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Big towing mishap, OUCH.


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Posted

Well in one of the more messed up situations of recent memory my GF made a quick mess of a recently purchased prodject car, a Ford Taurus SHO, last night.

 

I wanted to tow it home from the shop last night so I could work on it here at the house over the weekend. It has oil fouled plug wires from leaking valve covers. Being as how I had ruined convertors on two separate occaisions with my first SHO in similar circumstances I wasn't going to drive this one like that. It's a short 8 mile trip and she was all over being able to do it, no problem. "Oh I take that seriously. I used to help Kerry do that all the time." Etc. So we took the truck over there and I hitched them together with about 18" of strap. I showed her in the car, all seemed good so I drive off. We got about a quarter mile up the highway doing about 45 and I had to slow for the first traffic light. I started slowing way early and gently, waiting for her to hit the brakes and then CRUNCH. I was just kept driving along like "This didn't just happen." So I figure out that the SHO is hooked hard to the rear bumper of the truck and just stop in the center lane. I get out to veiw what was a perfectly straight '91 SHO wadded up big time against the tow box of the truck. It's a total loss. I asked her what happened and she says the brakes didn't work. I just shook my head and said, "That's the clutch, oh well so much for that." She's an automatic type, who I've explained how the standard works to. Heck a while back she took the RX7 around the nieghborhood to try it out, without my knowledge, and supposidly did fine. But it wasn't enough in the dark, first time in this car to help her figure it out when she pushed the clutch in and the car just kept on rolling. Panic ensued , not much else happened, then the crunch.

 

So we're out about $720 I've spent aquiring the car and getting parts, I can send about $120 worth back. I scrounged all though Christmas season to pay bills, buy gifts, and purchase this SHO. I was all behind for the last month in bills just for this.

 

I'm taking it pretty well, I think my GF expected me to flip out, but I don't see any point in it. She made a mistake, I should have known better. Live and learn.

 

Vernon

Posted

We had a customer buy a new Porsche for his Wife, she was learning to drive a standard shift and wanted to drive her new Porsche home herself...he was driving the Sons leased VW (due to be turned in) with the Wife behind him in the Porsche...they got 1/4 down the road to a stop sign...guess what happened..yup, got the pedals mixed up and she slammed the VW...True Story.

Posted

Wow. I'm a pushover when it comes to my girlfriend, but I know I'd be fuming on the inside! My truck is a 5 speed. When I bought it, I had never driven a standard before. I had someone drive it to my house for me. After I figured out that it had the heavy duty 5 speed in it and 1st gear was not a normal driving gear, it took me 20 min to get the hang of it.

Posted

Ow! Man I hate that "crunch" sound!!

Hope it didn't tear up anything in your truck...

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, and I'm glad to hear you handled it well. Hang in there - Good things come to good people like you eventually.

Posted

:cool:

 

I feel for ya. What's done is done and there is nothing you can do about it.....except not trust her driving skills anymore.

 

BTW, Those Yamaha V-6's have a cool looking intake!!

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