What speed do you think?

[DWM]

Originally Posted by Laneystrider

The ******** in question is a Traffic Warden

A driver. Lent. His/her car. To a traffic warden.

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[Laney760]

Originally Posted by DWM

A driver. Lent. His/her car. To a traffic warden.

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I know!

[GMad]

Originally Posted by Laneystrider

I guess this question might be as stupid as asking how long is a piece of string but I'll ask anyway :-)

Somebody I know has, under much duress, lent their Fiat Punto to an ******** who has driven it into a kerb, in a 30mph limit, resultant damage the wheel is actually bent at an angle to the car, the wishbone needs replacing, the car is undrivable

I know these cars are of low build quality but I am now wondering if high speed is clearly a factor here? Or is it difficult to say, could it just be the angle at which the kerb was struck?

I wouldn't say "these cars are of low build quality", they actually come out of one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in mainland Europe!
I do however agree with your asking "how long is a piece of string" statement.
There will be many factors to consider, when trying to decide how come the damage is so bad (or maybe so minor)..
To qualify what I am saying here, back in 1978 I had a rather large motorcycle accident, I had four months in hospital, twenty six broken bones and lots of surgical steel (I still have that), to hold me together. The Ducati 900SS I was riding (an Italian motorcycle), needed a new nearside silencer, a clutch lever and a nearside rear indicator, to fix it and return it to the road.
Two years ago, I had a similar accident on my first Suzuki GSXR 1300 RR (a Japenese motorcycle), I didn't break a single bone and yet the bike was written off!
The point I guess I'm trying to make is....Sh1t happens. regardless of who it is, what it is and where it happens etc etc!

[fenton_jd]

My Mum crashed her Fiat Punto (R reg) into a kerb at a 45 degree angle, must have hit it about 25mph.

Snapped wishbone.

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by GMad

I wouldn't say "these cars are of low build quality", they actually come out of one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in mainland Europe!
I do however agree with your asking "how long is a piece of string" statement.
There will be many factors to consider, when trying to decide how come the damage is so bad (or maybe so minor)..
To qualify what I am saying here, back in 1978 I had a rather large motorcycle accident, I had four months in hospital, twenty six broken bones and lots of surgical steel (I still have that), to hold me together. The Ducati 900SS I was riding (an Italian motorcycle), needed a new nearside silencer, a clutch lever and a nearside rear indicator, to fix it and return it to the road.
Two years ago, I had a similar accident on my first Suzuki GSXR 1300 RR (a Japenese motorcycle), I didn't break a single bone and yet the bike was written off!
The point I guess I'm trying to make is....Sh1t happens. regardless of who it is, what it is and where it happens etc etc!

Having worked in the ridiculously cramped plastic everything engine compartment I've labelled the car 'low build quality', I'm probably wrong, I should have said 'squashed build quality'...

A lot of s*** happens to the particular traffic warden!

[andy_d]

whatever speed this muppet was doing when it "found" the kerb, if its bent the wishbone, the car is going to need a bit more than just a new wheel/wishbone.
its going to unfortunatly need the wheel alignment checking And the body where said wishbone mounts to, and if its the front end, as someone said the whole steering rack/mounts checking, it Could well be very expensive for him.
Not to sure "insurance" would cover it, his insurance would cover 3rd party damage but not "self inflicted". Although the car is a "3rd partys" the damage he has done is inflicted by the driver > self inflicted,,, dont think they'd cover it at all.
its possibly a lot more important for the car's owner to get it fully checked out at a pro bodyshop/accident repair center to find out Everything thats been damaged by the impact than the speed of said impact. The repair center/body shop should be able to provide a "best estimate" of the speed after seeing the full extent of the damage caused.

also if its a front wheel impact, and fwd (i Think most fiat's are FWD) then theres the risk of the drive shafts / g/box also being a smidge borked CV joints/oil seals type thing,,, so the bill may be Rather a lot higher than 1st sight would indicate.

[pookie]

You would be surprised how much damage a very low speed "kiss" on a kerb can do. What is highly relavent though is the angle the wheel hits the kerb. Head on very little or no damage, side on can be major damage as you describe. In wintertime on ice, skidding sideways into a kerb often causes major damage as the weight of the car pushes the wheel harder into the kerb. This often occurs at very low speed.
In good weather conditions however,kerb contact sufficient to bend wheels and suspension components is carelessness in the extreme, and not only that, the whole front suspension, steering and drive train will require expert inspection.

Salut!

Pookie

[hawklord]

in some ways, I could imagine a head-on kerb collision could do less damage to the upper structures than an angled one.

More rim damage, though.

[Rebrabuk]

I've slid into a kerb at about 90 degrees, travelling at about 5mph on snow/ice in an old Vauxhall Vectra and that bent the wishbone.. Easily done.

As already mentioned by others, 30mph is quite high speed for a collision into a kerb.

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by GMad

I wouldn't say "these cars are of low build quality", they actually come out of one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in mainland Europe!
I!

Couldn't agree more. My daughter has a 2006 1.2 Punto and so far the thing has been absolutely Bombproof. Cracking little car.

Darryl