Glad to be alive..., ... the taildragger didn't survive Options

[Jeroen]

Totalled my '87 3.2 Carrera this afternoon
Well, it wasn't really me, it was a friend of mine (I was in the passenger seat)
I really shouldn't have let him drive the car, he was way too inexperienced
It weird how you get used to the performance and handling of fast cars (you're actually always thinking you should get more umph) while they are absolutly leathal in the hands of someone without experience.

What basically happened is that we took a right turn at a x-ing. My friend wasn't going fast or anything, but he pushes it too hard and early on the exit of the turn.
The car started drifting (very slightly, nothing serious) but my friend never noticed it and we went straight off the right hand side of the road.

The car was airborn for a couple of meters flying over a moat/canal and spearheaded into the vertical embankment on the opposite side of the moat/canal and bounced back into the water.

The impact was pretty severe (I'm guessing we were going about 30mph) and knocked the wind out of me.
Thank goodness we were both wearing the 4 point harnesses and nothing happened to either of us
I was totally calm. I asked my friend if he was alright, told him to shut off the engine and open the windows as the car was filling with water now. I climbed out of the window onto the roof of the car and helped my friend out as well.
We go on dry land and watched the car completely submerge...

Early in the evening the car was towed out of the water and I was honestly shocked at the amount of damage
(I'll shoot some pics tomorrow)

The car is completely totalled (it's completely bend, just in front of the windscreen) but I'm just glad to be alive
Thing could have been much, much worse very easily...

cheers,

Jeroen

[Jeroen]

No insurance on the car... well it is insured, but only for damage that I (or my car) do to others, not for damages on my own car.
I have no problem with that, but in a situation like this it ehh... sucks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My friend said he'd pay for the damage he'd done, and I can only hope he will.
If he (or his insurance) doesn't, I don't think I have a case.
Stuff works different here... I let him drive my car, so it's my responsibility if anything happens.
I'm not quite sure (digging into it at the moment), but I think that is were I stand...

As far as the parts of the car. I really don't think the engine is worth keeping.
It was pretty hot from when it ended into the water, so the thermal reaction (heat to sudden cold) alone was prolly enuf to ruin it.
I told my friend to shut off the engine, but in his panic, he couldn't find the ignition key (because it's on the wrong side ofcourse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)) and I just pointed him the switch for the electric window, so he could open it and get out (my main priority)
So the engine swallowed water too...

I'm gonna check if I can easily remove any worthwile other parts tonight (the wheels and seats and hopefully some other stuff) and then it'll go to a Porsche wreckyard...

I don't have the time/space or energie at this moment to part it out my self. I hope it's gone before the weekend...

cheers,

Jeroen