The 10mm Tank, or 4800 Lbs of German Steel
 

Last night I spent about 4 hours doing various things to my Merc, including the fuel filter, oil and oil filter, replaced the icky green coolant with the Magical Mercedes Orange Coolant of +5 to OEMness. I also rotated the tires. Anyway, it occured to me that about half the bolts on this car are 10mm.
This morning I was on the way in to work with my partner. We had just turned out of the Jack in the Box, huge Diet Cokes in hand and were sitting at the intersection when we were whanged pretty hard from behind. I looked in the rear view mirror to see the driver of the car behind us having a full-on gran-mal siezure. The poor man was flailing pretty badly in his little PT Cruiser. I jumped out of the car, whipped out my little tactical flashlight with the crennelated hood and beat on the window with all my might as he jammed the go pedal to the floor. The little car's engine screamed angrily with 2 liters of fury as it nudged my massive Teutonic Tank closer to the oncoming traffic of state route 99, one of the busiest thoroughfares in town at the start of the morning rush. The transmission was in park, the emergency brake had been rammed into the floorboard in my panicked flight from the passenger seat. The tires moaned and sighed as it was nudged forward about a total of five feet until the light-bending mass of the Prussian Panzer proved to be too much for the little car to handle and the engine stalled out. A big ol' corn-fed dude in a lifted Chevy pickup jumped out and ran at that poor little car with a four-way tire iron until we stopped him in mid-swing. The scene was secure for the most part. i didn't want to cover him in glass. I figured the policed would slim-jim it open. The driver was breathing, the engine was stalled. We all took a little breath.
The cops showed up a minute or two later and the lead officer pulled out his collapsible baton and wailed on the driver's window a couple of times till it gave. That glass was tough. The driver was taken away in an ambulance. He didn't look good. He was still unconscious as they drove off.
I surveyed the damage. The corner of the bumper was pushed in, but that was it. I said to my buddy "I bet if I pull forward, the bumper will pop out". I put the car in neutral and let it roll a foot or two and sure enough, it looked like nothing had happened. We drove the rest of the way into work.

Damn, these cars are tough.

:eek: Jeeze what an incredible way to start the day. Maybe good thing for the other driver you were in front.

:thumbsup: Lucky man, and a great "defensive vehicle".

Awesome! good job man! I do love the MB's they have a myriad of uses.

You know, I was thinking the same thing. If I hadn't performed a left turn of questionable morality, there would have only been a Ford Escort between him and destiny. I don't think a little Escort could have held a much bigger car at WOT.

Hopefully the guy didnt die. He certainly shouldnt have been driving it is illegal here.

I hope you and your friend weren't HURT with a neck or back injury from this, and you get speedy compensation from the guy's insurance to get your car fixed. YOU get to pick the body shop, and you are entitled to loss-of-use ( a rented car)

Buying a big Mercedes is really, really an investment in your safety. That reason alone makes them a great choice for a car and a reason to forgive many other faults and problems they might have.

The Insurer's underwriters for sure will be taking a close look at the man's policy. If there was a Police report (please say yes!) then the man's driving privileges might come under DMV review, soon, under such a case

Depending on state law they may not collect from the Insurance co. Most states it is illegal to drive when diagnosed with epilepsy and they may not cover the driver.

Cop broke the car window - you know there MUST be a report. :rolleyes:

Yes, that is a good point. Undisclosed pre existing medical conditions might well be enough for the Insurance company to deny a claim, especially if they arose from the medical condition.

i believe most states have a time of X years, and if in those X years you do not have a "episode" you can drive again. That is not to say that you will never have another "episode".

Perhaps, I had a friend who died from epilepsy and he coulnt make it a month with out a siezure.

i know it is that way for PA

Little update for those of you that are curious:

I called the man a little later that day. The conversation went a little something like this:


:) Hi, is Ken ***** there?
:sick2:This is Ken.
:) This is Aaron. I was involved in your accident this morning and I was wondering how you're doing.
:sick2: Well, I'm OK, but I can't work for a week.
:undecided: Oh, sorry to hear that.
:sick2:....
:undecided:....
:undecided:Uh, well I hope you get better soon.
:sick2: Ok, bye.
:mad:

He didn't ask how I was, how my passenger was, how my car was, didn't thank me for using my car as a giant wheel chock, nothing. I'm a little bitter. If someone's car kept mine from rolling into rush-hour traffic I'd never stop saying thanks.

it's the true humanitarian who sacrifices without compensation or recognition. me, I want my due.
Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
Mark Twain