Fifth Gear--- wait, wait, wait... like Top Gear? Or different? God, I love Top Gear...
After watching that and having driven that damn car again, I have to say that I think what I'm ACTUALLY annoyed with is the ESP with a combination of the traction control.

I was out driving in pretty shitty conditions (nice layer of dirty, unplowed snow with street showing through where the tires go over) on a pretty busy street. It is normally 4 lanes wide but due to the snow, very few people were driving in the outer lanes.

Anyway, I'm only going an average of 15mph or so, with traffic.
This ESP crap overreacts and OVER-CORRECTS and then re-corrects itself. So, while everyone else is basically driving in a straight line, my car has a fucking mind of its own and is over-correct and re-correcting every time a tire comes into contact with slightly uneven snow. It was a horrible, embarrassingly controlled fishtail.

Keep in mind by the way, that I didn't know what ESP was at the time of this most recent incident, so I'm just sitting there, completely in angry awe, going, "Is that traction control bullshit attemting to straighten the car out and OVER-CORRECTING?"

I guess I understand the purpose of the traction control and its usefulness, but the American version seems DANGEROUS more than good: You have the most control over your car when you're accelerating, so why the HELL would you want to take that away from somebody? Plus, what if you've slid a little too far into an intersection or something, and a car is coming at you. Normally, you could probably steer carefully, get some traction with a little gas and then accelerate out and away to safety. This TC takes away all ability to do that. THAT'S what scares me the most.

That, and I'm really starting to piss people off while driving up the long hills in my neighborhood. One guy even tailgaited (yes in BAD conditions) me up the hill and after we had turned onto the level/main street. After a few blocks (there are cars in front of me, by the way. I'm not controlling pack speed, here) this IDIOT took the nasty outside lane, drove NEXT to me while flipping me off and screaming through our rolled-up windows. ... He was driving a fucking MINIVAN.

... Thank goodness I got the $11.50/day insurance crap. ... And also thank goodness that I've still got a lot of anger built up from the last accident .... and thank goodness I'm kind of a bitch, ESPECIALLY to angry-soccer-mom-guys.


I guess I see where these 3 things (ABS, TC, and ESP) are great when you're doing 70mph down a frozen lake (as the man in the video was doing), but... when I'm trying to control my vehicle and these mechanisms are taking away my ability to do ANYTHING besides duck and cover, I really don't see much benefit to them. (Okay, the ABS isn't as bad as the other two, but still.)

Posted by kts in cases where they won't give you a car due to some BS in the past, start going up the chain, they should pretty quickly give you the keys to a car and get you out the door quickly.

I still haven't gotten a call back from enterprise, after I faxed my receipt and called numerous times, leaving numerous messages. Nothing.


... Hello, BBB, mah new best friend.

Posted by Emma Peel I still haven't gotten a call back from enterprise, after I faxed my receipt and called numerous times, leaving numerous messages. Nothing. ... Hello, BBB, mah new best friend.

i'll have to look, somewhere listed all of the numbers for the regional managers and VPs. you'll probably get secretaries and voice mails but leave messages and they will quickly pass it down the line to make you go away and solve this.

calling the BBB is also a good call.

Posted by Emma Peel After watching that and having driven that damn car again, I have to say that I think what I'm ACTUALLY annoyed with is the ESP with a combination of the traction control.

you can shut this shit off (well, not the ABS) off on a GM product

Emma, Fifth Gear is a Channel-5 rip off of TOP GEAR, with one of its old presenters; Tiff Needell.

Check out the time index 4:47 in that video... That's your icy hill and that's real traction control dealing with the problem.

Posted by Emma Peel I dunno. He'd probably say I'm a damn good driver, but that's just someone who's actually spent countless hours with me in a car. I mean... he doesn't have your expert internet-knowledge of how I drive

Yeah, your right, all I have to go on is the multiple accidents and tales of disaster you've reported to us on, over here on UER.

Bad technique or poor tyres... Either way, it's down to you, the dude in the chair!

_{(keep in mind as well, I've driven many European cars and many North American 'cars', here and in Canada - in all conditions [including 2ft snow with -25 temps]) so I know at least a little on these 'differences' of which I speak.}

Chris...

Posted by turbozutek Yeah, your right, all I have to go on is the multiple accidents and tales of disaster you've reported to us on, over here on UER. Bad technique or poor tyres... Either way, it's down to you, the dude in the chair!

Chris, I'm starting to think you're a woman from New Jersey. If you don't know what I mean, ask Action Satisfaction. He will tell you.


Multiple accidents: This most recent one, then the one where I was in the right turn lane, had to honk and brake because the car next to(and slightly forward of) me didn't check MY lane before getting in it... and got hit. The one before that was basically the same EXACT accident, except it wasn't a turn lane, I was just stuck in the far right lane. Aaaaaaannnnddd.... the one before that where I had to FLOOR IT out of a left-hand turn at a busy intersection (on a green arrow), because someone ran their red light and ended up hitting me, anyway?


Fuck you, Chris. None of those had ANYTHING to do with technique. I did what I WAS SUPPOSED to do. The techniques that I USED saved ME (as in, my physical body) from getting crunched in two accidents, and saved my car from getting completely T-boned in the third. YOU would have been fucked in those situations.

I avoided two direct side-impacts to MY PHYSICAL BODY, I avoided a T-bone, and I avoided a direct front-end collision.


And "Bald tires?" You're getting MY REAL CAR confused with the rental car, tard face.

Hell ... THE STIG would have been fucked in those situations. So you just lick my balls and quitchyer fucking criticizing because you're simply WRONG, darling.

Bwahahahahahahahaha!!

Ahh I <3 Peel.

I'm kind of late reading this thread, but...

I totally feel your pain on your accident, and I'm sorry it happened. Seeing the pics of your car brings back very vivid memories of mine from 6 months ago.



A lady sending a text message while driving made an UNPROTECTED left hand turn in front of me while I was about 10 feet away from her. I hit her almost head on. My battery exploded, fire started and smoke was in my car instantly. I think that was mainly from the air bags, though.

You know how people say when you get in an accident, 'Well maybe it will be totaled' or 'You better hope they total it..' well thats wrong! It SUCKS and is the BIGGEST F'ING PAIN IN THE ASS when your car is totaled!! Unless of course, you're rich and have kick ass credit. Also, in Texas I found out that the insurance company, even if you have rental reimbursement on your car insurance, DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A RENTAL IF YOUR CAR IS TOTALED!! What kind of CRAP is that? They only cover it if your car is being repaired.

2 months and 30 days worth of physical therapy later, I finally was able to get another car but only half of the winnings of a lawsuit against an insurance company that happens to insure ME as well.

It's nothing but a huge pain in the ASS!

I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

I sincerely hope you get this all resolved and taken care of with not much fuss or hassle. It really does make your hair fall out.

Posted by Emma Peel Hell ... THE STIG would have been fucked in those situations.

Heretic.

Beside's, money says the Stig would not have been in those situations. Buying groceries? The Stig does not eat. Stopping at red lights? The Stig would powerslide through a gap in the traffic.

Posted by Emma Peel And "Bald tires?" You're getting MY REAL CAR confused with the rental car, tard face.

Silly head - I'm talking about the rental: the one your having so many issues with.

Check the tyres! Fucking check 'em... If you don't? NO ONE WILL!

Posted by Emma Peel Fuck you, Chris. None of those had ANYTHING to do with technique. I did what I WAS SUPPOSED to do. The techniques that I USED saved ME (as in, my physical body) from getting crunched in two accidents, and saved my car from getting completely T-boned in the third. YOU would have been fucked in those situations.

Who knows?! I practice defensive driving: if you EXPECT everyone around you to drive like a fucking retard, it becomes no surprise if one in a few actually DO!

That mindset saved my bacon (and my bodywork) more than a few times, I can tell ya'.

And I WOULD lick your balls, but it creeps me out that way you carry them around in that FUCKING JAR; covered in ActionSatisfaction's semen.



Chris...

Posted by MindHacker Heretic. Beside's, money says the Stig would not have been in those situations. Buying groceries? The Stig does not eat. Stopping at red lights? The Stig would powerslide through a gap in the traffic.

I never thought I'd ever admit this, MindHacker, but you're SO RIGHT. What was I thinking?!?!
...
On a similar note, The Stig happens to be #1 on my LIST. You know, the LIST? Yeah, THAT list.

Back on topic,

everything Turdozutek posted (Hahaha look how I spelled your name)

You're starting to mix up posts that you're responding to and it is all disorganized. MY tires weren't bald and never caused an accident.

I DID however, check the tires on the rental. ARE YOU HAPPY? DO you guys have "the penny test" over there? Probably not. We have "the penny test."
Front two tires failed. Actually, Abe has a hat with the front left tire.
Rear tires are fine. WTF, seriously, don't rental companies get their tires rotated regularly? I wonder when the last time they changed the oil was. *shudder*

Also, I practice defensive driving. Isn't that part of being a "good driver?" Do you think IIIIII, Emma Peel, of ALL PEOPLE, trust OTHER people --- let alone other DRIVERS???

Hell, I lecture stupid motorcycle-riders all the time, when they're not wearing a helmet (and racing boots, gloves, a leather jacket with plates, and leather pants...) that they're being ridiculous. It doesn't MATTER how good of a driver you are --- you have to realize that ALMOST EVERYONE AROUND YOU is a complete fucking moron who is going to splatter your brains across the pavement at any given moment.

everything Happiedaze said

Gawwwwdddd that is awful. A friend's junker was totaled a few years ago, but the person's insurance didn't fight him on it, and a week later he had a check for more than the car's overall value.

Hm now that you mention the rental coverage, that is a pretty slick little way they did that there. ...Physical therapy for what? Screwed up neck, or what? My doctor is threatening me with PT, and I JUST got out of there. I'm not going back so soon, dammit.

The impact caused the bones in my spine to crunch against one another. That in turn, caused my lower spine to straighten out, instead of having that comfortable curve it's suppose to have.

Every time I went to therapy, I came out feeling 10 times worse. Way more pain than when I walked in. I'm not sure if that was part of the plan or what... but they were even talking surgery!!

My daughters were with me at the time as well. My 7 year old had a concussion with a golf ball size lump on her head for about 2 months, and my 4 year old's pancreas was re-located. They said it would just grow back to the right spot though, considering how young she is.

Posted by Happiedaze ....

Emma Peel quits her bitchin'.


You're lucky your spine wasn't damaged any worse than that. And yeah.... That seems to be how PTs generally plan it. I did have a good run with neck-rubby-things 3x a week for a while, but everything else was worse than the initial pain for me, too.

I'm glad you and your children are all alive and hopefully now in working order, again. (Except I'll bet you still have some back pain sometimes? Ergh.)

Posted by Emma Peel Emma Peel quits her bitchin'. You're lucky your spine wasn't damaged any worse than that. And yeah.... That seems to be how PTs generally plan it. I did have a good run with neck-rubby-things 3x a week for a while, but everything else was worse than the initial pain for me, too. I'm glad you and your children are all alive and hopefully now in working order, again. (Except I'll bet you still have some back pain sometimes? Ergh.)

No reason to quite your bitchin'!! It sucks!! I wasn't trying to steal the thunder of the thread... just sympathizing with the bullshit you have to go through when you have an accident.... So bitch away! Trust me, it helps to bitch about it.. every chance you get! ha!!

And yeah.. I do still have some back pain.. but not sure if it's from the accident or driving a school bus all day. *sigh*

Posted by Emma Peel On a similar note, The Stig happens to be #1 on my LIST. You know, the LIST? Yeah, THAT list.

• Some say that his genitals are on upside down, and that if he could be bothered he could crack the Da Vinci code in 43 seconds...

• Some say that his first name really is The, and that if he went on Celebrity Love Island they’d all be pregnant including the cameramen...

• Some say that after making love, he bites the head of his partner, and that he's had to give up binge-drinking now that it 's got to £1.18 a litre. All we know is he's called the Stig.

• Some say it's impossible for him to wear socks. And he can open a beer bottle with his testes. All we know is he's called the Stig.

• Some say one of his legs gets longer when he sees a pretty lady. And that I haven't done one of these for some time and I've forgotten to make up a second thing. All we know is, he's called the Stig.

Posted by MindHacker • Some say that his genitals are on upside down, and that if he could be bothered he could crack the Da Vinci code in 43 seconds... • Some say that his first name really is The, and that if he went on Celebrity Love Island they’d all be pregnant including the cameramen... • Some say that after making love, he bites the head of his partner, and that he's had to give up binge-drinking now that it 's got to £1.18 a litre. All we know is he's called the Stig. • Some say it's impossible for him to wear socks. And he can open a beer bottle with his testes. All we know is he's called the Stig. • Some say one of his legs gets longer when he sees a pretty lady. And that I haven't done one of these for some time and I've forgotten to make up a second thing. All we know is, he's called the Stig.

*happy, lusty sigh*


Happiedaze---- I know you weren't trying to steal my thunder. But I'm just grateful that my accident wasn't as bad as yours, nor my experience (so far).

<3