I thought it would be fun, well no, interesting let's say, to share in a thread close calls we've had in your TR/512/M/Boxers. I had one, my first one, yesterday on my way to a wedding in Napa Valley. I was driving normally (at the speed limit) on a 60mph 2 lane road and as I approached a light, that was green all along, the light goes to yellow. Given that I was still a little far from the light, it was a matter of gunning it to make it through before the red light, or just stop. I thought about it for a second and decided to just stop. The one second thought meant that it was a harder stop than normal, but no need to stand on the break pedal. The TR comes to a stop beautifully, no nose dive or tracking. Less than a second later I hear big tires squeaks, though slightly interrupted by an ABS system. I just had enough time to look up in my rear view mirror and saw a white Chevrolet Tahoe coming (sliding) straight towards me... It must have been 30 feet away (10 meters) when I saw it, and lucky for me I was in first gear and I moved forward by a car length immediately, which made JUST enough space for him to avoid my rear right corner by maybe 5 inches and stop by my passenger door... It was so so so f$%&ing close... The guy, a 30 year old guy, was a little bit in shock, having had probably seen his "insurance life" flashing before his eyes. To make it through the yellow light, I would have had to gun my V12 Ferrari, how in the world did he think it could make it?!? I got upset the first 5 seconds, but since nothing happened, reverted back to "I guess it can happen to anybody". I noticed he had big custom rims with super low profile tires, I guess it helped him avoid me too. Well, so thankfully I had the car in first gear which allowed me to have the reflex to move forward quickly by at least a car length, otherwise it would be have it. I always always put the TR in first as I come to a stop, you know shifting it softly in first while the synchros still turn. I find it a lot easier than trying to put it in first completely stopped. I'm glad I got this habit from my old 911. That's my close call story of the day, and I'm not planning on having more. Ever! (knocking on wood)
Wow... so glad to hear you were able to avoid an accident. Usually, pepole are looking at the TR and not paying attention to what is going on around them. At times, I have seen others behind me pass a red light just to stay with me. Good that you were in first gear buddy.
Glad to hear it had a happy ending. I had exactly the same, but different once. Yellow light, I decide to stop. Chevy truck behind me decides the best thing to do is just swerve to the left and go through the light anyway (Yep it was a two lane road, one lane each way). Guess he really wanted donuts .
So pleased for you pal I too slot first just before I stop as it is nice n easy - glad I do !! No close call as such for me -however I have had cars behind me run a red light to stay with me ......!! I am also very aware of checking my rear view after leaving a motorway (freeway) and stopping at a roundabout or junction as people can approach way too fast nd it would be a BIG impact Tr boy
Had a close-call at the Nurburgring ... twice almost slided off .... but was just getting her back on the track ... pfffffffff. No other "almost" happened .... or do we simply not want to write about it ...
Something like this, only a few days ago ..... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tau6RQs1_Uo&feature=player_detailpage&list=UUqJi6z4v_dkG-b1kB1YZH8w[/ame]
Good idea for a thread. I had a close call about a month ago: somebody ran a red light gawking at the car. Luckily I was a bit slow that morning and did not proceed on the green as fast as I normally would have, otherwise he would have t-boned me.
Not Ferrari related but I almost slid off the ring a couple of times in a rental car! I think it would have been tough explaining the situation to the company, but if you're in Germany with a day off and you have a rental car and the ring is open you just have to go for it!
Hello Chris; Glad to know your attentivness & quick reflexes saved you. Do you keep the transmission in 1st gear at a stop light with the clutch depressed?....I'm asking because this method would seem for myself to cause unnecessary wear on your throw-out bearing & pressure plate, I'm just the opposite....I shift into neutral WELL BEFORE a stop & coast up to the stop....my way of thinking, are brakes are Faaaar easier to replace than transmission related parts....I spend ALOT of time in neutral whilst driving, especially going down hill. If I see a red light a hundred yards ahead, I instantly go into neutral & coast the next 100+++ yards.....Mark
Hi Mark, yes I do keep the clutch depressed at red lights. When I had my 911, there was a lot of debate around this. I kept that habit, but I'll had admit that I never really had a definite answer as to whether you're better off smoothly shift it in first and hold the clutch, or push the synchros harder. I'd love to have opinions on this.
HEY Chris; If I ever run across you at a Ferrari event, you'll be easy to spot!....just look for the guy with a Right leg that looks like a East German Power Weight Lifter!!!.....My Best Regards!.....Mark
