Bumped the GS

[halbe01]

Thought I'd share this. Having bought the new car (a 2007 GS) in October, taken it back to the daler in November to have the awful beige carpets changed for black ones, I only collected it again in late Feb due to trouble getting some of the new carpet from Italy. Then 3 days later my wife tried to move the cars around on the drive and hit the accelerator rather than the brake. Drove into my little tree and fence with her foot ******* the gas. Buggered the wing and bumper, scratched the bonnet and dented the next door neighbour's Merc ML. Lost a lot of other bits of undertray and the air filter too.

Admiral picked it up that afternoon and despite me asking for it to be sent to Autofficina, it's going to Body Technics in Slough instead.

Here's hoping it comes back as good as it was...

 

[halbe01]

Hmm, it also seems to be standing on its head in that photo...

 

[conaero]

Oh dear.

Your wife is now a member of the Mrs MAF club for abuse against Maserati's.

How is she enjoying life in the dog house?

I am sure it will come back as good as new, and look on the bright side, no stonechips!

 

[spkennyuk]

Big Ouch !

 

[StuartW]

Sorry to hear that, these things happen - at least no one was hurt, at least I hope they weren't

 

[Felonious Crud]

Youch! On balance I think it's your wife I feel most sorry for.

Regarding the repair shop, can you not insist it goes somewhere else assuming the cost is the same?

 

[Ewan]

It's your car, so your choice of body shop.

 

[BL330]

Sad news, but at least it was a low speed accident. A crash in a Maserati has the potential to be a high speed affair.
For interest sake what was the distance covered under acceleration to create that much impact?

 

[halbe01]

Thanks guys. Nobody hurt, but she was pretty freaked. Me too given I was on speakerphone at the time, guiding her through how to start the car and find first gear...

She probably drove it less than 5m. But suspect she was going a bit by the time she hit. Could have been a lot worse though - it could have been many more seconds before she realised that her foot wasn't on the brake (she was pushing down hard trying to stop) and she could have been doing 60 by then had the tree/Mercedes not been in way.

As for the choice of repairer - they were insistent on the phone - and by the time I'd looked it up after and found out I had a choice, the car was already on the back of a transporter on the way to Slough. Still BodyTechnics have a good rep in th Tesla world (one of the few places which repairs them) and I know they do a lot of Italian exotics too, so it should be ok.

 

[Andyk]

Ben, truly gutted for you.......They will always thy and use their own body shops as they are probably cheaper...I would maybe complain about how oushy they were when it was your right to use who you wanted.

 

[voicey]

Bodytechnics are only one of two bodyshops in the UK authorised by Ferrari - the car will be fine there. As it happens, it would have been cheaper for the insurance company to have agreed to send it to your choice....

 

[steamer]

Easy done. I had a puncture repaired locally and the guy got in and started the car with his foot on both pedals. Luckily she was warm as it revved quite hard. They are in a less than conventional postion.

She probably feels worse than you do.

 

[m1980k]

GS was confusing the first time I drove it - feels weird to do things like applying the brake before you can get 1st. IMO a high performance car with a paddleshift should have a manoeuvring mode where speed and accelaration are limited - there will always be occasions where someone not familiar with the car will have to move it.

 

[GeoffCapes]

When I got the 4200 MOT'd the tester asked how to get it into gear!
He put it straight into auto after that!

 

[RSM Masser]

Bodytechnics are only one of two bodyshops in the UK authorised by Ferrari - the car will be fine there. As it happens, it would have been cheaper for the insurance company to have agreed to send it to your choice....

Interesting - mine went there for a new nose and grille after someone reversed into it, they did a good job

 

[halbe01]

Manoeuvring made - that's exactly what it needs. I will refrain from calling it 'wife mode'...

I do remember however when I first test drove a 4200 having never driven anything more exotic than an old M5, it did take me a while to get used to it, and I was extremely cautious of the 'temperamental Italian supercar' I was driving. You tend to forget these are a little different I guess when you drive them regularly.

 

[safrane]

?...In the standard Auto cars I drive frequently from the rental co you also have to put the brake on to move from P to D....My GS is no different.

 

[adrianr]

Oh dear. A quick word of warning about Bodytechnics on the Slough trading estate. Admiral sent my Jag XF there for repair when a tree fell on it and squashed the rear. They quoted over £6k to do the repair job. which I felt was very expensive, but I wasn't directly picking up the bill. When I dropped it off - I've never seen so many flash cars in one place. Ferrari's, Lambo's and Maclarens all queued up. Unusually I felt my Jaguar was the poor relation. So I walked away expecting the best job ever. I was deeply disappointed when I went to collect it - after much delay from their quoted schedule. In fact the job was so bad I refused collection and pointed out to the bodyshop manager all of the faults - with the paintwork, refitted trim and filthy interior! In fairness the second collection everything was put right. Wishing you well.

 

[m1980k]

?...In the standard Auto cars I drive frequently from the rental co you also have to put the brake on to move from P to D....My GS is no different.

My brain says "Right pedal=go, pedal to the left of that=stop". Never driven an auto. Like stirring a stick. So if anyone's got an Alfieri/Bordeaux low mileage '05 facelift manual 4200 with 19" rims, GS seats and valved exhaust, let's talk about a swap.


Although if I continue to drive with a heavy right foot in this cold weather, having two hands on the wheel at all times will probably stop my car ending up on Copart...