[I'm fine] but wiped out on the highway tonight
 

Hello all,

I feel pretty embarrassed right now about what just happened because I consider myself to be a better driver than this, but at least I am okay.

This evening I drove the Z for the first time in a couple of weeks. I just returned from school for the night, went to pick up an old pay check, and was getting on the highway to go back home. I checked my rearview, sideviews repeatedly before I downshifted to 3rd from about 40-45 mph from 4th gear and basically "punching" it since there was maybe one other car a distance in front of me, but none close behind. I must say, the rev match was dead on....too much so....the power went straight to the ground, the rear end broke loose (30 degrees F outside, rained today, and oem potenzas with 30% tread left) and I fish-taled like no tomorrow. I was heading for the center divider, then the woods, back to the center, then finally slid at a decent speed until the curb hit my driver's side rear wheel and my rear went up the hill on the side of the highway. How embarrassing. I was so thankful I was okay, because a surge of highway traffic came over the hill behind me right after it happened. The Z was towed to the Nissan dealership I usually deal with (if I have to..haha), where the sales manager came over as he was locking up, asked if I was okay, and took my keys early just in case the car needed to be moved tomorrow or next week. On a positive note, they won't be joyriding in my baby with the rear suspension like it is! Crap, it kinda stings to joke right now :(

IMPORTANT STUFF
I figured I might as well post the details of my accident to cross-reference the parts and labor quote the dealer gives me for repair on Monday with your knowledge/experiences.

I did not have a camera with me when the accident happened, and my camera phone was not going to cut it. I will try to get pictures on Monday, but I am not sure if it will make a difference anyway, because by then i would probably have made a decision as to how to fix what is broken.

The pictures below are NOT MY CAR but the same situation....I hope it's the same "cheap" broken parts that he had to get. (My bent wheel is on the driver's side)

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4...ire1dt8.th.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8...ire2um8.th.jpg

Here is what I know I bent:

P/Ns 551A0 and 55110U in this diagram:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/betasit...5_800_804.html

Considering this, what else do you think may be damaged? CV joints? Bushings? Bolts? A diff seal leak? I don't know...
The wheel was the first to hit obviously. It's scratched, may be bent and I think I have a slow leak in the tire (duh).

Sorry to hear. Hope you get her back soon.

30 degrees.
Wet
Worn OEM tires.

That’ll do it.

Dosent look to bad from the pics......looks like you just bent a link.

Glad you are ok and thanks for being honest about the conditions and exactly what you did, hopefuly you save some one else from making the same mistake. Nice to see some one owning up and not blame the Z for a mysterious loss of traction. Good luck and I hope it doesn't cost to much to get the Z back on the road.

I know how you feel, purchased a 2005 350z touring model with 13,500 miles on it November 2007. Had a accident January 14,2008. Relpaced my bumper and headlight for about 3,000 dollars. A large truck pulled in front of me. My insurance company is going after the other driver's insurance. I plan on leaving my car in the garage for about a month. I"m little nervous about driving it right now.

A little nervous about driving it?
Did I stumble into a noobie sportbike forum?

Sounds like your rev match wasnt on, you let the clutch out with the revs not high enough and the power was applied abruptly. Glad your ok, your a better drivern ow learning from this...

Don't be an @$$. If you have an accident, even if you're not hurt, you sometimes get a little nervous behind the wheel. At least your 4th post contributed, though. :rolleyes:

^^ Alberto's comments. Maybe… but I doubt this is the real reason the OP found himself in trouble so quickly.

He says the temperature was 30 degrees F. That means the roadway is probably frozen, and any moisture there could be ice. If his car has summer performance tires, he is literally on a “slippery slope” that can certainly result in a total loss of control. Cars with a short wheelbase rotate quickly.

--Spike

Wow, damn dude. Glad you're okay. But let this be a lesson to you, you really shouldn't drive on practically bald summer tires in the winter time with icy conditions. Invest in some winter tires - they can be had relatively cheap on eBay.

dam man...glad your okay...
same situation happened to me...was stuck in school talking to admissions for quite a long time...when i finally get through with it and i look outside theres some snow on the ground....anyways long story short...fished tailed was going into the rail but i managed to save it...

thought that was the worst of it until some lady rear ended me...

:(

Ever heard of "driving it like you're on ice"? That applies to below freezing, wet conditions. I do feel for ya but hope you learned a lesson. You could have taken somebody else out with you just because you weren't careful...

Fixed and WE ALL are guilty of it.

Sorry to hear about your damage.

Sorry to hear that man, the most important thing is that your ok. But hope everything works out for ya.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'll keep you updated on how this situation unfolds. I am having a horrible day right now. I lost my glasses and my ID last night. And I'm having family problems too.

Robert, I wouldn't consider it cocky because I wasn't showing off to anyone, and I checked to see there was no one in my immediate vicinity. I just rarely drive my car in the winter during my time at school and when I take it out once every couple weeks I like to satisfy my "craving", I guess, for spirited driving.

I'm not even in the mood to hear about criticisms, though they are justified. I screwed up and I hate myself for it. To do something like that I should have considered the ambient conditions and the condition of my tires. I'm such an idiot.

Glad to hear your ok bro, sorry for your car.... but it will be back and just a little life lesson I'm sure most of us had to learn too, so don't fell bad .I know your a very responsable driver shyt just happens, ask me about my truck and some gardrails some time, we all screw up from time to time, just sorry it was your Z

Glad you weren't seriously injured. Chalk it up to a lesson learned. It could have been much worse. At least you had the knowledge to check for other before you "launched".

Thanks guys.

No you are knowledgeable. An idiot would blame the car.