Florida Ford GT Owner Crashes Because He's "Unfamiliar" With Manual Transmission. $740,000 car

[Demovictory9]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/florida-ford-gt-owner-crashes-because-he-s-unfamiliar-with-manual-transmission/ar-AAWQj4s

The driver, 50-year-old Robert J. Guarini, told police he lost control after downshifting while leaving his housing development at around 6 p.m. This led to a head-on collision with a palm tree. Guarini then told a nearby security worker that he did not have his phone and needed a ride back to his house, where he spoke to police via landline after leaving the vehicle unattended, police say.

Facebook user John Peddle's photos from the crash site show that the damage is limited to the front third of the car. The hit was substantial enough to trigger multiple airbags and disable the vehicle. It's unclear how fast Guarini was going when the crash occurred, but the GT slid far enough after hitting the tree that it blocked a nearby sidewalk.

The car was not registered or insured when the crash occurred. The listed VIN indicates that the car was purchased at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach for $704,000 in early April, about the going price for a 2006 Heritage Edition GT. That would make replacement a very expensive endeavor.

Guarini was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license and a warning for operating an unregistered vehicle.

[IA8IT]

1. Has he started a GoFundMe yet?

[Srkdqltr]

2. Idiot, Idiot, Idiot!!!!

[mitch96]

12. I think he raises the bar to "feckin eejit"..

must be nice to have more money than brains...
m

[getagrip_already]

3. Not registered or insured, and he had a suspended license....

A $750k car, probably totaled.

Florida man.....

[Mr.Bill]

6. I doubt that it's totalled.

It can be fixed for much less than the purchase price. He could probably sell in in it's current condition for mid six figures.

[Demovictory9]

17. suspended license sign that he has prior DUI or driving issues

[questionseverything]

4. This belongs in the,more money than sense category

[sop]

5. Guarini probably went home to sober up after wrapping his GT around a palm tree.

[taxi]

13. It's an old trick

Being able to get a quick drink somewhere 'to calm the nerves' after a crash is a strategy for avoiding drinking and driving charges. Tests for alcohol don't indicate when the drinking was done - as long as he says he had a drink after the crash and doesn't admit to any before then there's no proof he was drinking and driving at the time of the crash. Claiming that his phone was at home if it was not could be a problem should the phone's location be looked into. Cheers, and remember to always walk, run, hitchhike, crawl, or swim to the nearest bar before answering any questions.

[Casady1]

7. He was probably

just at that age where driving a stick was not something you did. I still drive a manual and most people who stared driving in the late sixties can drive a stick as many cars came with manuals.. To me it is a little weird to lose control on a downshift. He must have hit the gas and turned sideways.

[Docreed2003]

8. What a freaking IDIOT!!!

A). Clearly he has more money than sense

B). What kind of moron takes his sports car for a spin and doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission??

C). Thankfully no innocent was injured in this debacle, except for that gorgeous car which is likely totaled

D). He clearly has more money than sense...this is just infuriating on so many levels and that point needed to be made twice 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[Demovictory9]

10. "gorgeous car"... I love the juxtaposition of the teal/peach car against the Florida blue sky/green

[Docreed2003]

15. I think I'd like it more if the front end wasn't bashed in 🤣🤣

Trying to find a pic of the car pre-crash.

[SheltieLover]

9. What an idiot!

[getagrip_already]

11. Road and track updated the story.....

Still sounds fishy, but more info.....

Guarini claims old tires, muddy pavement, and a fresh detailing were all factors causing the 550-horsepower supercar to swing out and hit a tree. The driver also told R&T the crash occurred as he shifted up into second gear from first, not while downshifting, as the official report says.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a39878521/florida-ford-gt-owner-crashes-because-hes-unfamiliar-with-manual-transmission/

[Best_man23]

18. He's really citing a "fresh detailing" as a contributor to his losing control?

Last time I checked, most detailers do not touch the tire treads on a car going back on the street. The only time they "detail" the tire treads is on a car to be statically displayed at an indoor show.

I blame his incompetence with driving a stick and underestimating the torque on a 500+ horsepower engine, along with not being familiar with how a mid-engine car handles (the handing is quite different from a front-engine, rear axle car). Mid-engine cars tend to push the front end as you steer into corners.

Perhaps he should have bought a four-cylinder or V-6 Fiero with a stick and learned how to drive that mid-engine car before getting behind the wheel of this GT40. Of course, I would recommend he get his license reinstated BEFORE getting behind the wheel of anything.

Clear case of more money than common sense.

[Blues Heron]

14. That'll buff out no prob

[OAITW r.2.0]

16. That's a problem. Doofus don't understand traction.

Watched a TT lock up on 295 South today, north of Portland, Maine. Idiot Diriver in front of TT going too slow. Then aluminum components. hit the ground. I ran over one and thought....new friggen tires yesterday....did I lose one? Something happened with the TT...tire punctures. Heavy rubber on the road...stayed well behind him/her. Pulled over....he/she was screwed.