Just crashed my TA. Feel free to punch me.

[ViperSmith]

I had no idea about CC in rain either. But it makes sense thinking about it.

I do love CC for highway driving, it is a great feature.

[sambo32]

Bryan glad your ok, that's most important. Fix her up and get her back on the road.

[IndyRon]

Yes, it basically same thing in the 2006 Jeep Commander (Hemi) and the 2014 Chersler 300S (Hemi) manuals...and, they are automatic transmissions !!!

In my old, conservative opinion, cruise control in any stick shift car (especially in a Viper) in an unnecessary additional hazard.

What is this cruise control you all speak of???

[GasGas]

So many similarities: New (1k miles, gen4) coupe, back end came around, low speed hit - still drive-able, 4' to the left? = "0 damage", a few seconds I would love to have back.

New bumper cover, fender and headlight - but no hood damage being a gen4. As Herb Helbig told me (he had the same VOI10 model at the time) "stuff happens"...

[Vprbite]

What is this cruise control you all speak of???

I don't know either, Ron. Our former president and current member here in Arizona (whitesnake) had it. I think it's for old people so they can take their doans back pills and soak their feet in Epsom salts while they drive. That's as best I can figure.

Just kidding all. And OP, please take this as a sign that we are all glad you are totally fine and the damage is just cosmetic. Like I said, I don't think a good shop will even have a tough time with it and it will be good to go.

[thetalonguy]

Damn, Sorry to hear Bryan. Glad you're okay. Walking away from any accident in a Viper is a win.

Car will be fixed and you'll be cruising before you even know it.

Wish you the best of luck getting her fixed up.

[SuperBird4404BBL]

Sorry to hear about your accident. You'll be back on the road soon.

[plumcrazy]

glad youre ok, is just a car, it can be fixed. just dont do it again !

[01sapphirebob]

Bryan,

Sorry to hear about this. I caught this thread saturday night and just felt awful. I'm glad to hear you are o.k. and waled away from the accident. If there is anything I can do just let me know.

[darbgnik]

As long as nobody was hurt, it's not that bad.


For the record, I find the cruise control a great speed limiter, for highway trips. In all my other cars without it, I found the speed would creep up on me without thinking about it. Sucks getting yanked for speeding, when all you planned on doing was commuting.......

[Nine Ball]

I'm surprised so many of you haven't heard of not using cruise control in the rain. They used to lecture us on this back when I was 15, in driver's education. Some of you weren't paying attention, haha.

Example: http://www.driverseddirect.com/artic...-the-rain.aspx

[Steve M]

I'm surprised so many of you haven't heard of not using cruise control in the rain. They used to lecture us on this back when I was 15, in driver's education. Some of you weren't paying attention, haha.

Example: http://www.driverseddirect.com/artic...-the-rain.aspx

If they did, it was because I knew it wouldn't apply to the car I was going to be driving - no cruise control, crank windows, manual door locks. What was this gem? A 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. That car pulled so much poon...and by so much, I mean none. I think my parents knew what they were doing.

[ViperTony]

I'm surprised so many of you haven't heard of not using cruise control in the rain. They used to lecture us on this back when I was 15, in driver's education. Some of you weren't paying attention, haha.

Example: http://www.driverseddirect.com/artic...-the-rain.aspx

I remember. If I'm not mistaken (I probably am), doesn't the owner's manual recommend not using cruise control in the rain?

[Nine Ball]

I remember. If I'm not mistaken (I probably am), doesn't the owner's manual recommend not using cruise control in the rain?

The Viper owner's manual does say not to use CC in the rain. See response #69 above.

[Fatboy 18]

I would ask for the damaged front nose and hood back from the garage and make them good for some wall Art in your Man Cave

[Bryan Savage]

Too many replies to quote here, but thanks again for all the support.

It also seems like maybe there's some good knowledge being passed around. Keep it under 55 next time, kids!! I don't want to hear about anyone else doing this!

Small update: my insurance company sent an adjuster over today to assess the damage. He was a really nice guy who was a big fan of the Tudor series. Said he's been going to Watkins Glen for years.

We tried to open the hood, but were unable. The impact may have bent or at least bound up the latches, so I didn't try to force it. He surveyed all he could see and made up an estimate. In order to prevent paying out twice, he wants me to get it to a shop where they can tear it down and see what other parts need replacing. The number he came up with was less than I'd anticipated, but that doesn't include any parts we can't see. He did say they'll cover the transport to wherever I want to take it.

I was hoping that Prefix could make up a new hood and fascia in the proper colour, and then a (competent) local shop could perform the actual replacement, but after the adjuster said he thinks the doors need some paint work (where the hood rubbed on them), I just don't see how any local shop could match the quality of paint that Prefix applies. I'd rather not go down that road.

Earlier today, I sent Eric from Prefix an email asking if they might be interested in helping, so hopefully I can make that work out.

I left off my insurance company's name and the estimate dollars, as just in case that information is any kind of proprietary, I don't want to cause problems.

[swexlin]

Bryan, glad to here things are moving already. And I like your updated avatar - at least you're keeping your sense of humor! By the way, you could be by brother from another mother......damn if we don't look alike (except you have more hair!).

[repiV]

WOW!!! Really sorry to hear about your car!! It's an awesome looking Viper and I'm sure it will be again. Thankfully nobody was hurt and you learned a few things so not a bad experience in the end.

I learned the hard way about cruise control too so I think your post is great in that it reminds people how dangerous it can be in certain conditions. I'm surprised too how many people don't think about it.

It was about 20 years ago now....I was driving home late at night from a friend's house. It was about 40 degrees and raining when I left for the hour drive home. I had the cruise set on a four lane road at 65 mph. I didn't realize that the temp dropped at some point enough to start freezing the rain on the road. When the ass end starts to come around at that speed on slick roads with the cruise set there's just not enough time to possibly stop it and your first reaction to shut the cruise off is to step on the brake....also a bad thing.

I went over a 100 foot embankment....rolled the chevy s10 blazer several times...I have no idea how many...and landed upright on the wheels with the engine still running. Every body panel on the blazer was trashed and all the glass was gone. Obviously it totaled the vehicle but thankfully it was a company car!!! LOL

I was cut up some and had some bad bruises but walked away and nobody was hurt. I'm glad we both walked away to tell others about our "learning"!!!

[darbgnik]

I'm surprised so many of you haven't heard of not using cruise control in the rain. They used to lecture us on this back when I was 15, in driver's education. Some of you weren't paying attention, haha.

Example: http://www.driverseddirect.com/artic...-the-rain.aspx

Up here in the great white north, I think it's pretty common knowledge to not use the CC in any inclement weather...... although there are many who come here from places that have never seen the white rain before.

[ViperGeorge]

Glad you're ok. That could have been really ugly. The Gen 5 Pirelli tires on our Vipers tend to hydroplane very easily, more so than the Michelins on our Gen 4s. Corsa's are not the choice for rain, PZeros would be better but I'm not convinced they are as good as the Michelin PSSs.

[FrgMstr]

I have had excellent results with the Mich Super Sports in the rain and I have logged well over a 1000 wet miles with the MSS over the last couple of years. I have been tremendously impressed with how well they will grab in the wet.

My first real experience with the MSS was driving entirely across Tennessee in a torrential downpour on my way to Tail of the Dragon. The MSS never failed me and we were not being slowpokes either.

[daveg]

Glad your OK, that's the most important thing.
Don't have to worry about using cruise control period, don't have it LOL.. Just another reason I don't drive my car in the rain. First reason is I just don't feel like cleaning it afterwards. Not sure if my car has ever seen rain.. Call me a coward / Idiot!

[serpent]

Too many replies to quote here, but thanks again for all the support.

It also seems like maybe there's some good knowledge being passed around. Keep it under 55 next time, kids!! I don't want to hear about anyone else doing this!

Small update: my insurance company sent an adjuster over today to assess the damage. He was a really nice guy who was a big fan of the Tudor series. Said he's been going to Watkins Glen for years.

We tried to open the hood, but were unable. The impact may have bent or at least bound up the latches, so I didn't try to force it. He surveyed all he could see and made up an estimate. In order to prevent paying out twice, he wants me to get it to a shop where they can tear it down and see what other parts need replacing. The number he came up with was less than I'd anticipated, but that doesn't include any parts we can't see. He did say they'll cover the transport to wherever I want to take it.

I was hoping that Prefix could make up a new hood and fascia in the proper colour, and then a (competent) local shop could perform the actual replacement, but after the adjuster said he thinks the doors need some paint work (where the hood rubbed on them), I just don't see how any local shop could match the quality of paint that Prefix applies. I'd rather not go down that road.

Earlier today, I sent Eric from Prefix an email asking if they might be interested in helping, so hopefully I can make that work out.

I left off my insurance company's name and the estimate dollars, as just in case that information is any kind of proprietary, I don't want to cause problems.

I only read the part about keeping it under 55mph. Best to not drive the car in the rain. What a nightmare if you hydroplane and crash a 2nd time doing 55.
fyi, wider tires are more susceptible to hydroplaning.

[Fatboy 18]

Wonder if its possible using some extensions on a socket wrench to undo the hood bolts from under the car?

[outnumbered]

Bryan, glad you are ok. It will be interesting to see if your insurance company entertains the idea of having Prefix possibly do the work.