What happened in or around your Elantra today?

[lovemysantafe]

There was a fairly serious three-car crash in front of the dealership today. According to a witness, the Ford van stopped at the red light and whether distracted or impatient, he started through before it turned green. The van was immediately T-boned by a BMW X5. The van did a 180 and landed on the passenger side on the other end of the intersection while the X5 was promptly rear-ended by a nice-condition 1967 Mustang. Astonishingly, the police didn't shut down the whole intersection, only closing one lane each side where the cars were and allowing traffic to just flow around the wreck.

I didn't get any pictures of the wrecked cars but did get this video of them flipping the van back over using a tow truck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7l6ddKRQuQ

[OkieRich]

How cool is that? I guess the tires against the curb gave just enough bite onto the surface to keep the van from sliding towards the wrecker.

[someguy]

Jay so that's 78 miles with an average speed of 20mph and about 24 mpg. That actually makes sense with normal driving and I agree it's a bit on the low side. The good news is that there is room for improvement.

How is your hwy mpg? For instance if you get on the highway doing about 70 for 25 miles would you hit somewhere between 35-40?

[Em-squared]

Originally Posted by lovemysantafe

There was a fairly serious three-car crash in front of the dealership today. According to a witness, the Ford van stopped at the red light and whether distracted or impatient, he started through before it turned green. The van was immediately T-boned by a BMW X5. The van did a 180 and landed on the passenger side on the other end of the intersection while the X5 was promptly rear-ended by a nice-condition 1967 Mustang. Astonishingly, the police didn't shut down the whole intersection, only closing one lane each side where the cars were and allowing traffic to just flow around the wreck.

I didn't get any pictures of the wrecked cars but did get this video of them flipping the van back over using a tow truck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7l6ddKRQuQ

Wow! You know, I've seen that before also, where impatient people nearly start driving before the light turns green! Bad idea, especially considering how many people run red lights around here, too!

Watched and commented on your video; good footage. Hope everyone was all right.

[JaySi09]

Originally Posted by OkieRich

Jay, about mom & dad's driving habits: radically different from yours? Maybe they are out cruising the strip late at night with the other parents going thru their second childhood!

Well my dad doesn't drive as fast and has a lighter foot than I do so he should be getting a better outcome.

Originally Posted by someguy

Jay so that's 78 miles with an average speed of 20mph and about 24 mpg. That actually makes sense with normal driving and I agree it's a bit on the low side. The good news is that there is room for improvement.

How is your hwy mpg? For instance if you get on the highway doing about 70 for 25 miles would you hit somewhere between 35-40?

well i'm sure they were on the freeway going at least 70-75mph and once they reach surface streets the computer reads out low mpg.

As for highway when i'm driving 75-80 I've actually seen it go in the 30s mostly around ~34mpg. I guess it's time for some techron to clean out the engine.

[lovemysantafe]

Just spent half an hour driving my sister's Forester trying to coax out what I believe to be a serpentine/accessory belt squeal. It does it to her but never for the dealership or me. She identified the noise as serpentine from a YouTube clip but neither of the belts seem excessively loose so I'm betting it's a failing tensioner.

We shall see...

[OkieRich]

Originally Posted by Em-squared

Bad idea, especially considering how many people run red lights around here, too!

Received valuable "intersection driver's skill training" while touring So. Cal a few year's back. It appears, if I understand correctly, that the yellow light means "another 6 vehicles may pass," while the ensuing "red light" which follows is merely a suggestion...as an additional 2-3 vehicles sped thru.

I survived the lesson, but dropped the course and went home.

[Em-squared]

Originally Posted by OkieRich

Received valuable "intersection driver's skill training" while touring So. Cal a few year's back. It appears, if I understand correctly, that the yellow light means "another 6 vehicles may pass," while the ensuing "red light" which follows is merely a suggestion...as an additional 2-3 vehicles sped thru.

I survived the lesson, but dropped the course and went home.

Haha, yes, it seems that lights are merely suggestions anymore.

You were wise not to stick around for the actual exam, ha!

It's a daily occurrence to be sitting at a green light and still watching vehicles cross the intersection in front of me.

[5.4FX4]

Originally Posted by OkieRich

yellow light means "another 6 vehicles may pass," while the ensuing "red light" which follows is merely a suggestion...as an additional 2-3 vehicles sped thru.

I survived the lesson, but dropped the course and went home.

LOL, yes...it states this in our DMV driver handbook!

[Xion]

The other day my wife and I were crossing a busy boulevard at our pedestrian light but a moron decided to turn right and he almost hit us, it was dark outside. He did not have the right to turn while pedestrians were crossing. I showed him the light and gave him a face. There's a rattle in my Elantra, it does that when it's cold outside, not in the summer. It seem to come from inside the dashboard near the steering wheel.