Buttercup's Bad Beetle Day

[scarabY2k]

Today started out fine. I recieved in the mail some chrome fog light covers that I ordered from a fellow orger. I gave Cup a good washing, removed her mud flaps (maybe they'll stay off) and installed the covers- they look hot!!

So after showering and what not, I motored on down to the southside of Jacksonville. While driving down Emerson St., a BMW that was in front of me, out of the blue weaved in the right lane, close to hitting another vehicle. As they did, I discovered why...

A 12ft. extension ladder was in the middle of the road.

I couldn't avoid it. my options for evasive action were...
1. swerve to the right and hit a car
2. swerve to the left and be part of a head-on collision
3. the logical- apply brakes and try to avoid it as best as possible.

Damage was suffered to Cup, but from looking at her you would think not. But then again, it took place at dusk/evening so morning light will prove otherwise. The noticeable damage is the driver-side splitter that was sheered off- reparable. The grill came off it's mounting on the driver's side- it pops out if you apply pressure. And the driver-side inner wheel well liner- ripped out.

The idiot who lost the ladder was still at the scene. I Called Jacksonville's finest who came on the scene, charged the dude for the accident and a hefty citation for the unsecured load. Thank God He was insured; I'll be filing a claim to get all repairs done and a ccomplete inspection of Cup's undercarriage for any damage.

I'm okay, still upset that it happend to my Cup and steamed that people in this town are so stupid not to secure their load. It happens much too often.

The ironic thing of it all is while I was removing Cup's mud flaps, I came to the realization of why I like them on her- It give the illusion of her being low to the ground. Now that there off, I said, "I should go ahead and lower her a little bit". After this, I think I'm going to reconsider.

[Lnzbug]

This really bites Poor Cup! I hope she comes away from this without too much damage.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

This really bites Poor Cup! I hope she comes away from this without too much damage.

Thanks sweets I'll keep you posted on the dealerships prognosis.

I'm really trying not to lament, but Ellen, I just put on the chrome fog lamp covers not more than an hour before this happened. She was looking so good

[who_me285]

aww poor cup! I hope it's not to bad

[NBTurboFreak]

Ouch, I know the feeling. Mine happen with a piece of tire tread, on its side, across the whole lane. Was driving home from my parents at 1am. Fairly fresh asphalt coating on the road a black piece of tire tread is not good. I hit it head on at 70. By the time I saw it, it was too late to swerve. Car to the right and a wet grass medium on the left. Could have hit the brakes but the car would have nose dived and hit more of the tire. Just kept driving and watching the lights on the dash, praying none came on. Got home an hour later, no since stopping to look since there would have nothing I could have done. My damage was both fender liners came loose and had holes rubbed in them from the tires . Broke off most of the black mesh. Lost the silver center bar. Shattered both fog light lenses. Lost one screw holding the core support up. Busted one fog light bulb. I ordered my Mattig grill the next weekend.

[Beetlemania]

Freakin' crap, Al! That happened to a friend of mine with her '69 Mustang convertible years ago. I almost smashed into a bucket and shovel on that same highway last year. Stinkin' inconsiderate drivers!

[dnyed]

Oh no. I am glad that you are OK, and the idiot get charged. Poor Buttercup.

Maybe some will remember what happened to our 2003 TDI. The driveline fell off from under a farm truck on the freeway, on a dark, rainy winter morning, and Bill, and a few others, ran over it. It flattened the two left tires, broke the wheels, and dented the rocker and fender. Since the truck no longer had it's driveline, it was easy to detain it.

So sorry that this happened. Road debris is a big problem. I'm glad you are OK.

[KatWoman]

Awww dang Sometimes crap like this happens not long after doing fun things to cars. 4 days after my husband spent 13 hours installing a kick butt stereo system in my Neon I got into an accident and everything had to be ripped out, the car was in the shop for a month. 2 months after getting a nice system installed my Saturn, it was totalled. I have not yet done anything with my NB. I should be getting her back tomorrow and was contemplating having my husband put in my Alpine head unit so I can have iPod in the car again, but not sure if I would be tempting fate or not.

Sorry to hear about Cup but it sounds like a little TLC will do the trick. Hopefully the other guy's insurance will take care of everything.

[scarabY2k]

Thanks everyone. It's comforting to know that I'm not alone, albeit sad that i'm not alone.

Events like this seem to happen everyday in Jacksonville. One infamous piece of road is the Buckman Bridge, which is part of the 295 corridor. We're always hearing of people losing...
Paint buckets filled with paint
Furniture
Ladders
Roofing nails
Etc.

Sadly a few years back, a trucker tried to avoid a ladder on the Buchman. His avoiding swerve was quick and tragic; The truckers swerve was towards the right shoulder, where there was a pickup driving alongside. The 18 wheeler pushed the truck off the Buckman Bridge, into the St. Johns River. Sadly, the dirver and passenger died.

Securing cargo should be one of those simple pieces of knowledge as 'look both ways before you cross the street'. Inexcuseable IMHO. And the idiot who left his ladder for Cup to run into, never had the ladder tied down- it was loose in his trailer.

Fines for this buffonery should be heavy. Maybe this will jog some common sense to those who think "well it's just a short trip down the road", won't hurt anything or it will be safe.

Thanks again family. Cup will be fine im sure.

[antonym]

CRAP!!!

....


....




.. glad you ar OK dude!

I hope 'Cup will get over it soon...

... bummer...

[missruby]

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POOR 'CUP!!!

Glad you're okay, Al. Good thing there wasn't someone riding your tail.

[warren]

sorry that crap happened to you, man.

glad you're ok, al, and happy 'cup is fixable.

[Ringo*]

Poor CUP!!!!! That sucks! But how lucky you are the guy was there!! GET BETTER SOON CUP!

[Beetlemania]

Along the lines of unsecured cargo, we have 1 highway where it seems like all the gravel and rock being hauled through the Tulsa area uses, and I'd say less than half the trucks actually have their load covered, which means a buttload of rock chips on any car traveling that stretch! My first crack in my windshield was from gravel that was on a flatbed trailer!!!!!

[Billsbug]

I TOLD you not to remove those mud flaps!!!

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Billsbug

I TOLD you not to remove those mud flaps!!!

BillsBUG. What's up my man. You wore me down huh? I must admit, Cup has a nice new look, not that I've discounted reinstalling the flaps. Don't blow a gasket bro- this might be a permanent thing. But as I said, the flaps did give Cup a lower stance. Again, i'm liking the look. I'm surprised that SMG hasn't chimed in with roaring applause.

Hey wait a minute.. I just re-read your post. I thought you wanted me to remove the mud flaps, not leave them on. Wasn't it you who said "a real sports car dosen't have mud flaps"?? I'm quite sure that was you bro

But then again Bill, maybe removing Cup's mudflaps was like disengaging a force field, thus causing the ladder incident...Hmmmmmm?

[scarabY2k]

CUPdate

Filed a claim with my insurance carrier today. The adjuster will be by to look at Cup to assess the damage and will soon take their findings to the ladder dudes insurance company to fix my baby up. I'll keep you posted. maybe i'll post a pic or two.

Morning light did show a scratch on her front fender- nothing deep, but hey.... dude's insurance is gonna fix it

[Lnzbug]

This is kinda why I'm still driving with a broken fog and grill. I know as soon as I fix them I'm gonna get hit with something Keep us updated.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

This is kinda why I'm still driving with a broken fog and grill. I know as soon as I fix them I'm gonna get hit with something

I can dig it. Funny thing is one of the eyewitnesses saw Cup and said "Man she sure is riding low"- Cup is riding stock. And I so want to lower her, but the jury's still out on that.

Another funny thing was as I was waiting on JSO to finish the accident reports, a blue NB drove by and stopped. I thought it was a fellow dubber coming to my aid. Looks like it was a friend of one of ladder dudes passengers. Oh well- at least I didn't suffer Bug on Bug crime.

['01vwbeetle]

Al, sorry to hear about cup. I know I would be pretty upset as well. There is a positive side though. Once you get the insurance check, you can do all the work and have $$ left over to get cup some new things!