There was a minvan conspiracy today... as I pulled up and stopped behind a minivan at a red light I cpmplacently looked up where the roof would be if it were not such a fine day, to see a Mockingbird in full song. Luckily he did not distract me for long - I looked back down just in time to see the reverse lights come on in front of me. With great speed, I gripped the horn button and, checking the rearview mirror, stuffed the car in reverse and managed to avoid losing the front clam. The minivan thought better of switching lanes at the red light and pulled forward again...

I thought that was my close call for the day but half an hour later I was again in traffic stopped at a red light. Eventually it moved forward enough for me to get in the left turn lane so I pulled into it intending to turn left at the light - suddenly a white Dodge Caravan pulled out of the traffic into the left turn lane apparently tired of waiting for the lights and changing direction. I figured there was no time to brake as I was right there so I put the car as near as I could to median and hit the gas, hoping I could squeeze through the gap... Well I saved the front clam but she hit the rear of the passenger door, the wheel arch around the passenger side rear wheel and then there was a big bang as the left rear of my car slammed into the median curb, scraping up the driver side rear wheel and denting the rear diffuser.... She has admitted fault and there is another Elise in the body shop instead of out in the fine Spring weather... grrrrrrrr!

As I tried to drive it there was a clunking sound from the rear wheel and I stopped and discovered I have now inadvertently given a practical demonstration of what Tim was talking about in another thread about bolts, strength and suspension shearing away to protect other parts of the car. The lower control arm (I assume that is the correct nomenclature) was hanging off because the bolt had sheared off - presumably preventing more costly damage to other components of the car (see pictures)

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So my "fuel smell" experiments have come to a halt.... that sucks, dude. hopefully they can get it repaired quickly and get you back out on the road! Wow, hope it gets fixed satisfactorily. PLease keep us advised.


I assumed from the title that MeanTT did it again! Ouch. Sounds like it might have been cheaper to take it in the front clam. Good luck with the repairs. Wow, hope it gets fixed satisfactorily. PLease keep us advised.


I assumed from the title that MeanTT did it again!

As I tried to drive it there was a clunking sound from the rear wheel and I stopped and discovered I have now inadvertently given a practical demonstration of what Tim was talking about in another thread about bolts, strength and suspension shearing away to protect other parts of the car. The lower control arm (I assume that is the correct nomenclature) was hanging off because the bolt had sheared off - presumably preventing more costly damage to other components of the car (see pictures)


Sorry to hear about your accident. The part in the picture looks like the toe link. Hopefully the ball stud took most of the force from the accident when it broke and nothing else is damaged. This backs up my theory:

MINIVANS ARE THE ENEMY

I always get stuck behind mini vans (usually white) only to see them do something stupid. That stinks, Gary. The part in the picture looks like the toe link. Hopefully the ball stud took most of the force from the accident when it broke and nothing else is damaged. Yep, it looks like the toe link. This is probably one of those cases that if you had the rear brace installed, you would have a lot more damage.

Sorry to hear about the mess. Hope it can be fixed quickly and to your satisfaction.

As for minivans being the enemy - this morning I noticed, as I sat at the intersection leaving the neighborhood, that I was surrounded by 1 minivan and 5 SUVs. All of them with only the driver and no passengers... This backs up my theory:

MINIVANS ARE THE ENEMY


X's Eleventybillion
As for minivans being the enemy - this morning I noticed, as I sat at the intersection leaving the neighborhood, that I was surrounded by 1 minivan and 5 SUVs. All of them with only the driver and no passengers...
I'm glad to see people are doing their part to reduce the demand for the $3 a gallon gas Gary,

Sorry to hear about the mishap. I dropped by Criswell today, and there were at least two Elises getting bodywork done, so your car will have some company.

-Andy sorry about the car. Like you said, could have been worse. Its amazing how little damage there appears to be to the fiberglass... but heard today they are goiing to take the rear clam off the car.... The initial estimate is $6,200 over the phone... I think it might grow once they get in there... We'll see.