http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassin...=108210&nmt=5th to 2nd at 90, Oh the carnage
Happy days eh,
I thought I'd never see it happen, I've heard the horror stories and have cringed so very hard at pictures (anyone see the ITR that did the same? blew the gearbox and threw a piston).
Well on Saturday, I went with a friend to pick up a Clio 172. Awesome little car. Neither of us had had any time in anything 'Sport' so he was having some fun with it on the M1 (you should have seen his face when he entered the northbound London services at almost 70 not realising it goes pretty much 180), the car was completely stable, he wasn't expecting it at all, he was crapping himself having come from a 1997 1.2 Fiesta, he soon realised that 'sport' meant a lot. It was awesome seeing have so much fun (I'm sure you guys know what he was feeling).
Anyway, later on the in the journey up the A1, accelerating in 5th, but there is plenty left in 4th (redlines at 110) so he decides to shift down, unfortunately he has always shifted like he is trying to set a new time at the 'ring, and there is a big difference between a Fiesta box and a Clio 172. He accidently slams it into 2nd.CRUNCH, momentary wheel lock up (in credit to my friend, he instantly realised and put the clutch in) and smoke. Went straight to the hard shoulder (if any of you saw a 172 at J4 Northbound early afternoon, that was us :/).
Transmission oil and coolant from where bits of the housing hit the rad streams from the car, its stench fills the air. I see debris on the road; bits of bellhousing and gearbox, I then come across the clutch, bent, in pieces.I felt sick to my stomach. 3 hours he had the car. Transmission and box gone, running gear bent out of shape and rad shot. Cost to repair? At least £2.7K. About the value of the car and he hasn't got that kind of money.
We all make mistakes, and unfortuantely he made his at the worst time possible. I can't imagine how horrible/stupid he feels
Happy days eh,