So we were top down returning to our hotel from a day with WCKCC at Lake Tahoe. Two blocks from the hotel, with a green light for us, a grey Vue sitting at a red left turn light suddenly decided he wanted to go straight. He pulled over into our lane without warning immediately after the bright yellow sedan we were following passed him. Jack swerved and slammed on the brakes (excellent ABS) and horn while I did my best co-pilot job by shutting my eyes tight. Thankfully the big Chevy pick-up behind us was able to stop before ramming us. The Vue's driver didn't even hesitate after all the comotion. We are fine but have a new appreciation for how little presence this car has on the road (ironic that we are noticed everywhere we go but nearly became road kill).
Nearly taken out by a Vue, of all vehicles!
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Whew! I'm glad to hear you & your Sky are safe.
As for that driver of the Vue....:nono:
As for the road presence of the Sky, I think it definitely gets attention but also the fact that it's pretty low and maybe the color of yours which is kind of dark, makes it a bit less noticeable perhaps?
I have a Miata for my other car...now talk about hard being noticed!
One time when I was in a 2 lane left turn, there was a truck next to me to the right and when we both turned he said "Gosh, your car is so small I could have nearly runned over you."
Anyways, be safe and buckle up always.
As for that driver of the Vue....:nono:
As for the road presence of the Sky, I think it definitely gets attention but also the fact that it's pretty low and maybe the color of yours which is kind of dark, makes it a bit less noticeable perhaps?
I have a Miata for my other car...now talk about hard being noticed!
One time when I was in a 2 lane left turn, there was a truck next to me to the right and when we both turned he said "Gosh, your car is so small I could have nearly runned over you."
Anyways, be safe and buckle up always.
Glad you're ok.
This car's a lot bigger than some other roadsters I've had, but I'd use the same rules.
In my opinion, defensive driving is far more important here than in your other rides.
Do not assume people see you, esp. pick up trucks and big rigs.
Part of driving these entails constantly thinking ahead and looking for your "out".
Oh yeah. It's a convertable, so don't drive behind motor homes.
Not only do they not know you're there, but sometimes they "drain" on the highway.
Nimble maneuvering can be required to dodge a bit of, uh, effluent.
This car's a lot bigger than some other roadsters I've had, but I'd use the same rules.
In my opinion, defensive driving is far more important here than in your other rides.
Do not assume people see you, esp. pick up trucks and big rigs.
Part of driving these entails constantly thinking ahead and looking for your "out".
Oh yeah. It's a convertable, so don't drive behind motor homes.
Not only do they not know you're there, but sometimes they "drain" on the highway.
Nimble maneuvering can be required to dodge a bit of, uh, effluent.
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3,783 Posts
You have to be hyper defensive. The SKY sits below the window wells of pickups and vans. If they glance over, they are not going to see you. Never run alongside another car - ever. I had too many accidents like that in my OpelGT when everybody else was driving land yachts in the 1970s.
Less than a year ago I was traveling, so I rented a Sebring convertible. I was at a light to exit a parking lot behind a bigass red pickup. It was a long red light. He got impatient, glanced in his rear view mirror, and threw his truck into reverse and goosed it hard out of frustration. By the time I could even react he was on my hood. He got out, acted all apologetic, then when I backed up so we could exchange information, he took off being the total prick that he was. He didn't even have plates on the truck yet so I couldn't identify him for a hit and run.
I learned one thing, though. Next time, before we pull over to the side of the road, I am going to have the offending driver hand over his license and I'll hold it for him while we re-situate the cars.
Less than a year ago I was traveling, so I rented a Sebring convertible. I was at a light to exit a parking lot behind a bigass red pickup. It was a long red light. He got impatient, glanced in his rear view mirror, and threw his truck into reverse and goosed it hard out of frustration. By the time I could even react he was on my hood. He got out, acted all apologetic, then when I backed up so we could exchange information, he took off being the total prick that he was. He didn't even have plates on the truck yet so I couldn't identify him for a hit and run.
I learned one thing, though. Next time, before we pull over to the side of the road, I am going to have the offending driver hand over his license and I'll hold it for him while we re-situate the cars.
We talked it over. In our situation we had no warning so avoidance was key - and those brakes were fantastic! We were going about 30 mph and it was painfully obvious after the fact that the Vue driver watched the bright yellow compact sedan ahead of us pass but missed seeing/registering that we were on the road. Close call. Comes with the territory (I wondered if we'd gone for white or yellow if that would make us any safer). There's a post over on the Solstice forum about a bright red Sol's run in. So maybe bright color only goes so far... We're experienced enough to come to the conclusion that we aren't necessarily any more/less visible on the road than a motorcycle.
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I got rearended by someone who wanted to leave but spoke little English..the trunk of my three day old car was sprung (was damaged far worse than it looked) the little guy was practically bouncing up and down and pointing at me..he kept saying, "NO damage lady, I go" I said, "No, you stay...." I shouted back... The policeman showed up as I was dancing around the guy trying not to touch him but trying to keep him from getting in his car to leave. He thought the police who finally arrived were there to rescue him from me and ran to the officer before he was even all the way out of the patrol car, "Mr. Policemen, no damage, I go!" and it went downhill for him from there. The moral of this story is never, ever, never yell in his face and tap a police man in the chest while shaking your finger at him while speaking something aken to swahili :lol: ... It usually goes badly.jdigiant said:
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I have to admit seeing as how people who DO see my SKY react as well as teh ones who don't see it (Gee -- it's so small!) I have adopted my old biker rules...fireman said:
Drive like everyone on the road is a blind, stupid, bastard with a loaded 3000 pound weapon -- that way -- no surprises.:thumbs:
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Today I was on a multi-lane road behind some idiot in a SUV who decided he wanted an angle parking space that he had already passed. I was stopped about 1 1/2 car lengths behind him waiting for a break in the traffic so I could go around him. Idiot throws his monster-mobile in reverse and starts backing up, obviously unable to see me. An extended leaning on of horn finally got his attention.
Moral: give those Stupid Useless Vehicles extra berth. They have a huge blind spot to the rear (15-20 feet on some models) and can't see behind worth a damn (and probably don't even care to). They don't hear too well either while they're talking on their cell phones in their nearly soundproof rolling rooms.
Moral: give those Stupid Useless Vehicles extra berth. They have a huge blind spot to the rear (15-20 feet on some models) and can't see behind worth a damn (and probably don't even care to). They don't hear too well either while they're talking on their cell phones in their nearly soundproof rolling rooms.
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