Tell us about your weirdest or dumbest car damage.

[Rain Man]

This is partly inspired by frozenchief's eagle grill, but also by something I saw yesterday.

I was walking in downtown Denver, and I heard a horrible scraping sound. Looking around, I caught the back end of a guy generating ridicule fodder for the rest of his life.

There's a hotel under construction at a tight intersection, so the sidewalk has been closed and they've got those big concrete jersey barriers all around it.



One of the construction workers was in a company pickup, and he cut the corner too sharp leaving the intersection and caught the edge of the barrier. That was a bummer, but then he doubled and tripled down.

For some reason, he gave the truck more gas, and the barrier started dragging down the side of the truck. Then it got to a flared wheel well and got stuck. So the guy gave it more gas. I and some other pedestrians waiting at a stop light were wincing, saying, "Back it up, dude. Back it up."

The barrier completely caved in the side of the truck, and for some inexplicable reason the guy kept trying to accelerate forward. Eventually, he actually pulled the barrier out into the street, blocking half a lane, before it let go of the truck. Then he sped off.

Now, it was late in the day, so maybe his coworkers didn't see it. But maybe they did. And I'd also be willing to bet that there are security cameras on the job site, and someone's going to check on why a 1,000 pound jersey barrier was pulled out onto the street. So this guy had to show up to work today with a company truck that is completely caved in, and he's going to have to come up with a story about why it's caved in. And if he lies about it, he's going to have to gamble that the whole thing isn't recorded on a security camera that his own company put up. Talk about screwed.

[ScareCrowe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

This is partly inspired by frozenchief's eagle grill, but also by something I saw yesterday.

I was walking in downtown Denver, and I heard a horrible scraping sound. Looking around, I caught the back end of a guy generating ridicule fodder for the rest of his life.

There's a hotel under construction at a tight intersection, so the sidewalk has been closed and they've got those big concrete jersey barriers all around it.



One of the construction workers was in a company pickup, and he cut the corner too sharp leaving the intersection and caught the edge of the barrier. That was a bummer, but then he doubled and tripled down.

For some reason, he gave the truck more gas, and the barrier started dragging down the side of the truck. Then it got to a flared wheel well and got stuck. So the guy gave it more gas. I and some other pedestrians waiting at a stop light were wincing, saying, "Back it up, dude. Back it up."

The barrier completely caved in the side of the truck, and for some inexplicable reason the guy kept trying to accelerate forward. Eventually, he actually pulled the barrier out into the street, blocking half a lane, before it let go of the truck. Then he sped off.

Now, it was late in the day, so maybe his coworkers didn't see it. But maybe they did. And I'd also be willing to bet that there are security cameras on the job site, and someone's going to check on why a 1,000 pound jersey barrier was pulled out onto the street. So this guy had to show up to work today with a company truck that is completely caved in, and he's going to have to come up with a story about why it's caved in. And if he lies about it, he's going to have to gamble that the whole thing isn't recorded on a security camera that his own company put up. Talk about screwed.

Career Darwin Award winner, some people are too stupid to be employed.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by ScareCrowe

Career Darwin Award winner, some people are too stupid to be employed or driving.

FYP

[Lzen]

I just remembered another one.

In 2010, my oldest son, who was about 17 at the time, was working and being responsible and wanted a new car. His best buddy's sister's bf worked at a rental car place and they had a 99 Acura TL they were selling for about 3K. It only had about 144k miles on it. It had all the extras (leather seats, gps, etc.) and was still in good shape.

So, we got the car and all he had to do was make payments to us until it was paid off. He absolutely fell in love with that car. And honestly, I was kind of fond of it, myself. So, 6 days later we are getting packed and ready to leave town for a camping trip to Colorado. His cousin was going with us on this trip. She lived in Virginia and just flew in to town that day.

So, my son, a couple of friends, and his cousin are all driving around in his new car. Well, you know how teenagers are not the best drivers because they lack experience and don't always pay enough attention? Yeah, that's pretty much what happened. He ran a stop sign and hit another car going 30-40mph. Totaled his car that he hadn't even had for a week.

On the bright side, insurance paid out about twice what we paid for it. So, the remaining money was used to buy another car (after the Acura was paid off). He ended up with a 97 Nissan Maxima. The boy was devastated but it was a good life lesson, I'd say.

[Rain Man]

My two odd car damage stories:

1. Back when I had the apricot BMW, my wife drove it to a little shopping district and parallel parked it on the street. When she was walking back to the car, she saw another car stop and try to parallel park in front of it. Somehow they were so far off in their distance judging that they backed into the apricot BMW. But not the front of the car. They backed their car up and hit the side of my car BEHIND the driver's door.

2. Once when I was younger, I was stopped at a stop light at a busy intersection. I was many cars behind the light, so nothing was moving around me. I was just sitting there. All of a sudden - BOOM - something nailed my windshield hard enough to break it. It took me completely by surprise. Then about three or four seconds later, a screwdriver dropped from the sky onto the top of my hood, after presumably ricocheting off my windshield. There was nothing moving anywhere near me, so I have no idea how a screwdriver hit my windshield with so much power.

[seclark]

One of uncle Ernie’s goats climbed up on my olds cutlass and chewed the vinyl roof.
sec

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by seclark

One of uncle Ernie’s goats climbed up on my olds cutlass and chewed the vinyl roof.
sec

That's some serious redneck stuff there.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Lzen

That's some serious redneck stuff there.

****in goats
sec

[ModSocks]

19 year old me, 6 months after buying my Pontiac Trans Am. Middle of the night. Streets a little damp. Mudvayne pumping through the stereo so im amped as ****. Sitting at a stop light to turn left, light turns green. Maybe im a little TOO pumped, hit the gas, back end of the car slips out and i lose control.

I end up putting the car into a mortuary. I called the mortuary in the morning to confess my sins. Lady tells me had i actually penetrated the wall (wasn't far from it btw) that i woulda had dead bodies on my hood.

[Eureka]

A priest tried to cross a busy street in his Toyota Sienna. He didn't notice me in the lane driving and hit my RX7 in the rear quarter panel. I got out of the vehicle and walked over to the Sienna with some anger. As I open my mouth the guy gets out I then notice he's a priest. In my nicest voice I say "Hello father are you ok"?

[Otter]

I was walking on the sidewalk in Ocean City Maryland with friends when I was living there for the summer while in college and seen a person go the wrong way into a parking lot exit where they had the retractable spike setup.


Four flat tires at the same time has to be pretty painful. I think I'd take the eagle over that one. At least with a good yank you can still drive and you know whoever was driving was from out of town.

[Stewie]

I was poor and 22 years old. Drove a Honda Civic that I paid $400 to get me back and forth to my new job.

I was sitting at a red light and heard screeching, then BAM! Ugh. Took my breath away.

The girl jumped out of her car and apologized. She said she was lighting a cigarette and wasn't paying attention.

She also told this to the police officer. So, her insurance settled for $1100. Drove that Civic for another 6 months before upgrading.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I was poor and 22 years old. Drove a Honda Civic that I paid $400 to get me back and forth to my new job.

I was sitting at a red light and heard screeching, then BAM! Ugh. Took my breath away.

The girl jumped out of her car and apologized. She said she was lighting a cigarette and wasn't paying attention.

She also told this to the police officer. So, her insurance settled for $1100. Drove that Civic for another 6 months before upgrading.

Back when I was in my twenties, I was sitting at a stop light and the same thing happened. I had a great 1979 Toyota Celica Hatchback (loved that car), and it was really solid so there was no damage. But I remember getting out of the car and the woman who hit me got out of her car, and she angrily yelled, "You scared me to death!" I had been completely and peacefully stopped when she hit me.

[bdj23]

I once decided to run the entire length of my Pontiac Grand Prix down the side of one of those concrete pillars that holds light posts up in parking lots.

I was about a dozen beers deep leaving the bar when I was 22.

[Mr. Wizard]

Out in the middle of nowhere miles from anything I drive a pickup over a pipe sticking out of the ground that began to spew natural gas. It was super loud. I got out and ran for my life. Later my pissed off boss walked up started it up and drove it off. How the hell did it not blow up? We are talking a mid 80s pickup. I think he was just too much of an asshole to die. Apparently… so was I