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Smashing Prius news... in Japan

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by SmogSlide, Dec 5, 2011.

  1. SmogSlide

    SmogSlide Member

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  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    A race to the gas pump...
    Last one there based on mileage wins. :p
    Prius is "miles ahead" and pulling away.
    Then the crash...

    Some people will do anything to appear a "winner." :rolleyes:
     
  3. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    There is nothing in the news story about a race. It looks like it was a group of high-end car enthusiasts. Nothing about anybody "trying to win."

    Fortunately there were no serious injuries. Those high-end cars, and the Prius, protect their occupants pretty well. But I see nothing "hilarious" in it, unless the idea of rich people getting their cars destroyed amuses you.
     
  4. SyCo

    SyCo Member

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    Too me, it kinda look like a race of some sort :( -->Source
     
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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  6. SPEEDEAMON

    SPEEDEAMON Professional Car Nut

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    There are some idiots who own Ferraris around the world, Japan not withstanding. Many are led to believe that just because you can afford to own a Ferrari, you're driving skill is automatically upgraded to a Formula 1 driver's.
    Witnesses say they were passed by this group going 140-150km/h on a 100km/h zone. Fast cars, speed, not leaving enough space bumper to bumper, wet tarmac and brains smaller than their penis contributed to this mayhem. However this happens all the time whether you're driving a Ferrari or a Prius. You just need to know the limits of your car in dry and wet conditions and slow down.
     
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  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Oooh mate you're harsh here. lol

    It's only news worthy cos they're expensive cars but it could just be as simple as someone over cooking it a little in the wet, which let's face it - we've all done.

    But just cos they're all Ferraris doesn't mean they're all bad drivers (though I hear what you're saying about the size of their tools! :D)

    I've driven fast cars like Ferrari's, Lambo's, AMG Mercs etc in a previous job and despite a clean accident and motor conviction record I would still say that such powerful cars scare me and I am not a good enough driver to drive them to their limits. Put simply - they'd be wasted on me.

    Perhaps a little respect with such a powerful beast is a good thing?


    On another note, I'd love to see the face of the insurance guy when this claim was reported :D
     
  8. SyCo

    SyCo Member

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    Since it's kind of a "car club" or "group meeting" of some sort... then maybe they're all insured by the same company ?! OMG :D
     
  9. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    I'm pretty sure my insurance company would dismiss any claim I submitted when they got a look at a police report like the one being generated by these morons, not racing, right...
     
  10. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    It looks like they were trying to evoke the old days of the Mid-Night Club on the Wangan (Shin, certainly you've heard of them). And failed.

    [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_Night_Club"]Mid Night Club - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

    Other article:
    http://maydaygarage.com/2010/09/22/...do-naito-kurabu-aka-mid-night-club/#more-1959
     
  11. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Not every speeder is in a race. This looks to me like a club of high-end sports car enthusiasts who like to drive fast. Whether they were racing each other, or just driving fast together, they were being reckless and stupid.

    My points were that there's no evidence it was a race, and there's no humor in it, as the OP suggested.

    The only car I've ever driven as fast as it would go was my Zap Xebra. :D It would go 35 mph on level ground, and I often drove it pedal to the floor, 35 mph, on our 35-mph streets.

    I do like to accelerate as quickly as my Tesla will do. But only up to the speed limit. It's electronically limited to 125 mph (201 km/hr) and there's no way I'd ever get anywhere near that. I also like the fact that it handles much better on the freeway than my Prius does, and it has the power for merging and passing. But driving fast, forget it!

    And I HATE the obnoxious loud noise of other fast cars. Mine is as quiet as a kitten. Just that gentle sci-fi whrrrrr.
     
  12. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    My favorite quote about this was from CNET:

    It apparently took eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini, and two Mercedes-Benzes to bring down one Prius on a Japanese freeway.

    :rockon:
     
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  13. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    I think the group of Ferrari's is doing about 90 mph and came to sweeping curve, a slow Prius is doing the hypermiler thing, the lead car tried to avoid the Prius and spun out in the curve. The rest is history.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The driver of the white Ferrari would probably be the one counting his blessings considering his car was low enough that it could've gone under the barrier! (at least that's the way it looks from the chopper angle).
     
  15. SPEEDEAMON

    SPEEDEAMON Professional Car Nut

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    Indeed they could be the Midnight Club members who got older and traded up. Its an unfortunate accident for these guys just out to have fun. They were on their way someplace when the first car slipped on wet pavement and hit the guard rail. Whether they were passing the Prius or not, the guy driving the second car was quoted as saying he had a heck of a time regaining control of his car after the car in front of him came bouncing back.

    This happens all the time in Los Angeles when it rains. Idiots drive fast, tailgating and slamming on their brakes. Body shops love it.
     
  16. SyCo

    SyCo Member

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  17. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Yes, yes it does.
     
  18. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    You own a Prius. That makes you rich compared to many. I would like to see reforms that take money from the rich for the aid of the poor. But finding amusement in the suffering of others is petty and low.
     
  19. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    It was 80km/h zone.

    Ken@Japan
     
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  20. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    +1

    [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude]Schadenfreude - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]: (German) pleasure derived from the misfortunes
    of others.

    ...An English word of similar meaning is "gloating", where "gloat" is
    defined as "to observe or think about something with triumphant and
    often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight" (gloat over an
    enemy's misfortune)...

    The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer mentioned Schadenfreude as the
    most evil sin of human feeling, saying famously "To feel envy is
    human, to savor schadenfreude is devilish...