I had the scariest crash ive ever experienced yesterday (also my first major crash as well!). I was driving to work at 8am, heading southbound on the M61, and I was approaching the Bolton services when the passenger side rear tyre blew out with one of the loudest bangs imaginable. I was doing somewhere north of 80 Leptons when it blew and it sent me into an instant slide into the central reservation.

The tyre had completely disintegrated, leaving just the sidewalls on the rim, with the main tread heading towards manchester on its own! I hit the central reservation head on without slowing, and then proceeded to spin a few more times before coming to a halt in the middle lane. There was nothing I could do to hold it, it was going whether I liked it or not!

The impact was massive and suffice to say Im a bit sore and bruised and was very shaken up. 3 Police cars, 1 ambulance and two fire men attended the scene and were excellent. I cant remember the traffic officers name, but he was superb and I cant thank him enough.

Anyway, my car is well and truly dead and I am very sad but lucky to have walked away without a scratch - heres some pics of what used to be my pride and joy

Glad you're alright mate, that looks horrific, any idea what caused the blow out?

Wow, scary indeed - but the main thing is you - and no scratches either, wow....

You did well to walk away with just bruises, looks like it crumpled in the right places, shame Chris but that's what insurance is for.

damn shame , very lucky to come out with just minor injuries.

Cheers everyone! i honestly thought i wasnt going to walk away from it...

Ive no idea what caused it, some debris on the road or something I think. The cop thought the same and he inspected the tyres and was happy with their condition. Ill just put it down to one of those things and be glad that it wasnt my time yet!

I think ill be leaving the stilo fold for a while though, Im moving down south so i may have to use the money for property. Im gutted! I loved that car

Owch! The big ones do leave you aching! Have a few hot baths.. works a treat.

Be worth knowing what caused your tyre to blow. Guessing it was correct size and tread was above legal limit?

Lucky that you had your crash on your own and nobody else decided to join in

to come out of a crash like that is testament to the strength of modern cars.

imagine if you had been driving something older and i think you would need something more than a hot bath

i, for one, wouldn't buy a car now without all the safety kit.


glad you're ok and remember - a car can be replaced, you can't!!

The Stilo did it's job well. I'm glad you're ok.

kev1 said:

to come out of a crash like that is testament to the strength of modern cars.

imagine if you had been driving something older and i think you would need something more than a hot bath

i, for one, wouldn't buy a car now without all the safety kit.


glad you're ok and remember - a car can be replaced, you can't!!

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I've been in something similar in a F reg Tipo.. Hit a Volvo 340 head-on on black ice. Flattened the front of the Tipo, the volvo didn't even lose its bumper. We opened the Tipo's doors and climbed out. The Fire Brigade stretchered the volvo occupants out.

The car doesn't have to be new, but having genuine safety features is a must. An extra ncap star for a sticker on the sun visor is the kind of useless safety feature many newer cars show off with.

God, I'd never realised how nice they look in black....even after a major crash!!!:slayer:

Cars are easily replaced....you'll get another...just check its not a pup!!!
Accidents are like rollercoasters........if you survive they stay with you for life and the adrenalin rush is memorable.....I wont go into the other!
You did well

Good job you're ok, well done, but remember this, it'll be a long time before your heart rate and sphincter reach those dizzy heights again and the Stilo should be awarded five ncap stars and you should recieve a fee for being the crash test dummy!

It is truly astonishing that you walked away from that unscathed....even more so that you walked away at all! I think that's the most smashed up Stilo I've ever come across!

Glad it wasn't severe
Sad that you lost your pride and joy though
I know which i'd prefer though!

car looks like the cabin held well.
as for the tyre it could have been a piece of debris.unfortunatly if its caught a part of the tyre which disintegrated then you would never know.
least the tyres are all legal so no worries there re police and insurance

Popped a Landy end over end at speed in the desert 16 years ago. Broke my arm, my collar bone and 2 ribs. Both my colleauges walked away unscathed. Horribly solid steering wheels on those pinkys. A life altering experience.

Army Landy, Lobster?

Been in the back of a 4-tonner when the seats gave way under us going round a corner...a little messy.

Wow from those pics it looks like you're lucky to have walked away without any serious injuries but its also very good to see how well the stilo holds up and that Fiat wasn't lieing about its safetyness. Those multi airbags did the job then?

reinventingyourexit said:

Wow from those pics it looks like you're lucky to have walked away without any serious injuries but its also very good to see how well the stilo holds up and that Fiat wasn't lieing about its safetyness. Those multi airbags did the job then?

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Stilochris, sorry to read about your misfortune
Particularly when that's surely the cleanest Stilo ever smashed-up. Even the tyres look freshly-blacked. You obviously took pride in that car - but I expect you'll replace it some day.

I don't think the airbags went off, did they? The rear-side photo shows the steering wheel and dashboard intact? Maybe it was the result of a sliding impact with the barrier. As the others said, the main thing is that you're OK. I don't think any of us really want to see an airbag in any conditions...

-Alex

alexGS said:

Stilochris, sorry to read about your misfortune
Particularly when that's surely the cleanest Stilo ever smashed-up. Even the tyres look freshly-blacked. You obviously took pride in that car - but I expect you'll replace it some day.

I don't think the airbags went off, did they? The rear-side photo shows the steering wheel and dashboard intact? Maybe it was the result of a sliding impact with the barrier. As the others said, the main thing is that you're OK. I don't think any of us really want to see an airbag in any conditions...

-Alex

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Cheers for the comments about the car guys, I really did take care of it! i think it had about 3 million layers of tech wax and about 1.5million layers of carnauba wax!!!

The airbags didnt go off, I think probably because of the way I hit the barrier and the fact that the front chassis rails and crossmember actually went under the barrier. The force was taken up by the top of the engine and front wings etc...

As for getting another, I would have another stilo but I really liked the colour and interior I had, plus I'd had it from pretty much brand new so I think i may get something else. something slow, very slow!! lol