Almost totalled my 986S today, lost control of the car!

[aBsOlUt]

I cannot believe it. I was so proud of its handling and everything but it must have been my fault. I know no car can go against the law of physics. My tires must have been wet from a rain that was going on all morning. Everything was dry at the time of the incident.

It all happened in a back road next to where I live, I was with a friend and I even told him "I like this road", turned the wheel even more and pressed the gas (probably the biggest mistake). Car loses control, butt is flying to the right, front is going and jumps on the conrete part of the pedestrian road, gets on top of the grass and somehow I turned my wheel to the right to get back into the road and it did it. If it didnt do that it would have kept going on a downward slope with more grass and possibly roll the car around.

A piece of plastic fell on the road and it appears it took most of the damage. The car does not leak any oil or has any visible damage at all. The car is full of grass thrown on one side.

Steering feels the shame, car keeps going straight even if I dont hold the wheel, I zig-zagged a bit, gears seem to do just fine.

I am taking it to the dealer to be checked. Any worries I should have?

Just wanted to share the story...I blame the mistake to me not the car.

[BobMarley1]

How is your friend,

[aBsOlUt]

Couldnt stop apologizing for what happened. I might post some screenshots soon if I find my digital camera.

[blue2000s]

Did you actually hit anything or just slide around?

[drburton]

How fast were you going? I try to get my backend out on some sharp turns around my house just to get a better feel for the car and it takes alot of effort. When it does happen it is generally very controlled and easy to get back in line. You must have been cruising to have it get that far out on you.

Hopefully the damage is minimal, sounds like all seems well.

I bet your heart was pumping after you came to a stop.

[slogans7]

If you like going fast, take a course on how to do it well and safely. I would recommend Skip Barber.

http://www.skipbarber.com/

[aBsOlUt]

Yes I did hit the curb and half of the car was on the grass and the rest on the road.

I must admit I did intentionally try to get the turn a bit hard. Like I said it was my mistake by turning the wheel more and pressing the gas. I took the turn at around 47-51 miles per hour I would say - dont rmbr exactly.

I went to the dealer they did a check all seems fine. The piece of plastic is under front bumper - passenger side - and it cost 7.00$. It takes about 20 minutes to go on the dealer and another 20 to come back.

Car drove fine. I think I got out very lucky considering how worse it could have been.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by aBsOlUt

Yes I did hit the curb and half of the car was on the grass and the rest on the road.

I must admit I did intentionally try to get the turn a bit hard. Like I said it was my mistake by turning the wheel more and pressing the gas. I took the turn at around 47-51 miles per hour I would say - dont rmbr exactly.

I went to the dealer they did a check all seems fine. The piece of plastic is under front bumper - passenger side - and it cost 7.00$. It takes about 20 minutes to go on the dealer and another 20 to come back.

Car drove fine. I think I got out very lucky considering how worse it could have been.

Run your car slowly through the speeds that you will be driving it (0-80mph?) and try and feel for any subtle vibration. If you subtly bent a wheel, the dealer probably wouldn't have found it. I assume he did an alignment including camber and toe to check that nothing was bent?

[aBsOlUt]

Ufortunately they did not do any checks on camber or toes because they were slammed and I just called without appointment. I feel no vibrations at all, it feels just like it felt before the accident - exactly the same. Turning, zig-zagging, harder break, complete rotation of wheel and no vibration or weird sounds.

I am going overseas in 2 days and I have no time to arrange a real appointment for a big check up.

Appreciate the concern all!

[Y2BOX]

hmmm....a lesson to us all....

[Perfectlap]

I once slid on some ice and went over an eight inch curb. I was going at about 15 mph I almost avoided it, I had the wheel completely turned and the handbrake on but one wheel still hit the curb (right front). The car was stuck needing a tow truck to lift the car. I took it right to the dealer for an alignment and they said the car was still straight and there was no damage.
I hit that curb so hard I thought the bumper was cracked into three parts and the fenders had fallen off. No damage but a little scrape on the wheel rim.

The Boxster is infamous for having an abrupt moment of polar inertia. One minute your on the limit feeling fine through a turn, tires screeching and the next thing
the car has completely broken loose and you are not getting it back straight.
Both feet (clutch and brake) in !

[Rail26]

Sounds like a HOOT! I love that, "Holy $%#@, I almost died" adrenaline rush. I think the only more terrifying and exhilirating than an impending car accident is getting shot at! Cheers and drink to cheating death yet again!

[blinkwatt]

Glad to hear no one was hurt. Hopefully the car is fine and no problems show up in the long run.

[Rail26]

Bro, I think I found a picture of your mishap.

[ddb]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Both feet (clutch and brake) in !

Four years ago I did a 3-day Skip Barber Racing School at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca where they preached this to us multiple times all 3 days. The instructors talked about how the brain can remember such things if we hear it over and over and over. At any rate, I think it was day 2 when I lost control before the "Corkscrew" (I don't remember what exactly happened). I do remember spinning and bam, it was like a light came on, I remembered to hit the brakes and clutch and was able to avoid everything except a little embarrassment. My first inclination was to stay off the brakes and just wait until I stopped.

aBsOlUt, glad to hear you didn't get hurt or do much damage.

ddb

[slogans7]

I still remember it - "In a spin - both feet in."

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Rail26

Bro, I think I found a picture of your mishap.

what that pic bring back the memory loud and clear!

[Scooter986]

Originally Posted by aBsOlUt

[a]nd somehow I turned my wheel to the right to get back into the road and it did it.

Now that is what a 986 is supposed to do. It gets back in line, with some coaxing of course.

I am glad everything worked out.

[Brucelee]

I recommend that you:

Have the car aligned by a quality shop.

Have them do a thorough inspection underneath. If you hit the curb at speed, I suspect you have some damage, even if it is just an alignment issue.

Enroll in a qualilty driving school.

Stop trying to show off when lives are at stake. If you want to risk your own life, that is your call. Your friend might take exception to risking his.

Good luck.

[aBsOlUt]

Does anyone know a driving school here in Charlotte, North Carolina?