Rear ended by Truck on Westgate = Dead V8 Ef Wagon

[cuz]

Hi guys,

Well, after a few years of happy daily work, my V8 Ef wagon is dead.
I was happily making my way to work the other week along the Westgate, past Montague st towards the tunnel, when all the traffic (and me too!!) came to an stop.
Now when I say all the traffic, I mean all the traffic except for the bloke in the semi behind me.
I saw him coming and braced myself off the pedal and ... Its off to the hospital in an ambo I go.







I must say that it was a bloody good impact and I was very lucky as it could've been alot worse.
I was released from hospital after 3 days with whiplash and a very stiff and sore lower back. I am still on TAC compo but hoping to get back to light duties soon.

As you can see, most of the damage is at the rear and I as I had my feet hard on the brakes and I had also stopped a good 6 feet short of the van infront, the damage to the front of the wagon is confined to a towball thru the bar and into the trans cooler.
The doors still open and close but require a fair bit of effort to do so.
All this contributed to it being declared a write-off by the assessor.
Happily, the trucks insurance has admitted fault and I am expecting a cheque in the mail this week. I retained ownership of the wagon because they were very generous and offered me $75 for it!!! I declined their offer and had it towed home.

Now the big question is... What to get for a new daily??
Do I get another straight/clean EF wagon and donate my running gear or do I go for a BA wagon and start researching turbo conversions.... Hmmmm

Thanks for reading and stay safe out there

Cuz

[b2tf]

Could have been a lot worse, glad you're ok.

My vote? Part it out and start again with something different. A BA Turbo wagon would be fun, and there's one being built in the project cars section you could get ideas from.

[GQ_Smooth]

If you had agreed value insurance and have a reasonable payout then spend up on the BA, If not EF's are fairly cheap, stick with what you know.

[cuz]

After a bit of haggling over the towing/storage fees, I accepted a price of just under 5k, which I am happy with, especially as I also get to keep the wreck.
Looking at BA wagons ATM and if I choose that route, I will part out the wagon or sell it as a V8 conversion to fund the boost...

[mik]

The car is only a piece of metal, you survived that's the main thing, sad a v8 wagon heading for the grave yard, bad luck mate, i had a loaded bedford van give me a good wop up the kyber many years ago, hit hard enough to crease the roof, the xr in my avatar, i concur .......rear enders hurt, good luck shopping for a new limo.

[blackf6]

The wagon looks like it came off well from being rear ended by a semi (ford tough). So many new choices. How about an au fairmont wags with a v8?

[XP6]

Yep part her out buy another driver, I reckon $1000 as it is to someone doing a conversion... or keep it for fun

[FGII-XR6]

if you are after boost try to pick up a write off XR6 turbo and use the drivetrain in your wagon. The factory setup is proven for performance and reliability

[rdmr]

Lucky indeed. Your health is paramount.
My vote is for an E series Fairmont wagon. Then you have a good parts source.

[Cuyper]

I drove past an XR8 its that had been rear ended by a truck, turned around and pushed into the guard rail on the westgate a few weeks ago. Surprising how many accidents can happen in an 80 zone with a zillion lanes. Someone's not paying attention.

[cuz]

Originally Posted by Cuyper

I drove past an XR8 its that had been rear ended by a truck, turned around and pushed into the guard rail on the westgate a few weeks ago. Surprising how many accidents can happen in an 80 zone with a zillion lanes. Someone's not paying attention.

Thats the thing about my accident. There had been an earlier incident in the tunnel so traffic was already backed up and slow.
I was in the left lane and we went from a complete stop just past montague st, up to a speed of no more than 70kms, then to an abrupt stop again about 400m later. I was going up hill on the overpass by this stage.
Transit van infront of me and 2x tipper trucks in front of that.
The truck that hit me should have had a clear view for a good 500-600m uphill, while he was accelerating.
Must've been texting or something....

[Boza]

alot of truck drivers have heaps of no-dose tablets or caffeine in there system or those energy drinks. I have a mate who is an interstate truckie and told me the cops drug test a lot these days, so a lot of the blokes get high on natural stuff but still makes them buzz and affects there attention span as you can't sit still on that stuff there doing other things then concentrating

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by Boza

alot of truck drivers have heaps of no-dose tablets or caffeine in there system or those energy drinks. I have a mate who is an interstate truckie and told me the cops drug test a lot these days, so a lot of the blokes get high on natural stuff but still makes them buzz and affects there attention span as you can't sit still on that stuff there doing other things then concentrating

You having a laugh mate? Truck drivers are more regulated than light vehicle drivers. Who can work a 14 hr shift at work then legally drive for the next week without sleep. I would rather take my chances with truck driver than a tired overworked car driver. Get high to drive. Good one for your concentration.

[cuz]

Originally Posted by teak81

You having a laugh mate? Truck drivers are more regulated than light vehicle drivers. Who can work a 14 hr shift at work then legally drive for the next week without sleep. I would rather take my chances with truck driver than a tired overworked car driver. Get high to drive. Good one for your concentration.

I agree. I've known a lot of drivers over the years and all were top blokes who did the right things both on and off the roads. Knowing them and listening to their gripes about car drivers, opened my eyes to what they go thru everytime they get behind the wheel. That made me respect trucks more on the roads and I always give them plenty of room and was always aware of their stopping distances.
The driver that hit me was devastated. Told me to stay put in the wagon and called the cops/ambos straight away.
I've spoken to him since and told him not to worry and thanked him for his help that morning.
He didn't mean to hit me, I know that. He was bretho'd, drug tested on the spot and was clean.
He said that he was on everything but his truck just wouldn't pull up!!!

[monte.b]

Sorry to hear about you accident ,just lucky you were in a tough old ford wagon. A few years ago i had the same problem but i got hit by a lovely girl on a merc sport car ,i stopped at the lights ,she didnt even brake ,bent the old ef wagon pretty bad ,but they fixed it ,the funny part was the girls mother turned up and i was talking to her ,she said yer we bought the merc togeather so i own half of it ,i said **** hope you own the rear half cause the front half aint real flash ,sorry mate i couldnt help myself ,hope it bought a smile to your dile

[Cuyper]

Trucks take a very long time to stop, the thing is they shouldn't be anywhere near the back of another vehicle, ever. Especially in a multi lane.

[Professor Farnsworth]

looks like a fair whack for sure, the tow bar appears to be bent down?

[FGII-XR6]

that wins the prize for the stupid uninformed post of the week, heavy vehicle drivers are ( an have been for sometime) heavily regulated. the days of cowboys with more than one logbook doing 18 hours straight on drugs are long gone. management are open to prosecution for setting unrealistic time demands under the chain of responsibility legislation . uninformed ignorant car drivers are often the grater danger on our roads cutting heavy vehicles off , racing ahead and cutting in the braking, and screaming up the inside of a turning vehicle ( I've lost count of the number of morons I have missed by inches doing this) .

Originally Posted by Boza

alot of truck drivers have heaps of no-dose tablets or caffeine in there system or those energy drinks. I have a mate who is an interstate truckie and told me the cops drug test a lot these days, so a lot of the blokes get high on natural stuff but still makes them buzz and affects there attention span as you can't sit still on that stuff there doing other things then concentrating

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

that wins the prize for the stupid uninformed post of the week, heavy vehicle drivers are ( an have been for sometime) heavily regulated. the days of cowboys with more than one logbook doing 18 hours straight on drugs are long gone. management are open to prosecution for setting unrealistic time demands under the chain of responsibility legislation . uninformed ignorant car drivers are often the grater danger on our roads cutting heavy vehicles off , racing ahead and cutting in the braking, and screaming up the inside of a turning vehicle ( I've lost count of the number of morons I have missed by inches doing this) .

yes but there are two sides to every story - i'm very courteous and forward-thinking around trucks but i have lost count of the amount of moronic batcrap crazy 24 wheelers i've had doing inane things behind, beside, and in front of me. Even had a 24 wheeler try to brake check me one day - amazingly it only ever happens when i'm in the daily matchbox car. For the most part they're ok, but there are many, many morons with HC licences.

anyway that's for the truck thread.

[cuz]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

looks like a fair whack for sure, the tow bar appears to be bent down?

Yep, right you are Professor!
Its hard to tell from the crappy pics but its got a bend in it from about the rear doors back. Even tho the doors all still open and close, they ain't happy about it. Have to sit on the drivers to get it closed.

Still trawling the net for a new wagon. Too many options open at the moment.
Everything from another cheap EF, for a swap over of my running gear to an ex-taxi BA that I can boost!!!
Hmmm... decisions decisions....

[Professor Farnsworth]

if you go boost you'll love the feeling but you'll miss the noise - depends what's more important to you, brute power or power and ambience

[Professor Farnsworth]

The AU has a better starting point in regards to the Windsor. It has the XR heads and intake manifold etc.. bigger MAF from memory - here's a wagon but it's got high-ish km (still less than mine though haha)

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...13752575/?Cr=0

[Billydean]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

the days of cowboys with more than one logbook doing 18 hours straight on drugs are long gone. .

That wins the prize for the most naive post of the week!

My son-in-law pulls drivers for those type of offences every week.

[cuz]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

if you go boost you'll love the feeling but you'll miss the noise - depends what's more important to you, brute power or power and ambience

Well, if you put it like that, the choice is easy!
Brute power wins hands down for me!!! (Check my signature!!)
Nothing can replace that V8 sound.

[kyro_02]

buy a ford ranger, powerful enough for the road, and even better off road :P