Impound Stories

[Gordo]

Thought I might start a thread to share the pain of any impound stories. Maybe we can learn what not to do by reading the experiences of others. I'm going to preface this by adding that I'm in no way condoning driving irresponsibly or like an idiot but I would say most have had a "spirited" moment or two. Prior to this I had not any any tickets in 15 years or longer.

Here is my story, happened in March of 2018, just 3 months into ownership of my GT1 RWD. I'll make it as brief as I can without sparing too many of the details. I was on my way to work at 6:00 am on a Friday, I had been taking surface streets for months and avoiding the freeways in an effort to protect my paint from rocks and debris and had just spent a small fortune completely wrapping the front end, full bumper, hood and fenders with clear film protection and was saving up to do the rockers and lower doors.

It was taking longer than normal so I decided to jump on the freeway for the last 4 miles or so. Slow car in front of me barely getting to 50 mph before dumping into the freeway lanes with a 70 mph speed limit. I saw the nightmare coming in my side mirror. Double trailer belly dump truck loaded with gravel, a few pick up trucks with big tires and a semi truck coming up quick behind. In trying to protect my investment, I saw a great open spot in front of us 5 lanes wide and no traffic. Quick decision, left blinker on and punched the throttle wide open well in advance of the upcoming threat. I quickly shot from 50 mph to full grin in a few seconds. I held it open for about 7 seconds or so without any traffic around me and straight line acceleration. I'm not an idiot and I do not ever endanger others. Little did I know that about a 1/8th of a mile past the on ramp a UHP State Trooper was lying in wait hidden and beneath an underpass. I didn't even know he was there, I had already coasted back down to just a few miles above the 70 mph speed limit when in my side mirror I saw headlights pop on in the far left lane, then 2 seconds later reds and blues flashing. I knew he had me and I quickly pulled over. I thought for sure I would get a hefty ticket and be on my way since I had a clean record up to that point. Instead I received stories of arrest and he asked if I knew i could get impounded. Apparently I was doing 108 mph when I passed him. Ooops. He impounded my vehicle on the spot. Harsh lesson learned. $400.00 impound release fee, $283.00 towing fee and $450.00 ticket and mandatory court appearance on two separate occasion. I could have just about paid for a Borla exhaust system once the justice system was done with me.

Anyway, be careful out there and learn from my lesson, this car is seriously fast and can get you into deep trouble even faster. I was only on the throttle a few seconds. Share your stories if you have any.

 

[JDM_Man]

I was driving "spirited" saw some lights, end of story.

 

[Waynerm002]

Yeah, this car can get up to speed real fast so you gotta be careful.

 

[Kazz]

Thought I might start a thread to share the pain of any impound stories. Maybe we can learn what not to do by reading the experiences of others. I'm going to preface this by adding that I'm in no way condoning driving irresponsibly or like an idiot but I would say most have had a "spirited" moment or two. Prior to this I had not any any tickets in 15 years or longer.

Here is my story, happened in March of 2018, just 3 months into ownership of my GT1 RWD. I'll make it as brief as I can without sparing too many of the details. I was on my way to work at 6:00 am on a Friday, I had been taking surface streets for months and avoiding the freeways in an effort to protect my paint from rocks and debris and had just spent a small fortune completely wrapping the front end, full bumper, hood and fenders with clear film protection and was saving up to do the rockers and lower doors.

It was taking longer than normal so I decided to jump on the freeway for the last 4 miles or so. Slow car in front of me barely getting to 50 mph before dumping into the freeway lanes with a 70 mph speed limit. I saw the nightmare coming in my side mirror. Double trailer belly dump truck loaded with gravel, a few pick up trucks with big tires and a semi truck coming up quick behind. In trying to protect my investment, I saw a great open spot in front of us 5 lanes wide and no traffic. Quick decision, left blinker on and punched the throttle wide open well in advance of the upcoming threat. I quickly shot from 50 mph to full grin in a few seconds. I held it open for about 7 seconds or so without any traffic around me and straight line acceleration. I'm not an idiot and I do not ever endanger others. Little did I know that about a 1/8th of a mile past the on ramp a UHP State Trooper was lying in wait hidden and beneath an underpass. I didn't even know he was there, I had already coasted back down to just a few miles above the 70 mph speed limit when in my side mirror I saw headlights pop on in the far left lane, then 2 seconds later reds and blues flashing. I knew he had me and I quickly pulled over. I thought for sure I would get a hefty ticket and be on my way since I had a clean record up to that point. Instead I received stories of arrest and he asked if I knew i could get impounded. Apparently I was doing 108 mph when I passed him. Ooops. He impounded my vehicle on the spot. Harsh lesson learned. $400.00 impound release fee, $283.00 towing fee and $450.00 ticket and mandatory court appearance on two separate occasion. I could have just about paid for a Borla exhaust system once the justice system was done with me.

Anyway, be careful out there and learn from my lesson, this car is seriously fast and can get you into deep trouble even faster. I was only on the throttle a few seconds. Share your stories if you have any.

Wow. Now that's a horror story.

But 108, bud. I'd hate to have to explain that to the missus.

 

[Gordo]

Wow. Now that's a horror story.

But 108, bud. I'd hate to have to explain that to the missus.

Your not kidding.... I was more afraid of what the Mrs. was going to say than the cop. When he asked me if there was anyone that could pick me up I said no. 6:00 am and the Mrs. still sleeping..... Trooper was kind enough to give me a ride in to work after that. Had him drop me off a half block away of course.

 

[Paihan Lee]

Your not kidding.... I was more afraid of what the Mrs. was going to say than the cop. When he asked me if there was anyone that could pick me up I said no. 6:00 am and the Mrs. still sleeping..... Trooper was kind enough to give me a ride in to work after that. Had him drop me off a half block away of course.

Thanks for posting this. It was a great reminder for me to be careful with my occasional lead foot. Drive safely, my friend.

 

[Gordo]

Yeah, this car can get up to speed real fast so you gotta be careful.

I drove in eco mode for the next 2 months after that

 

[jdogonroad]

Geez, you can get into trouble in Eco, too, just not as fast, but faster than most “normal” cars.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Wow. Now that's a horror story.

But 108, bud. I'd hate to have to explain that to the missus.

Yes, a horror story. But funny!

 

[Never thought]

Invest in a radar detector. Have had an escort for 10 years

 

[Gordo]

Yes, a horror story. But funny!

Yes, I can laugh about it now.

 

[Gordo]

Invest in a radar detector. Have had an escort for 10 years

For sure. I have an older model lying around somewhere. That would have come in handy.

 

[MerlintheMad]

108 is nothing for this car. No trouble at all.

I guess the universe is in balance, @Gordo. I have had THREE warnings for speeding, well, the last one was more for passing a cop who was going the speed limit of 45 down Big Cottonwood canyon and so he knew that I was over. But not that much over, just enough to get around him. "Do not pass a cop", he told me twice.

The time before that was leaving TX in April, only nine over the speed limit. The cop was a "good ol' boy" type, with the swagger, the gun butt sticking out, the drawl. "You were going a bit fast back there," he said (and I all but heard "son" at the end of it). He was in a good mood (all three cops were in a good mood; maybe my resignation and pleasant demeanor contributed to my good fortune). The first warning was going into TX on the same trip; fifteen over on the freeway (after that I kept my speed to nine above, as the second warning incident shows).

(I figure, these cops wanted to get a closer look at my car, it's being so new and still rare and all.)

Now, I have driven way faster than that. Carefully, mind you. Not bombing down the freeway fresh off an on ramp. I accelerate quickly, often, but do try my best to not go more than ten above, usually. Just this evening I violated that maxim, with my wife aboard: I very briefly hit 60 in a 35, but on a street that is the least likely to have any speed trap (aka cop with speed gun). I know the road well and only accelerate up the slight incline from the corner for the briefest of thrills: it's less than half a minute from our house. Earlier this evening, driving my son and his kids back to their house, I got to push fast from a traffic light. Again, before I got to 50 (in a 35) I backed off: just showing off the acceleration a bit, in Eco, but manual gate; got to 3rd gear is all; I described it to them as "a little doodle acceleration".

My most audacious escapade was in July, in Oregon, which I described here before, but the post is lost back in "What did you do to your Stinger today", I think. Anyway, here is the text again, since this is partly about what the car can do with ease; and we should never lose sight of that fact:

I got out of bed somewhat after four and was on the road by quarter to five. As I got to Portland's snarl of exits the NAV did not show what was in reality there, so I missed my exit and had to be rerouted. That didn't bother me much if at all. ... In fact, quite the opposite. I got on I-5 South, instead of I-84 east, and left the city.

The NAV took me down through central Oregon via two-lane highways. The forest scenery ... was gorgeous and the road very fun to drive. It dropped down to the wide open spaces and should have gotten quicker. But Oregon loves their 60 mph highways.

South of Burns all traffic virtually disappeared. I practically had Hwy 78 and 95 to myself.

The speed demon in my head whispered: "Dougy, you know that the NAV brought you here to play." And I didn't argue for even a second.

There was no traffic behind me, and none approaching. I stopped in the middle of the road, disengaged the traction and stability control, pressed the brake pedal and then the gas and let the brake go. The car took off, but not as fast as I had expected in "launch control" mode. What is more, I had forgotten that I had the shifter in manual gate and was supposed to do the shifting. Some "nanny" override compensated for my dumb oversight and killed the acceleration when first gear got into the red line. Man! It shifted up but the "whoosh!" was gone. That felt really weird. The car was in control, thank you Kia: you won't readily allow me to break my car!

After a couple of minutes I found another long, straight spot with visibility going forward and back a couple of miles, and stopped again. This time I put it in Sport (I had been in Smart the first time, which engages Sport when you floor it, that's why the LC worked at all, I guess, heh!). I launched and it went better. I took the top speed up to 130-something and then slowed down.

I was done with launch control. I wanted to try taking off from "auto hold" (a feature which allows you to hold the car stationary without having to put your foot on the brake). I put my left foot on the footrest, positioned my right foot just so over the gas pedal and gave it the guns (remembering to shift this time). Better! I did this a couple more times, trying out letting the car shift for itself, and then alternating using the paddle shifters.

I found the area between 4K and 5K RPMs to be the best shifting point; it doesn't waste any time shifting there; whereas if you take the RPMs up close to the red line (or c. 6K RPMs), it tends to shift with a little more delay, which kicks the RPMs even higher. So, I enjoyed all of that.

Then I decided it was the time and place to test speed. On two of my launches I had taken the speed up to well above a hundred. This time I was already going pretty quick, c. 70-something, nobody was around, fore or aft, so I put my boot in it, using 7th gear, watching the RPMs climb slowly and indicator clicking up and up, slowing as it passed 140. It reached 150 and I kept at it; the acceleration was still pretty good, about a mile per hour per second, I think. So in another c. five seconds I saw the indicator (the display, I wasn't watching the speedometer in any of these "tests") reach 155, my spontaneous "goal", and I backed off, and used the brakes to bring my speed down quickly (prior to this I had just let the car decelerate on its own without brakes).

That run was a rush! The car had been loping along the slightly undulating road surface, stable, smooth and quiet. I am sure I had a stupid grin all over my face.

Just a couple of minutes later I saw a sign that said, "Go slow. Prepare to stop." LOL! So I did that. And up ahead I could see a roadside guy with a Stop sign flipped toward me, and a single car already sitting. We sat for over five minutes while the released backed up opposing traffic came by. Then a truck with a "No Passing" sign in lights facing backwards took station in front of us (there were at least three of us by then) and led us for a few miles and then turned off and let us go. (I have no idea what that was about.)

The speed rush was still with me and I was satisfied with the day. I tried no more foolishness. There wasn't another opportunity anyway, there was traffic again; no spaces; no solitary road just for me.

Reviewing the video I shot at the end of sitting, waiting, and after we were given the go ahead, I see that there was rather more opposing traffic than I remembered: it explains why there was nobody coming toward me during my fun; making it possible, in fact. Without the long delay up ahead, I'd never have had the road to myself, and I would never have tried out all of that fun Stinger performance stuff! Serendipities of Life: and sometimes we actually notice soon enough to take advantage of them.

Okay! No impound story, yet. I have to add, that, at the time, I KNEW there were no cops anywhere near those highways, in my gut I knew it. And I don't drive that way or even look for opportunities to do so: that one was handed to me, almost metaphysically. Heh! I'm fully aware that if the cops paint you at over twice the speed limit that you can land your butt in jail on top of having your car impounded.

On my wife's test drive, in the carpool lane of I-15, she put her foot in it (no doubt in Comfort mode) and her response later was: "I was surprised to look down and see that I was doing over a hundred miles an hour!" Ya think?

So, yes, the Stinger can get anyone into trouble with the greatest of ease. I try to never ignore that, when considering a moment of "spirited driving" (love that euphemism!).