of the US).
And on top of all of the rain, the roads up here in southeast Michigan are really horrible.

I took my NSX out of the garage on Tuesday for the first time this year and drove to the Somerset Collection in Troy. I avoid taking it out in the rain and usually check the Weather Channel before leaving the garage. Luckily my rainy/snowy day car has SH-AWD...

BTW, can you PM me the info for your friends collision shop? I need some paintwork on another car and am seeking recommendations.

Best of luck in getting your car repaired and back on the road!

 

[damthatbeaver]

So sorry brother...I feel for you as I had my NSX almost spin out on drive pavement - the weather quickly dropped and in minutes the conditions were ripe for a light car like mine to spin out...thank God I did not panic and was able to come out of the spin...

God's Speed brother...keep us informed.

Dam

 

[Zman]

So sorry to hear about your accident! I'm glad that you were not seriously injured.

Where was it on the 94? 696? or 75? You were really lucky to have avoided all of the other cars during rush hour!

BTW, I couldn't believe the lightning and thunder last night here in Macomb county. It sounded like it was coming down right on top of my house!
The thunder was almost as bad as the electrical storms I remember from the summers living in west Florida (lightning capital of the US).
And on top of all of the rain, the roads up here in southeast Michigan are really horrible.

I took my NSX out of the garage on Tuesday for the first time this year and drove to the Somerset Collection in Troy. I avoid taking it out in the rain and usually check the Weather Channel before leaving the garage. Luckily my rainy/snowy day car has SH-AWD...

BTW, can you PM me the info for your friends collision shop? I need some paintwork on another car and am seeking recommendations.

Best of luck in getting your car repaired and back on the road!

I had my NSX at Ocean Prime near Somerset the night before. The valets were commenting on what a sweet car it is.

It was on west bound 94 between 9 & 10 mile. The collision shop is in Eastpointe on 9 mile-Motor City Collision 586-772-0310. Ask for Steve.

 

[sca037]

Like Ryan ('blodi') said, swing by the Midwest section and hang out with your local Michigan NSX'ers............the fact that your car isn't Blue will be refreshing (DOH- did I just say that ??? ;^)
I recall being caught in the rain in our S2000 (on very good S-02's mind you) and being white-knuckled a few times through puddles, this from a guy that when I used to race loved the rain!
Sometimes even fresh high performance Summer tires are a compromise in the wet.

Brian

 

[alum04org]

Thanks for all the support guys. I don't think it is totalled but hitting a wall at 70mph can not be too good to an aluminum car. I hope the engine and mounts, etc.. were not damaged, hopefully not as the back window did not break. Maybe I'll be lucky twice(once with my wellbeing!!) and it will all be structural.

For years I never drove the car if there was even a hint of rain. Now I enjoy the car and drive it as much as I can before winter sets in. The rear tires are starting to wear and no doubt caused the sudden hydroplaning. Several other cars had accidents in this same area earlier in the rush hour but the news reported that the standing water conditions improved. Apparently not for an NSX. There was no warning, the car went sides and started spinning, I was along for the ride.

I had the car taken by my friend who owns a towing company to another good friend who owns a collision shop to fix my car. He is not approved by AAA but they did not object. I don't trust anyone but him with my cars. My M5 sustained over $5,000 of front end damage when someone hit me in a parking lot and he did such a great job that you really can't tell it was in an accident.

I still have my M5 to drive until I get her back. Not all is lost!!

Zman, sorry to learn of your misfortune. So, YOU are the NSX owner that is close friend(s) with Ruehle's Towing?

 

[Zman]

Zman, sorry to learn of your misfortune. So, YOU are the NSX owner that is close friend(s) with Ruehle's Towing?

Yep, Vito came personally to tow my car. In fact I found the piece of paper in my desk that he gave me with your name and phone number.

I use to hang on the forum all the time several years ago but got more into my firearms and mostly go on the various gun/shooting forums. I do miss it here especially with the support that I have received. NSX owners will always be like family!!

I will get on the Midwest section.

For the good news-the car is not damaged as bad as it looked. I was told it absorbed the impact of the wall well. The frame is straight and the engine compartment appears uneffected. I need a new right quarter, trunk lid and back bumper and associated pieces. The passenger door does not even have a scratch on it but the left upper rear quarter has some damage from the trunk lid. A few pieces of the rear support structure will need new pieces welded in. CD player was crushed with 6 of my discs inside.

 

[alum04org]

Nice to "meet" you, but of course, not under these circumstances... relatively good news on your NSX, though. Hope your repairs progress well, and we get to see you and your car yet this summer season. :smile:

 

[Zman]

alum4org,

I'll give you a call soon.

Maybe a little premature on good car news. Spoke with the AAA adjuster and he was blown away by the replacement cost of NSX body panels, etc.. He said he has written estimates on a lot of cars but never seen one like this with such expensive parts. The estimate was already at $25,000 without seeing whats underneath the damaged panels. Now he is talking of possibly not fixing the car or he will demand that the bodyshop take the car apart before giving the go ahead if the appraisal warrants repairing the car. He wanted to know if I had a recent appraisal which I did not. Have to wait until next week to get some answers.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Remember to have him use NSXPrime and recent sale prices to evaluate the value. KBB and Edmunds can seel you short of value.

HTH,
LarryB