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$845,000 Porsche 918 Spyder burns to the ground in Canadian gas station
yahoo finance canada ^ | sept 29 2014 | Alex Lloyd

Posted on 09/29/2014 7:33:59 PM PDT by xp38

Because of its nature as one of the priciest, fastest, rarest super cars in existence, a Porsche 918 Spyder involved in any kind of incident will make headlines. But when one burns to the ground in a Canadian gas station, well, that goes viral.

The 893 hp hybrid hyper car is reportedly owned by Michael Werkerle, the CEO of investment firm Difference Capital and star of CBC's Dragon's Den (Canada's equivalent of Shark Tank). Witnesses state that gas spilled during the car's refueling in a Toronto gas station and ignited via the twin exhaust pipes. Those pipes protrude upwards from the engine compartment, rather than exiting out back like most other vehicles. The near-$900,000 Porsche was captured engulfed in flames by various onlookers with their cell phones. According to AutoGuide, Porsche of Canada is aware of the incident and will provide technical resources to those investigating, but as of yet does not know what occurred. Porsche has dealt with its fair share of fire-related incidents of late, as it recalled all its 911 GT3s due to engine fires in February.

Fortunately all involved in this blaze are said to be unharmed, although Werkerle's 918 Spyder is toast. May we suggest the Dragon's Den star's next move involves investing in an insurance company. (Just not the one footing this bill.)


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: porsche918
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To: xp38
Another angle


61 posted on 09/30/2014 9:51:22 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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To: thackney

Yep I saw that shot but couldn’t get it to post so thanks. As the poster above says this is mostly the fault of the driver who squeegeed the overflow fuel towards the engine but the closeness of the fuel cap and the engine sure didn’t help. So we have 3 causes here....potential faulty fuel pump, driver and design. Nevertheless if the driver had left the overflow fuel alone it likely would have evaporated and his expensive toy would be in his garage as it was meant to be instead of a crispy hulk.


62 posted on 09/30/2014 10:19:54 AM PDT by xp38
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To: jjotto
Ten pounds per horsepower makes a vehicle dangerously fast. The 918 would be half that or less.

Check out the Koenigsegg One:1. It has one horsepower per kilogram. There is a Youtube video of an auto journalist in Great Britain who was allowed to take one of the two existing prototypes out on the track. His giddy comment during the test drive - "this makes a Veyron feel sluggish."

63 posted on 09/30/2014 10:42:21 AM PDT by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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To: xp38
Another news item on this said he took delivery on Sept 3rd....didn’t even get a full month usage out of it.

Probably his first fill up too.........

64 posted on 09/30/2014 10:46:49 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Don't harsh my buzz homie......)
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To: wardaddy

The best car I ever had or ever will have was a 65 Olds Delta 88. It had a 425 C.I. Rocket V-8, 360 HP. Obviously not a dragster but still ample power. Probably the most surprising thing was how nimbly the large car handled.

It was my Father’s first then my older Brother’s then mine. During it’s lifetime it had two water pumps installed, an AC compressor seal replaced and the alternator rebuilt. I don’t think it had anything else done to it.

The posi-traction made a slight noise the last hundred thousand miles but never tore up. I sold it to a Mexican who worked for me. The water pump had begun to make a noise so I guess that would make 4 in all. 250,000 miles and still not using oil

That old car was just fun to drive. You could cruise the interstate all day at 80 with the AC on and it never minded.

Just before we got married, my wife bought a new Olds Cutlas Supreme. It had a 350 but got worse gas mileage than the old 65.


65 posted on 09/30/2014 3:56:03 PM PDT by yarddog (G)
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To: yarddog

My dads pal owned Van Trow Oldsmobile...he moved to Winston Salem and started a Ford truck dealership

We had lots of Oldsmobile’s including Tornados..66/67

Cutlass and Ninety Eights.....

A friend of mines ultra hot mom had an orange peel 88 convertible...white vinyl interior...it fit her....

My wife’s high school first love had a 442 black....bench with Hurst Tee

Believe me...I never hear the end of that car and the nostalgia for her misspent youth...lol

My folks wouldn’t allow muscle....my first car was an MGB GT yellow.....1968

They wouldnt allow bikes either so I snuck off and bought a 74 Kawasaki H2 750 TWO STROKE

my 15 year pleads he can drive his KTM off road bike he rides on our 10 acres to 9th grade on MC license in TN

MY REPLY

nyet......I buried too many pals on bikes...I am my parents


66 posted on 09/30/2014 6:27:22 PM PDT by wardaddy (Ferguson MO...but i thought blacks went north to escape the racism of mean ol southerners)
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To: wardaddy

My first Olds was a 62 88 station wagon. It had a 394 with a two barrel I bought it well used from Billy Graham. Not the famous one, a football player at Troy.

It was not at all powerful but was reliable. One thing I do remember fondly was it had the best sounding radio I ever had. It was an AM only and full of tubes.


67 posted on 09/30/2014 7:17:05 PM PDT by yarddog (G)
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