Why do so many 928's get rear ended? is this my imagination or does it seem people just miss us?

 

I think it may be a number things:

1. Brakes - Our cars may stop quicker than your average vehicle...or people underestimate the stopping ability of our cars. Cars of today have great stopping ability, but you have to really mash the brake pedal. Most owners won't do this unless the car in front is also doing the same or it's taking some evasive action. During hard braking on a 928, it looks very effortless/controlled. The driver behind in the other car may not think that it's necessary to brake hard.

2. Technology - People are using more and more devices in their car. Porsche didn't put cup holders in our cars because they felt that if you were driving, the only thing you should be doing is driving. Manufacturers today market the cars of today as a place where you can do anything.

3. Lights - My opinion is that the stop lights on a 928 aren't as bright or obvious as the cars of today. I was behind a Cadilac the other day and there was no mistaking when he was stopping or when he was turning (his turn lights were also red).

Just some thoughts...

Roger
87s4

 

Because people are so distracted by their cell phones/American Idol/neg-am mortgage that they're not paying attention?

If it's possible to for companies to cost-effectively make molds to produce all those crappy Civic body kits, you'd think there'd be one that could remanufature S4 bumper covers...........

 

There are several E36s in our office. 5 of them have been rear-ended. It's a much higher rate than other cars. The only thing we could come up with was basically what Sterling was saying. There's no dive under braking, so the perception of hard braking isn't there for others.

I was hit at a stop light once that was red. The woman was totally confused. She smacked right into me. After she apologized, she said she didn't see my brake lights. In manual cars, I now sit with my foot on the brake at a red light if there are no cars behind me.

 

The vast majory of wrecks we take apart have front end damage but that may just be that front hits more often are "totals" because of the aluminum and collateral radiator ,condensor, headlight damage . More body shops feel comfortable working on the steel rear body shell far from any critical suspension points.

 

It's the way we (I) drive sometimes. The freeway ramp near my house is a down hill run to the ram then a steeper ramp to a traffic light. I run the speed that traffic allows, and had no issues with late-braking the corner and letting the car do the cornering at the bottom. It worked for a while... Then one day, as I did the normal late-braking routine, there's a Honda pretty close behind. So I brake earlier and firmly, which generates a lot of tire squeeling behind me. Fortunately, there was nobody in my righ-turn lane at the bottom so I let off some and took the corner at full speed, with the Honda still locked up behind me. Until the corner anyway, when locked-up fronts wouldn't turn the car. She and her honey sailed straight across behind me.

Drivers are so used to tailgating and such, and also believe that they can do whatever the car in front can do. Under the best conditions, that Honda will only stop from 60 about three Honda-lengths beyond where the 928 stops, unless there's a 928 in the way to slow it down faster. Moral may be that we need to drive our cars like one might drive a Civic, so we don't endanger ourselves and our fellow motorists.

Question-- How many people, percentage-wise, involved in nose-to-tail accidents have said their brakes failed or at least failed to stop their car? Lots, in my limited experience. Nobody says they forgot to push on the pedal until after the crunching sound overwhelmed the sound level in the Ipod headset, or says they only noticed the car in front a few feet from them as they mopped up that jumbo grande latte they dribbled on the carpet. There would be many fewer mishaps if drivers would PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR DRIVING!

Just my opinion..

 

This is a stereotype of the American driver. I know I don't do any of these. I've got my hands full just watching **** on my in-dash DVD, viewing my navigation system and text messaging. If I also worried abut Sanjaya's hair, I would get in a lot of crashes.

Matt

 

There's an old saying: most people don't drive their cars, they aim them. American drivers are getting worse every day!

 

I think the answer lies in an understanding of the word callipygian. It's hard to stay back from something so beautiful.

To be clear, the day I get nailed in the rear I will perhaps be less poetic about the matter unless you include words that rhyme with Truckin' Gaspole...

 

Maybe because the @$$ is so big it's hard NOT to hit.

 

I would also point out that for every car which gets rear ended..........there was another car with a smashed front ...the one who hit them ! In my opinion there are very few accidents only many errors in judgement most of which have a forseeable outcome. My pet peeve is tailgating , people act like they aree bump drafting at Daytona they have NO CHANCE of stopping ! We get multiple car accidents all the time as the lemmings pile into each other at 80 mph. Frankly I think our insurance laws are seriously flawed in that the driver has so little accountability or personal financial responsibility for the results of their actions. It was an "accident" so the insurance company pays. But that exists primarily to make sure that the lending companies who financed the cars the real OWNER of the car gets paid .... So be safe drive carefully they are out to get you !

 

+1

Has anyone else taught another person to drive? My son recently got his license and it made me rethink everything I do behind the wheel. The whole time he was growing up I was driving like no one was paying attention. I never realized that he was going to mimic everything I do, but with much less experience to tell him when it's OK to cut it close and when it's not.

I'm still a nervous wreck when I ride in the car with him and I sudder to think of being on the road with new drivers who didn't have the hours and hours of training I spent with my son before he got his license.

Most new drivers can't even back up in a straight line!!!

Until you have actually locked up the brakes in an emergency I don't think you're qualified to drive on public roads with other drivers because you don't have any idea how your car will respond.


FWIW- I once rear-ended a camaro in my mom's old buick when I was 17. Wet roads, wet behind the ears, bad combo. I just locked 'em up and watched the accident happen.

 

For most people driving is an afterthought and a right. That's their attitude. It's not difficult to get around the driver's education requirements in most states which allows many people to get licensed without ever having any formal training. The SUV madness of the past decade has allowed people who don't care to take an even more cavalier attitude since their risk of personal injury is reduced even further by cruising around in 2-3 ton vehicles. It's a general lack of consideration that we see in an increasing level throughout all aspects of life. As time goes on people care less and less about how their actions affect others. It's all about themselves and their own desires.

 

1) I can back up just fine, thanks...it's IMPOSSIBLE not to see something behind you with a window that big. lol

2) I'm just older than your son (18 this coming November) and realize how important it is to realize the limitations on your car. Granted, those limits don't come for a while on a P-car, but whatever your son ends up driving he should be familiar with. I learned to drive in a huge van, which taught me to be careful on the road, especially during turning (the 944 will take a turn at 50MPH and barely slide its tail; the Aerostar will...flip over and die).

I assume someday you'll let him (if not already) behind the wheel of your shark. He should be able to just drive the car fine. Just be sure he is ready for its IMMENSE power.

 

I think thats your reason right there.