Have the brakes on my GTi saved my life?

[mac7]

It's moments like that one which make it worth buying a brand new car with the latest safety features. As above, good to hear no one was hurt.

[andykram]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Mine's on Conti Sport Contact 2s. I have no idea whether they're better than anything else that gets put on the GTi but they've done their job this morning. I've had a few close shaves in my time but this isthe closest by far. One of those "life flashes in front of you" moments. It really put the willies up me. The lorry driver meanwhile said he hadn't seen the poor Clio driver due to the sun. Usual scenario.

Is there anything to damage underneath the car from running over the debris? How well protected is the cat for example?

[andykram]

O, and by the way, I'm going to toast my lovely car now with one humungous single malt!!!!

[ub7rm]

As has been said the mk5's and 6's have emergency brake assist.  Never felt it in operation but good to hear it does its job 

[DWGTI]

It's moments like that one which make it worth buying a brand new car with the latest safety features. As above, good to hear no one was hurt.

Good point, my Mk3 would never make it through that scenario. Glad your in one piece! Yet another reason to get the  new Golf, just told the missus!(justification)

[FroGTI]

Good to hear you're ok. Well done you and the GTI for surviving unscathed. Was the underpants remark true? I've always wondered if that really does happen, or whether it's just some kind of urban myth/tv joke?

[R32UK]

Good to hear your ok and nothing was damaged in the incident.

You were driving along at quite a steady pace and only had to brake hard once, the brakes have obviously performed the task they were asked to do so. However when pushing along quite a bit you will find that the GTI brakes are quite pants tbh, and do suffer from serious brake fade when pushed hard.

i know some of you have a phobia of other boards on this forum.. but I would suggest popping over to the MK5 board from time to time, especially as the mk5 and mk6 share so many parts.

[andykram]

Well, managed to get to work and back unscathed this morning without being attacked by random lorries or cars that lorries barge out of the way.
That brake assist must really have done its job - when I think back to it now in the cold light of day the stopping distance did seem very short for an emergency stop from 70+ to nothing. And Frog, no I didn't quite poo my pants but I wouldn't have been afraid to admit it if I had. Scared doesn't even begin to describe it!!!
And in an effort to show I'm not totally blinkered towards my Golf I must congratulate Renault for ensuring the other guy got out of the wreckage in one piece. It's a 5* NCAP car and it showed cos, despite the wreckage, the passenger shell was intact.
R32, I'll bear in mind the brake fade next time I'm screwing the car round some country roads - that, however, may well be a while yet though!!!!