"The Beast" - Obama's car.

Technoprisoner

youd be doing well to find and 8 tonne jack to fit under that car lol

patwicklow

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Obama doesn't need a repost times 10 :P

every thing is done 10 times with obama look at the transport he had

Midnight_EG

patwicklow wrote: »

every thing is done 10 times with obama look at the transport he had

His sex life must be amazing so :rolleyes:

TestTransmission

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Obama doesn't need a repost times 10 :P

ah,you're just annoyed no one posted on your thread!!

Northern Monkey

patwicklow wrote: »

goes to prove the state of are over taxed roads....

Technically that is American soil not Irish!

WIZE

TestTransmission wrote: »

ah,you're just annoyed no one posted on your thread!!

Sorry Midnight_EG I went to post in your Thread but its locked

Alanstrainor

WIZE wrote: »

Sorry Midnight_EG I went to post in your Thread but its locked

Some bastard locked it:mad:

Midnight_EG

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Some bastard locked it:mad:

Musn't have liked my joke so

TestTransmission

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Musn't have liked my joke so

Technoprisoner

looks like he found one

Voodoomelon

It actually looks like the suspension failed in some way if you watch some of the other videos, the front wheels collapse inwards.

Irish Fire

Ah "the beast".... She's bombproof....... She's Bulletproof....... She has anti missile radar...... but she's not ramp proof, bit like H.R.H.'s Range Rover....... oh and 8 mile to the gallon......

DublinDilbert

Voodoomelon wrote: »

It actually looks like the suspension failed in some way if you watch some of the other videos, the front wheels collapse inwards.

I think it's a hydrostatic self levelling suspension, like what was on the old citrons. When the fluid rushed to the rear the front dropped down. It's a serious design flaw if it is this, an air suspension would of allowed them to raise the vehicle and drive over such obstacles...

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Matt Simis

Plowman wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I think they had Irish plates if that narrows it down. I thought they looked well, unlike the monstrosity the Americans brought to the party.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

mickdw

Some of the bmws were left hand drive. I believe they have been supplier by BMW Ireland for the duration of these visits. I dont know why the left hand drive - maybe specially fitted out cars from germany or something

Chuck Stone

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I think it would be much better if he had about 20 fiat puntos and 19 look-a-likes.

Haha!

Brilliant mental image just there of a sniper watching 20 little yellow Puntos flying down the road, zipping in and out in front of and behind each other and all over the place, with the sniper trying to figure out which one's which.

Fey!

I wouldn't mind getting my paws on one of those 7 series; I think that they look really well.

You'd think that someone would have thought to bring a towrope just in case!!

Eric Cartman

mickdw wrote: »

Some of the bmws were left hand drive. I believe they have been supplier by BMW Ireland for the duration of these visits. I dont know why the left hand drive - maybe specially fitted out cars from germany or something

id say they were the factory armoured ones, id say the chances of them sitting around anywhere in rhd are quite low, id say they were just brought over from munich last week , regd as a favour and theyll be returned next week

johnos1984

I believe it fell foul of the latest Taliban plot

fonecrusher1

Its no octavia.

:pac:

mickdw

The 7 series had not alot to spare either coming out the gate.

coylemj

RTE News tweeted this earlier...

rabbitinlights

Great picture!

It weights 9 tons supposedly, so doubt many normal removal trucks could have moved it.

S.

delly

Apparently the bmw's are supplied direct from Germany for escort duties and not just as a one off for little old us. They get good publicity in exchange for there use, although it would be interesting to see if any money changed hands.

WIZE

Looking at the Video Again , How did the Car not have issues driving into the Embassy

G Luxel

The car at the embassy isnt ''The Beast'' but its one of the older Bushmobiles from 1999 onwards. They are based on a Deville but are really GMC truck chassis with cadillac styling...........:)

Voodoomelon

The 7s are at least 750s, possibly 760s, judging by the exhaust pipes.

Voodoomelon

Love that chap that shouts out "do you need a push?".

alexlyons

Irish Fire wrote: »

oh and 8 mile to the gallon......

that's not bad, I was expecting 8 gallon to the mile

Paulw

WIZE wrote: »

How did the Car not have issues driving into the Embassy

I can only assume it drove in the other gate, the one they then had to go back to to get out.

haymur

The Queens Range Rover and the BMW behind it were armour plated and must have been imported for the event but the glass was only half as thick as The beast it must have had very special tyres to hold 9 tons on fairly narrow wheels with no sign of flat bulge on the bottom

meercat

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

peasant

Fey! wrote: »

I wouldn't mind getting my paws on one of those 7 series; I think that they look really well.

yours for 285 k


http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=de&id=130473509&pageNumber=1&__lp=1&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gepanzert&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&tabNumber=2

Armored vechicle RIDA on the base of BMW 760 Li, according to CEN B6+ (also protected: roof, floor, engine, fuel tank).
Only CERTIFIED materials are used (Ulm, Germany).

Standard features: upgraded suspension (heavy duty), fire suppression system of the engine, integral armour of the doors including window frames, all windows are electrically operable, run-flat system, intercom (internal/external), reinforced door hinges, protected engine control unit and battery, spare wheel, fuel tank protection, flashing front strobe lights, tinted windows. Other options available upon request
Class of protection:
B6: 7,62 x 51 mm FMJ/PB/SC, 5,56 x 45 mm FJ/PB/SCP SS 109, FNB
additionally: Dragunov 7,62 x 54 mm 57-Н-323С, Kalaschnikov 7,62 x 39 mm 57-Н-231 thermo strengthened.
Guarantee: 2 years or 40,000 km, 5 years for glass

This is a German vehicle.

Location: Germany
Production time: 1 month from the date of order

Sofiztikated

peasant wrote: »

yours for 285 k


http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=de&id=130473509&pageNumber=1&__lp=1&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gepanzert&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&tabNumber=2

Does it come with an Mpack and in diesel?

:pac:

SRBRGS

5581554710_b515a00aab.jpg

A possible option for his next visit??

JMSE

meercat wrote: »

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

I think there is a plate visible on the concrete in the middle of the two gates where the pin drops down into as you see on any driveway. I also think that the BMW rubs off this as it goes over, theres definitely a sound. Then the longer chassis of the beast goes over and catches on it. Ok the beast should have ripped it right out of the ground but this is the US Embassy and is probably a bombproof fitting.

meercat

JMSE wrote: »

I think there is a plate visible on the concrete in the middle of the two gates where the pin drops down into as you see on any driveway. I also think that the BMW rubs off this as it goes over, theres definitely a sound. Then the longer chassis of the beast goes over and catches on it. Ok the beast should have ripped it right out of the ground but this is the US Embassy and is probably a bombproof fitting.

the tow truck operator said on the joe duffy show today that the suspension collapsed and the vehicle was immobilised
surely a pin shouldnt have caused this on" the beast"
looked at the video again and it looks like the car drops onto the retaining spud for the gates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BvABn7L_So

JMSE

Yeah heard that alright, but I think the car hit the plate and that caused the collapse in the front suspension. Sounded a bit of a stretch though when he said the American cars use different lifting points. If you look at the vid you can feel the crowd going 'ouch' when the beemer goes over and catches, then you can just see whats about to happen with the longer car.

My edit to see your edit :-)
I dont mean the pin in the gate, I mean the plate/spud on the ground

Rovi

Is it possible that there's some sort of self-levelling system (or something along those lines) that simply got over-extended by the sharp ramp it evidently had to negotiate to get through the gate?
Or possibly some hydraulic or electrical thingummy to do with the suspension system got damaged on the ramp?

I'd be amazed if it was a simple metal fatigue or wear-and-tear failure; wouldn't these things be scrupulously maintained and inspected to ensure their utter reliability at all times?

slinky2000

Wouldn't be too good in a multistory then :P

theonlyking

that car should be renamed the beached lol

cadaliac

Rovi wrote: »

Is it possible that there's some sort of self-levelling system (or something along those lines) that simply got over-extended by the sharp ramp it evidently had to negotiate to get through the gate?
Or possibly some hydraulic or electrical thingummy to do with the suspension system got damaged on the ramp?

I'd be amazed if it was a simple metal fatigue or wear-and-tear failure; wouldn't these things be scrupulously maintained and inspected to ensure their utter reliability at all times?

+1
The car would be checked for bombs etc. let alone fundamental mechanical checks.

If you look when the car is stuck, the front wheels are tucked up and in the front wheel arches.
There is a huge air gap between the rear wheels and the rear wheel arches.
This indicates to me that there is a self leveling system in place. If there wasn't, the space between the wheel and the wheel arches would be the same.
Also, the car just "banged" down on the ramp, compounding the mix of the front suspension lowering and the height of the ramp in one - making the hideous sound that it made when it made the contact.

JMSE

The spud took out whatever was right there underneath where the spud contacted. Gearbox output, propshaft for fwd?, crossmember under gearbox, torsion bar for suspension? Whatever it was it took out the drive capability because the first thing you would expect the driver to do would be to try and rock the car off the thing with forward and reverse but he doesnt, the drive is gone.

Tea 1000

JMSE wrote: »

The spud took out whatever was right there underneath where the spud contacted. Gearbox output, propshaft for fwd?, crossmember under gearbox, torsion bar for suspension? Whatever it was it took out the drive capability because the first thing you would expect the driver to do would be to try and rock the car off the thing with forward and reverse but he doesnt, the drive is gone.

There is absolutely no hope that the spud broke anything on the car. The thing is bomb proof. A little metal spike won't break it. It was the suspension that self-levelled or malfunctioned and sat the car down. With the weight of it, no amount of rocking would have gotten it free.

Casey87

I think there was no suspension prob, its THE BEAST, look at the back the wheels are nearly off the ground, the weight at the front(engine, box + steel and glass) has it sitting on its suspension!! If it was a suspension it wouldnt have malfunctioned so quick!

dell1211

JMSE wrote: »

The spud took out whatever was right there underneath where the spud contacted. Gearbox output, propshaft for fwd?, crossmember under gearbox, torsion bar for suspension? Whatever it was it took out the drive capability because the first thing you would expect the driver to do would be to try and rock the car off the thing with forward and reverse but he doesnt, the drive is gone.

as was said above, the floor is a solid armour plated sheet so the spud would not be capabale of penetrating anything

Padraig Mor

meercat wrote: »

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

This is what I thought TBH.

GeneHunt

You can clearly hear the 7 series hitting the steel plate on the ground just before "The Beast" is impaled on the ramp here (Part 1). Sounds like the driver of the beast did try to reverse back - Well it sounds like the gear box getting a spin @0.24sec!!!:eek: Part 2 here too

TV3 had a good view point too (here)

It was also mentioned on Liveline yesterday here for the first 8 minutes of Liveline.

Bet this ramp/gate will be changed in the coming months so we will not see a repeat of this again... This was a major oversight by someone planning this visit. Local knowledge by Embassy staff should have known a car of a 7 series size (wheelbase) can clip that steel plate on the ground, common sense would have shown a longer car would be in trouble...

meercat wrote: »

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

I don't believe that there was a "security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)" because theses cars are transported by cargo planes which have much higher ramps for the cars to climb, I think that little steel plate hit and pulled the gear box or the sub frame back as the car travelled forward and caused the front suspension to collapse, I found this photo which shows what I think is the drive shaft hanging down under the car (between the guy on the phone and the front wheel)....




Rumour has it that Barack is to return to Ireland with this car:cool: