Thats horrible man....I wish you the best of luck.

exploding manholes in NY are a common thing.....it happens alot especially in the winter when its REALLY cold....

 

Did you dealer check the car for alignment of chassis & body? You never know how hard this was hit???

 

Have you asked your insurance company about the implications of the car's loss in value? I mean, obviously this incident would have to be disclosed in any sort of conscientious sale of this vehicle. How much would you pay for it?

Good luck! I feel for you.

 

That really sucks and what bad luck, At least they are handling everything for you.

 

It looks f'in FREEZING in those pictures.

No exploding manholes here in So Cal

 

Actually I remember about 5 years ago just south of LAX a manhole cover blew off when an electrical transformer blew up. The explosion blew out a bunch of windows on an ajacent building. Fortunately it was 2 or 3 AM and no one was in the building or on the street at the time.

 

Thats exactly what I said to them. My car is now wrecked, any type of resale value is now gone and that played a big part in me buying this car. Again I get the "Just Tough Luck" quote. I really can't catch a break on this deal.

 

I think this will end up as one of those stories where it changes every time it's told from person to person, mini owner to mini owner! But, at least we got to hear the original version first!!!

 

WOW crazy story.. I mean if the boom was that loud I woul think it would have caused more damaged! Well... lesson learned dont park under manholes... Ya I know paking is scarce in NY.

 

Well, close... Little hard to park under a manhole...

 

I agree with you, I would fight to have the car totaled and make the Utility Company and or your insurance company buy you a new MINI. Far too much dammage could have been done that may not be evident on the once over at the body shop!

Yes the MINI is a tough little car, but I frankly wouldn't trust that specific MINI any more.

My heart goes out to you, Just barely gotten used to your MINI and then that happens!

 

Wow.....I've never heard of that happening before...weird.

Good luck with this whole "thing"

 

HAHAHHAHAHA Ops did I just say that? You know what I ment.

 

What? manholes blowing up? or it blowing up under a car? It happens ALL the time in NY. My aunt always tells me if you see a lot of steam comming out of one... GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Theres always tons of smoking manholes in NY... some smoke more than others...

 

Thanks for sharing your incredible "bad luck" story.
Shows the MINI is quite tough. Those manholes are not small. Maybe 50 to 70 pounds each.

Sorry to hear about your newish MINI but hoping that you get everything fixed up in a hurry.

Could be worse I guess if one got hit by a hurricane, tornado, mudslide, flood, avalanche,earth quake, tidal wave or LAVA. Ohh- total loss if it is lava.

 

Oh well good luck to you...

 

Well it's not that easy to just not park over the top of one. If you do happen to find a space on my street, which rarely ever happens, you have 9 chances that spot will be over a man hole. They cleared that side of the street to work on the others that day and I counted 8 other man holes. Why don't they put those out in the middle of the street?? I know they would have to close the street to work on it, but it is better than blowing up people's cars!!

Just got a call from the dealer late yesterday. He said it is going to be another week before they are done. Apparently they don't understand that Enterprise Rental has so kindly awarded me a 2003 Ford Focus!!

I just want my cooper back.

 

Actually it's much better to blow up stationary, unoccupied parked cars than those that are moving and contain people!

Actually the Focus is pretty much the only rental car there is that has any kind of tight steering. I owned one for years and it's the reason why I learned to love driving. But of course it is absolutely no MINI. When my MINI was repaired for a week, my rental was a Dodge NEON. Turn the wheel all you wanted, it still went straight. That is if you could get it to accelerate. I feared for my life in that thing.

 

Most of the smoking manholes in New York City are actually steam lines, their supposed to vent white smoke like that.

We have the same problem with exploding manhole covers in DC as well, although this year there haven't been any that I've heard of. Typically the manholes blow in areas where there are older underground utility systems. Most of NYC's infrastructure is easily 80 to 100 years old, DC has problems like this in Georgetown...