Yesterday sucked.

"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader)
08/13/2013 at 07:37 • Filed to: fail, ouch

So, this is why it's illegal to make a left turn off of Lamar into Whole Foods downtown. Oncoming traffic (like me) comes out of an underpass, doesn't have the greatest visibility as they cross 5th Street and doesn't like that very much .

I'm a little achey, but otherwise okay. I could even drive the car away, albeit slowly because the hood would start shaking where it was buckled up at speeds higher than 35 MPH or so. I'd tossed the bumper in my trunk so that everything in the front was exposed anyway, plus I could've sworn I smelled coolant a couple times, too.

This, of course, is why putting important things like engines in the front of a car is a stupid idea: Austin drivers.

I'm pretty sure the Lulzcer's loltruck brakes kept me from hitting the other car hard enough to pop my airbags, but the loaner I have is a '12 Jetta with ZERO feeling from the brake pedal at all. ZERO. Way to make a person who's now paranoid about stopping feel right at home, VW. It's totally numb. I got more feedback from the Type 3's drum brakes, for Pete's sake. Can I have another Type 3?

This sucks.

DISCUSSION (100)

. . > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 07:42

Sorry to hear about an Opponaut's wheels being hurt, but the car is not in bad nick. You're probably gonna have it back soon. Glad to know that you're ok.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 07:46

Ooooo. Ouch, that does suck. And this won't make you feel any better, but since it's red, I wish you all the best luck in finding a body shop which can actually get the colors to mach. Red is tricky like that.

Kinja'd!!!

. . > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/13/2013 at 07:49

As the car isn't too old, and probably has factory paint on, it shouldn't be too bad.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > . .
08/13/2013 at 07:50

true.

Patrick George > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:10

Oh no! I'm sorry. I know exactly the part of Lamar that you're talking about. Total dick move on the part of the person who turned left.

Matt Hardigree > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:11

Glad you're ok.

gometz > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:13

I hate that spot, putting Whole Foods right by that intersection was not a bright idea.

Agrajag > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:17

That sucks. At least it sounds like everyone is okay. Did bunny make it out alright as well?

Hooker > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:20

That's rough but on the flip side, you are ok and it's fixable. No airabg deployment is key there. Seriously glad you are ok.

holoKitten > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:21

Austin drivers are the absolute worst. I've never seen so many cars with body damage anywhere else in the US. If thats not an indicator, I'm not sure what is.

zyodei > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:23

Good thing it was just a Lancer!

Clown Shoe Pilot > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:23

Freakin' Whole Foods hippies. If they'd been on their fair trade bicycle you'd just have to wipe a little patchouli oil off the hood and you could go on with your day.

Seriously though, glad you're ok and I hope the repairs go well and are minimally annoying. Did one of Austin's Finest come out and issue a citation/assign blame? If so, you'll have a slightly less difficult time doing a diminished value claim. If you're having to pay for the numb-braking Jetta, make sure and ask for loss of use compensation too.

coriolis > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:26

Evo bumper and hood time?

BillGK > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:27

Did the other party have insurance? Did they stop to exchange info? If so, be thankful for your "luck" of being in an accident in Texas with another insured driver!

Pitchblende > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:27

I've done worse to the front of a car and had it repaired fine, so I wouldn't worry too much there. The knock to the confidence is a greater damage, though, you need to get yourself out on the track and show yourself its not your fault.

Craig > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:33

That sucks. Luckily all your driver training helped this not be worse than it was. Glad you are OK. Excellent opportunity to sample someone else's product on someone else's dime.

filthflarnfilth > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:34

I'm a little achey, but otherwise okay.

Kinja'd!!!

Mean-Jim-Green > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/13/2013 at 08:35

Even in USA - Must. Have. DashCam. Then you can see the look on their face when the realize they've made a terrible mistake!

chriswhotakesphotos > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:38

I wish you the best! This happens a lot in New Jersey, which is ironic since you'd think we'd all be used to not being able to turn left. There's a shopping center close to my house where you can't turn left out onto the main road because it's too close to the intersection, so in any medium amount of traffic there's no space to maneuver yourself into a lane. But human beings are woefully primitive, and people's limp convictions have them taking the path of least distance instead of least resistance.

RG_Shrike > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:38

I was doing the speed limit, said no one ever in Austin.

Lars_M > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:41

Ugh, that sucks!

graham > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:42

Looks like Lancer sales in Austin are about to double.

Dest > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:46

You guys are wrecking some cars lately...

ttyymmnn > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 08:54

Bummer, but I'm glad you weren't hurt. Another Austinite!

ataraxia > holoKitten
08/13/2013 at 08:55

Come to Chicago...you'll see cars that shouldn't be on the road (missing windows, cardboard trunk lids, etc.) and once in a while, you get 'lucky' and get to see one burn to the ground on the highway. If the DMV did vehicle inspections here, I swear 50% of the vehicles would disappear...

SWITAWI > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:01

Probably just another Waterloo customer looking for a place to park, lol. Sorry to hear about your sucky luck. Hope you get your car back soon (fingers crossed).

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 09:03

Came here to post that: time for a more aggressive front clip fo sho.

PelicanHazard > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:07

Damn. Good to hear you're ok, though sucks about the Lancer.

Scaggnetti > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 09:08

Or exchange for a real one....

StalePhish > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:09

Glad to hear that you're just achey and the only thing numb is the Jetta's brake pedal. I hope no stuffed bunnies were harmed during this accident!

skippytheduck2 > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:15

All this would have been avoided if you'd simply gone to Central Market, instead...

Jagvar > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:16

I'm glad that you're OK, and I hope the car turns out OK, too! The fact that the airbags didn't deploy undoubtedly saved you a lot of expense.

need1moreCar > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:17

the real problem is that you live in a state where you have to put a wretched license plate on the FRONT bumper... sounds to me like the other driver was just trying to help you remove it.

Matthew Phillips > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:26

I've worked at two whole foods in the past year and a half and every now and then a customer has a problem with hitting something, or someone in our parking lot... and most have a problem of blaming us when they do hit something or a problem of driving away when they hit one of us....

At my new whole foods we have two doors that clearly say "Exit do not enter ! Entrance ahead!" and people still squeeze and fight those doors open just for convenience sake...

You sir I believe were hit by the Whole Foods craze of being so focused to enter the madness that is WFM and disregard clear signs.... Just saying please be careful next time. And I'm sorry all of our customers do this regularly because they just can't read.

wontacceptthis > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:41

We know you are ok, and the car will be too, so time for the next most important question:

Did you win the fight?

Lucid0ne > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:43

Come over to 9GLancers.com, and we'll help you get everything sorted out!

arbitrary > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:46

Mitsubishi. Born from Pearl Harbor bombers.

citizennick > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/13/2013 at 09:47

idk if most people think like me, but when I see an evo bumper on a Lancer or a GXP bumper on a G8 GT the first thing I think of is "well, that car has been in an accident". But idk why anyone would want to put an evo bumper on a regular Lancer. I would never do that to mine, its still a ridiculously slow 157hp CVT booger. I already have too many people asking me if my car is an evo and all I've done is dropped it and painted the trim and wheels black. You know how annoying it gets after awhile to say "nope, just a regular Lancer"?

Notbisondelta > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:49

Seems pretty obvious you aren't supposed to turn in here.
View Larger Map ">t

IFTNFS > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 09:58

No bunny picture?? All kidding aside, glad you're okay. It's a crappy situation, but only short-term. You'll get the car back to its former glory before too long.

S7tronic > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:01

Sorry for your troubles, that truly sucks donkey balls. To quote my old man, any crash you walk away from is a good crash..

tsmit > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 10:03

fake evos are lame and you can totally tell they are fake right off the bat thanks to this huge gap where the intercooler should be

GasolineLollipop > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:16

Take the jetta back and tell them there is something wrong with the brakes. They usually won't give you the same car.

Hydrochloric > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:17

Type 3 disc brakes are even better... Though they can only handle one 70-0 stop every 15 or so minutes. ;)

artric > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:19

Glad you are ok, but seriously, stay cautious to anything that might change... only after soreness goes away you might find out if other stuff remains... on that note hopefully it is the Jetta's brakes and not a numbness in your legs....

Prophet of hoon > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:28

Healthy food has yet another victim - when will we finally say 'enough' to this wholesale trammeling of the American public by finally banning these miscreants and the people who sell it?!!!

horspowr1001 > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:32

Kinja'd!!!

Sorry bro, glad to hear you're okay though.

mmmfloorpie > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:33

The only accident I've ever been in was as the result of a girl failing to yield the right of way when she made a left turn in front of me and I slammed into the side of her car. It was a very slow speed accident but I was driving a 14 year old Taurus at the time.

Turns out the girl's mom knew my dad and they didn't want to go through insurance. So they cut me a cheque for $3000 (what it would have cost to fix my car) and I couldn't be happier!

$3000 for a 14 year old Taurus!?!? Had we gone through insurance they would have given me $500! Haha.

4B11tFTW! > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 10:35

The crash beams and everything else would have to be replaced. It can be done, for a price. But you also have to worry about the bumper lining up with the fenders as well.

and 100 more > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:41

As a fellow Austinite, I know that intersection. That seriously blows, but I'm glad you're okay. Any idea if your Mitz it repairable?

Z--Rob--Go > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:46

Hey, at least you have an extra 944 to drive.

Kinja'd!!!

TwentyonePSI > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 10:50

But it's not an Evo. That's what ricers do.

Z--Rob--Go > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:50

Hey look! It's a new Lemons car!

Kinja'd!!!

theboyracer > BillGK
08/13/2013 at 10:52

Yes, is the other driver's insurance covering it, and did they get a ticket?

maximum_sarge > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 10:57

So, this is why it's illegal to make a left turn off of Lamar into Whole Foods downtown.

First world problems.

Stef Schrader > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/13/2013 at 11:00

If I knew I was going to be stuck on the phone/waiting all afternoon, I should've picked up some mac 'n cheese! I got hit in the perfect location for that.

Yep, APD wrote a case up. Insurance is covering a rental, so phew.

How do diminished value claims work? Is that an insurance thing? I may have a billion miles on it and hoon it semi-regularly, but I'm definitely not happy that I now have a Mitsu with one major accident on its record. At some point, I'm going to want to trade it for something else and that's going to come back to haunt me.

willmederski > Patrick George
08/13/2013 at 11:02

yeah. i think i actually saw you drive by post-crash.

dmosaurus > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:07

Totally know this area and understand your pain!

Stef Schrader > Agrajag
08/13/2013 at 11:10

Kinja'd!!!

Bunny was away—doing bunny things.

Stef Schrader > Matt Hardigree
08/13/2013 at 11:12

Thx!

Randall Ward > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:12

Welcome to Austin!

Stef Schrader > . .
08/13/2013 at 11:13

Yep. Factory red. The problem is that it's a metallic with several other color flakes in it, so it's a pain to match. :o(

Jid M > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:14

nnnNNNOOOOO!!!! Poor Lancer!!

I've been hit 3 times in my lancer now, Stef. The last one was more serious than any of the others, but it got repaired and she lives again.

So so SO sorry about your car. And about your loaner... I kind of really hate entry level VW vehicles. They really do suck.

Stef Schrader > . .
08/13/2013 at 11:15

Thanks!

Stef Schrader > Craig
08/13/2013 at 11:18

Heh, I wonder if there's any manual rentals in Austin? Probably not, though.

I haven't driven a normal automatic in so long that this is...no. I don't like this. I don't like this at all. At least the CVT on the Lulzcer is somewhat predictable given that the pedal position pretty much directly translates to where the needle is on the tach.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:22

Glad to hear you're OK. Take it easy and ibuprofen for the dings will help. Also good news that bunny wasn't involved. Though you might want to stop showing it/her(?) pictures of Ray Wert. Or maybe bunny is surfing the dark side of the internet without supervision?

Stef Schrader > BillGK
08/13/2013 at 11:28

Seeeeeeeeriously. I really lucked out—the other person was polite, apologetic and had insurance. Their insurance will be fixing my car.

Stef Schrader > coriolis
08/13/2013 at 11:29

Heh, no. It's not an Evo.

I like the lightness of the Evo hood (the standard Lancer's is heavier steel), but it'd be a little much on something that doesn't have the power to back it up.

Stef Schrader > holoKitten
08/13/2013 at 11:32

Waco was worse, believe it or not.

There were more hoopties owned by people who just don't care there, and who'd probably like the insurance money. At least the inattentive beige Camrius drivers here are usually predictable.

Chairman Kaga > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:34

Fellow Austinite. Maybe it's just because I have kids now and have become hyper-vigilant with regard to asspunchers who cannot drive and should not be allowed to do so, in an ideal civil society, but haven't you noticed a MASSIVE uptick in the number of truly dangerous, anti-social driving lately? I mean, Austinites have always forgotten where they were going, zipping blindly across multiple lanes of fast moving traffic to make an exit ramp coming up in about 200 feet. They also don't generally bother to make sure there's not another car occupying the space they're preparing to assume as they merge onto a highway. Blowing stale yellows and virgin reds is a way of life here. And following too closely is an art here in Austin (although Houstonians do it better).

But what I'm talking about are drivers who deliberately turn down one-way streets. Or who, rather than wait their turn at an intersection with a left-turn arrow, pull into the oncoming lane and pass you on the left, cutting you off in the process. Or who pass you on the ramp either exiting or entering a highway. Just absolute jackassery at its worst. It's indicative of people who are oblivious to the horrific damage they can dole out with their 2-ton guided killing machines, largely thanks to non-existent driver training, a general lack empathy supplemented by extreme selfishness, and police who find it easier and more lucrative to bust drunks on 6th Street than manage dangerous drivers.

I've driven in some insane traffic. Florence, Italy. Rome. Kingston, Jamaica. Hot Springs, Arkansas. I can say with some degree of authority there is no reason for Austin drivers to be among the worst I've encountered.

Wrong wheel drive, best wheel drive > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:35

Rotor glow red?

That and the orange color for mitsubishi are quite a pain... but doable.

Burritoes > holoKitten
08/13/2013 at 11:40

Any time I get aggravated driving in Austin, I take a trip back down to San Antonio and then I really want to rage. Austin does not seem quite so bad for a bit after that. People in SA have no sense of urgency or understanding of courteous traffic behavior as far as I can tell.

Tofuman > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 11:41

Ouch. Sorry about the accident.

Side note: I used to work for a rental car agency and in my experience I've found that they often neglect proper maintenance on the vehicles. Including brake pads. We were once forced to rent a minivan to a church group with the rental car agency fully aware that the brakes did not work well. I tried to get them to switch the car out for one with proper brakes but they forced me to rent it to them. After dropping the van off to them I let them know the brakes are iffy and that I don't blame them if they complain. Then I once I got back to the office I put in my 2 week notice.

Stef Schrader > StalePhish
08/13/2013 at 12:15

Eh, my back goes in and out today.

All the bunnies were safe at home. :o)

Stef Schrader > Jagvar
08/13/2013 at 12:18

Truth!

Stef Schrader > skippytheduck2
08/13/2013 at 12:20

Have you SEEN that parking lot? Place is just as much of a madhouse as WF's!

(Although the Ferrari dealer IS across the street...hmmm. Ulterior motives, awaaaay!)

I was actually on the way home to take care of a couple things at lunch, not heading for food. Welp, didn't get that done.

grinch204 > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 12:23

That's what you get for shopping at whole foods . Prick.

dapper_otter > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 12:24

No idea what the person in the truck was thinking. They could've driven up 100', made a safe left turn, and gone into the lot on the side near the ramp down to the garage.

TheMyth Is Swingin' A 440 > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 12:27

Sorry the car got hurt, but it's fixable/replaceable. All that matters is that you're ok. And bunny too :-D

Stef Schrader > wontacceptthis
08/13/2013 at 12:34

Haha, no fight (thank goodness). The other driver's car had to be towed on a flatbed because a control arm broke, though.

Stef Schrader > IFTNFS
08/13/2013 at 12:36

Kinja'd!!!

Here's a bunny.

Bunny wasn't in the car. :o)

Stef Schrader > Matthew Phillips
08/13/2013 at 12:37

Obligatory:

Stef Schrader > Hydrochloric
08/13/2013 at 12:40

Oh yeah—our LeMon's brakes were more of a suggestion than a stopping force, but I knew they were there because there was a clear pull to one side! Haha.

Stef Schrader > Prophet of hoon
08/13/2013 at 12:41

Ha, that's where I get all the gloriously unhealthy stuff.

THAT CHEESE DEPARTMENT.

Stef Schrader > Z--Rob--Go
08/13/2013 at 12:42

And by "drive," you mean "push," right? Hahaha.

Stef Schrader > Z--Rob--Go
08/13/2013 at 12:43

Only if it comes with the ice cream!

Stef Schrader > dapper_otter
08/13/2013 at 12:43

Truth! There's about 42 different safe entry points to that garage.

Stef Schrader > Jid M
08/13/2013 at 12:45

The good thing is that they're built like tanks! I guess they're still designed to be flung through the woods at high rates of speed after all. :o)

Stef Schrader > Wrong wheel drive, best wheel drive
08/13/2013 at 12:46

Rally Red. Rotor Glow was that even-harder-to-match burnt orange color.

Either way, :o(

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 12:57

Saw this on instagram last night. Glad you're ok!

Wrong wheel drive, best wheel drive > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 12:57

my bad, bad monitor and lack of coffee...

I wish you luck in this unfortunate endeavor u_u

Jid M > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 13:01

Look for a post from me in Oppo later. I'm going to put up pictures from my accident from the end of June when I got rear ended.

They're definitely still built like tanks. Know what I think contributes to that? That Lancer's are still built completely in Japan. Kind of really awesome.

Hydrochloric > Stef Schrader
08/13/2013 at 13:16

The disc brakes are actually really really effective, it's just that they're solid rotors with metallic pads. The rotors get hot really easily, but can't dissipate it easily.

...you know, I don't think I've ever checked the back drums.