Looks like Opel are giving Toyota a run for their money for the tag line ‘Best Built Cars in the World’. Especially if this story from Cork is anything to go by...
Storm Christine left a wake of destruction in its path as it passed over Ireland last week, but there was some good news for one family in Cork after their car was battered by the swelling sea.
Having set off on their routine morning commute last Monday, past the popular Tragumna Beach near Skibbereen, Celine Jackson, along with her son Aaron and German exchange student Sid, were forced to abandon their 2006 Opel Astra, when it was engulfed by a wave of water.
The family managed to escape to safety by scaling the adjoining embankment, and watched on as their car was swept by the tide nearly 10 metres along the roadway.
The car was battered by incoming waves for a solid two hours before the tide receded leaving the Astra surrounded by debris. Fearing the worst, Celine's husband Rory started making arrangements to have the car towed away, but on closer inspection he found that the engine and battery were working just fine.
Rory commented: "I had arranged to have the car towed away for insurance as soon as possible expecting the worst. When the Astra was finally accessible I inspected the car and was pleasantly shocked to discover that it was completely dry inside and important valuables such as the laptop and school books were undamaged.
“I checked the engine and battery thinking that there would be severe damage. All was clean and looked okay apart from the debris in between the wheels and underneath. On turning the key it started immediately and I drove it back to my house!"
Now that’s what we call a metallic-silver lining…
Pics via Aine Hayes
