Porsche crash

[TESLAMotors]

I'm sure most people have heard of this accident in Malta by now.
The one Paul Walker died in was a Carerra GT and this looks like it'd be a 2nd gen, but renamed a Spyder 918?
I remember salivating at the Carerra GT when it was ripping through my area back in 2006/2007.
Paul Walker's estate and daughter are suing Porsche because they claim Porsche knew about its instability or something to that effect.

Anyone know if the two cars are similar in any aspect other than the aesthetics?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/vi...bailey-interviewed-minutes-before-crash-video

 

[trouble321]

You are correct...I believe the GT is the predecessor to the 918.

 

[wonkyknee]

It is very well known to all. Very difficult car to control.

 

[nottyboi]

Well it has almost 900 hp, a car like that would definitely be a challenge to drive at anywhere close to the limit and can easily bite you. In the case of the crash in Malta, the guy clipped the grass beside the track. Any car would lose control in those circumstances.

 

[spaman]

the spyder is a hybrid as compared to the old Carerra GT was purely gas

 

[Ceiling Cat]

Porsche will fight tooth and nail to discredit the complainant. They can not be labeled as unsafe. It will cost them billions in lost sales if their reputation is tainted. Especially with the Volkswagen/Audi diesel scandal going full stink.

 

[TeasePlease]

Porsche will fight tooth and nail to discredit the complainant. They can not be labeled as unsafe. It will cost them billions in lost sales if their reputation is tainted. Especially with the Volkswagen/Audi diesel scandal going full stink.

It's a fine line between "unsafe" and "macho"

 

[Insidious Von]

When you get behind the wheel of a car, any car, you are responsible for your actions. If Paul Walker was the driver his family doesn't have a leg to stand on.

 

[Chloë.]

When you get behind the wheel of a car, any car, you are responsible for your actions. If Paul Walker was the driver his family doesn't have a leg to stand on.

He was the passenger.

 

[GameBoy27]

It is very well known to all. Very difficult car to control.

I watched the video. The title was "The Porsche loses control before crashing into spectators at Malta car show".

It should have read: " The driver of the Porsche lost control before crashing into spectators at Malta car show".

He dropped the right side wheels (the ones under load) onto the grass. This caused the car to oversteer and slide off the track hitting the spectators.

As soon as I read "British millionaire" I rolled my eyes. I've instructed many wealthy people on race tracks in their expensive cars. The one common trait is that the more money these guys have, the better they think they can drive. More often, it's the exact opposite.

It's sometimes terrifying to sit in the passenger seat of these high powered exotics as they try and demonstrate how fast they can go around the track, instead of slowing down and learning breaking points, weight transfer, turn it, apex, exits etc.

The fun part is I get to take them around the track with them in the passenger seat, often shaving 5-10 seconds off their lap times depending on the track. This typically does one of two things. Humbles them which makes them realize they have lots to learn or infuriates them. The latter often leads to driving off the track or crashing into a wall when they're lapping solo later in the day.

I've been doing this for 30 years, some things never change. Only now the cars are faster and things happen a lot faster. It's easier to get into trouble especially if you don't know what you're doing. Sure, blame it on the car.

Well it has almost 900 hp, a car like that would definitely be a challenge to drive at anywhere close to the limit and can easily bite you. In the case of the crash in Malta, the guy clipped the grass beside the track. Any car would lose control in those circumstances.

This ^^^ 100% driver error.

It's a fine line between "unsafe" and "macho"

Bingo! ^^^

 

[peter4025]

Why is it that in today's society everybody blames somebody else for their shortcomings?

 

[tegR]

Ridiculous lawsuit. Clearly this is not a regular car for getting groceries. If you decide to operate a powerful machine like you accept that it's no different then a fighter jet "safety" in the sense of "hard/impossible to fuck yourself up" is not included. It's specifically excluded in the name of performance. Anything at the envelope of potential performance needs to be respected and only driven with the understanding that if you fuck up it can and will kill you.

 

[GameBoy27]

Ridiculous lawsuit. Clearly this is not a regular car for getting groceries. If you decide to operate a powerful machine like you accept that it's no different then a fighter jet "safety" in the sense of "hard/impossible to fuck yourself up" is not included. It's specifically excluded in the name of performance. Anything at the envelope of potential performance needs to be respected and only driven with the understanding that if you fuck up it can and will kill you.

Or somebody else.

 

[wonkyknee]

.

Aside from the emblem on the hood, the 918 and CarreraGT have nothing in common.

I was going to say the same thing. The latter is an electric hybrid. Further to the liabilitity issue, I don't think the Carrera GT has any business being on the road. The clutch might as well be a button. Very unforgiving. Way too much power exploding on the touch, easily sending even a decent driver into a pole or ditch.

 

[GameBoy27]

.
I was going to say the same thing. The latter is an electric hybrid. Further to the liabilitity issue, I don't think the Carrera GT has any business being on the road. The clutch might as well be a button. Very unforgiving. Way too much power exploding on the touch, easily sending even a decent driver into a pole or ditch.

I don't know what they're like to drive, or get off the line but read somewhere. "There is very little wheelspin during the 918 launch. But assuming for a moment that there is no at-launch wheelspin whatsoever, the 918 jumps to 26 km/h after just one wheel rotation, or in about seven feet." Crazy!

 

[anon1]

It looks like that barrier was made of cardboard instead of concrete.

 

[RemyMartin]

I can beat the track in a GTR, but have more fun with a Civic Si or Miata.

Which track do you usually go?

 

[|2 /-\ | /|/]

I cant believe this. Does this race track and/or country not have any regulations and standards. It looks like those 'barriers' are not appropriate for this function, especially when spectators are that close to the track.

 

[abv]

It looks like that barrier was made of cardboard instead of concrete.

Likely plastic. They can be filled to give them added weight & therefore afford better protection.
Most often they are filled with water.

 

[Aardvark154]

Excellent points GameBoy.

I believe you are spot on in saying that a large measure of this is the arrogance of power, I'm a very successful, very wealthy "type A" person who has driven cars since I was 16, why should I bother to learn from an expert. It is all about merely going fast as Hell.