My MX-3 saved my butt today!

[jmdearras]

When I was building my GS from two "donor" cars, I had initially chosen the '92 as the paint and trim were in better shape, where the '94 had the better motor. In fact I bought the '94 just for the motor. However, on closer look, the "frame" was better on the '94 as the '92 had been hit in the driver's side front, repaired, but the body was bent in about 1/2 inch, they had had to do some tricks to get the replacement fender to clear the hood when it closed.

But the biggest deal was the anti-lock brake system on the '94. I'm a big fan of anti-locks.

Anyway, forward to the present. I'm driving in this wonderful tropical storm weather here in Virginia. Doing 35mph on a busy city road. Suddenly, a car pulls into my lane from a side street and stops 2/3 blocking my lane maybe 20 feet ahead. I just reacted, hit the brakes which went into anti-lock cycling on the slick road. I cut HARD left into the oncoming lane, cars headed for me, then HARD right back into my lane, convinced I was not going to avoid an impact. Somehow I did, had to be by fractions of an inch.

After I stopped shaking, I was very pleased with how responsive and accurate the steering was, and how the anti-locks let me brake hard without also trying remember to modulate the pressure, while steering during the 2 second event. If my brakes had just locked, I would have just spun out into more than one car.

Praise God!

Jim

[Ryan]

I had a moment like that!

It was pouring rain, and just before a light, I (stupidly) accelerated a bit to get between the car beside me and the semi infront, so I wouldn't be stuck behind him at the light. The lane I pulled into was FULL, and I had about 20' to slide before I pulled over to the shoulder and slid the other 40' Left two car lengths of tracks in the gravel.

Car didn't argue at all about the very quick lane change. Promptly hopped the low curb, and didn't mind just backing back up into the traffic. No damage, just a shaken conscious.

Meanwhile.... I'm driving this lame protege, and I was in a similar situation (lady infront stopped in a highway lane to let some a hole in in a construction zone) and the brakes and handling failed me, and she wound up with two little dints in her bumper. $500 later, it was away from MPI's greedy hands.