The Other Neff: AutoWeek writer escapes harm after rogue tire takes out her Fiesta
2010 Ford Fiesta – Click above for high-res image gallery
Much has been said about the new Fiesta that will soon anchor Ford's line up in the U.S. For all of the praise that its driving dynamics and killer sense of style have earned, we still don't know how safe it is in an accident. That's an important consideration for cars this small that may meet the business end of a Hummer grille one day. Well, one person knows how safe they are: AutoWeek Road Test Editor Natalie Neff (no relation, seriously, just a coinkydink).Her metallic green Fiesta media vehicle was recently attacked by a tire that had removed itself from an Oldsmobile Cutlass in oncoming traffic. As the story goes, the rampaging radial crossed the highway median and bounced up 20 feet in the air before it landed on Neff's windshield as she emerged from an overpass going 75 mph. Thankfully she's okay, or rather, thanks to the Fiesta, she's okay.
The tire left a skid mark on the Fiesta's hood and proceeded to transfer its kinetic energy to the windshield and roof of the car. Much destruction resulted and Neff says that she's still flossing bits of tempered glass from her teeth, but the use of ultra-high-strength boron steel in the Fiesta withstood a safety test that goes far beyond what NHTSA and IIHS has in store for the European import.
Gallery: Ford Fiesta in NYC
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rich 7:42PM (6/11/2009)
Ahem. We do know what a Fiesta performs like in a crash. Check the Euro NCAP Web site.
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HotRodzNKustoms 7:42PM (6/11/2009)
I'm glad she's ok. A lot of mishaps seem to be happening to these Fiestas percentage wise and I have yet to see one other than at Cars and Coffee.
Recently I had a similar experience when a 10 foot length of guard rail got shot at my windshield from under a semi while I was doing about 90. Luckily it didn't come all the way through the windshield and insurance covered the damage to the hood, windshield and top of my CLK.
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Art 7:45PM (6/11/2009)
hotrodzncustoms, and you drive a clk
go figure, right?
Protzenegger 7:47PM (6/11/2009)
Rough. Glad you escaped unscathed.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:55PM (6/11/2009)
@art
Actually... I somehow ended up with two of them! A 430 and a 320 and I bet you won't believe me when I say that I prefer my 320. Great cars as long as you do not expect every car you own to be a race car. But it's not the only car that won't fit in the garage that you wouldn't expect.
VW GTi 7:50PM (6/11/2009)
These Fiestas have had some bad luck in their stay in the U.S.
Good that she is OK.
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Autblogist! 8:00PM (6/11/2009)
HAAAWT!
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MemphisNET 8:11PM (6/11/2009)
Yay I dont have to be the creep that says it first...
.... just the one that agree's..
... damn...
chad.dawkins 10:19PM (6/11/2009)
Seems like she got the looks in the family.
Oh snap!
jv2k 8:00AM (6/12/2009)
I'd like to take the tires off her fiesta.
Jim in Tampa 8:52AM (6/12/2009)
I just looked at her blog pix. That killed the fantasy!
geo.stewart 9:05AM (6/12/2009)
I thought I recalled reading that John's significant other worked for Autoweek, or one of the trade rags; here on AB? ah well.
Sean 1:33PM (6/12/2009)
@Jim
Perspective... it's important.
eb110americana 8:20PM (6/11/2009)
And the driver of that Oldsmobile Cutlass was...
...Jeremy Clarkson!
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/04/i-top-gear-i-preview-clarkson-and-company-destroy-mitsubishi/
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AntBee 8:32PM (6/11/2009)
Glad to hear she's OK. What happened to her is one of my worst fears when driving sometimes. I think it comes from watching too many of those Final Destination movies.
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Willie 7:32PM (6/12/2009)
haha I was thinking the same thing.
TVs Hasselhoff 8:57PM (6/11/2009)
"The tire left a skid mark on the Fiesta's hood..."
I'm sure that wasn't the only skid mark that was left at the scene after the tire hit.
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Rich 9:00PM (6/11/2009)
After all those other comments wondering what's in her pants, your post is (for want of a better phrase) a breath of fresh air.
VW GTi 9:02PM (6/11/2009)
You can see the pictures on the Autoweek Website. There is clearly a tire mark on the hood.
Here is a link:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CW&Date=20090611&Category=FREE&ArtNo=611009996&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1
bc 9:49PM (6/11/2009)
Gee. When my 1990 Mazda 626 was broadsided by a GMC TopKick panel truck running a red light at 60+ mph, there was a tire mark running up what remained of the left rear door, but the hood, now that's impressive.