Seen a few 'oh my god, my car oversteers' threads in recent weeks..

 

From the sounds of it, most were brown-trouser moments, not what was intended etc. Which perplexes me really. Ever since my first RWD car (Omega 2.5TD) i've been utterly converted to the realm of steering with the rear axle as much as the front. The thought of owning a private FWD box makes me shudder with discomfort. Its not that FWD can't be fun, but there's nothing like a modest serving of oversteer to get the heart beating.

 

I'd almost assumed that everyone on here would be similarly converted to this line of thinking. Im guessing I'm wrong on that one?

 

As I'm writing this I've just returned from a 45 minute tour of my favourite roundabouts and industrial estates (and no, I wasn't dogging). How many others out there indulge in this somewhat illicit pleasure? I don't advocate dicking about on her majesty's highway, but I think if you are responsible you should be able to enjoy driving your car (god knows it costs enough for us lot).

 

Don't get me wrong - I didn't watch Tokyo Drift and start doin doughnuts in Tesco's car park, but a little fun is what these cars is all about, no?

 

How do you lot get your driving kicks?

 

Cheers

i like to step the back end out to remind me how easy it can happen if you dont want it. by doing so im increasing my skill in handling the situation if it ever arises unexpectedly. naturally dialing in the right amount of counter steering to pull it back in line without spinning the other way around.

 

getting fairly handy at it. im no drift king but know how to handle my z ;)

im with you there pal. and a story very similar to me:). started with a 2.0 16v omega:rofl: car was a scrapper but loved drifting. im hucked now and cant wait to use the LSD on the 300:)

 

R.I.P Omega...

 

Always fancied a MV6, a very versatile car - great for taking lots of people and luggage long distances, but thats another subject.

 

Was driving around a soggy Milton Keynes the other day in my Astravan thinking 'if only I had my Zed'... I'm seriously considering moving there just for all those lovely large-radius roundabouts:tongue_smilie:

 

Nice one guys:thumbup:

i've had it step out a couple of times unexpectedly, it is a little worrying, I think it would be good experience to purpously put myself in these situations in a controlled environment, because as you say, its good to instinctively know how to deal with an oversteering situation..

 

When i have a bit of cash, i'll invest in some 'new' old wheels to put on when i fancy giving it a try.

 

cheers

 

Sky

it all comes natural . when the arse goes left , the front goes left .if it goes right then you gotta hit the load peddle . if that dont work then usually its time to sh1t yourself .

Oh drifting, one of my favourite things, thats why i own a 200sx and a 300zx :), the 300 isnt a happy drifter, i can tell you that for a fact. Unless of course you are a lucky sod who doesnt have HICAS :).

i too bought a zed partly to get a bit of 'arse out action' on the big roundabouts lol (not the kind of action your all thinking!!!) i love to let the tail step out a little when the roads are moist, but only when the roads are empty. i did nearly torque steer intoa golf today though lol, well, i was miles away, but he still flashed me lol. a little bit of sideways on the way to work makes my day 8-)

I don't mind when I'm driving in a way to anticipate it, but when I'm pootling back from Tesco with a weekly shop, and driving slowly, I don't expect any rear end action lol! And if it happened with Tasha in the car....well, lets just say the hunt for our family car is full on this weekend...

I'd like to explore the handling more. At lower speeds I can step the back end out and hold it out but I guess you need balls of steel to attempt a corner like it?

Was driving around a soggy Milton Keynes the other day in my Astravan thinking 'if only I had my Zed'... I'm seriously considering moving there just for all those lovely large-radius roundabouts:tongue_smilie:

 

 

:biggrin: It is good :biggrin:

 

Car stepped out on me last night in a straight line, caught it straight away as I was expecting it... I've learnt to never let my guard down in this car!

the last couple of day my rear end has been out when ever the road is clear and theres a nice wide little bend, just incase i do loose it there is ganna be no accidents, great fun!!!

i used to have some great fun in an old mark 4 cortina . not the sportyest car i know but great fun . i could get the arse out so easy in that car and just flick it back in with a dab of throttle and opposite lock . fwd is so bloody boring

Oh drifting, one of my favourite things, thats why i own a 200sx and a 300zx :), the 300 isnt a happy drifter, i can tell you that for a fact. Unless of course you are a lucky sod who doesnt have HICAS :).

 

Have to disagree with you on this one. My car still has HICAS but is very predictable - lets go smoothly and is easy to hold at an angle. This may because I have the cheapest rear tyres known to man which are fine in the dry but rubbish in the wet (4th gear wheelspin is not uncommon).

 

My old skyline was good fun in the wet, but having no LSD it was difficult to keep slides going without a bootful of throttle to keep the rears unstuck. The Zed on the other hand is superb. I've done two full revolutions of a roundabout sideways, with a minimum of fuss - no hacksawing at the wheel, just nice and steady using the torque of the engine to adjust my line.

 

It fairness the Zed is a bit more intimidating than the skyline was, due to its size and particularly its girth - but I would say its a fine handling car below and above the limits of traction. That said, I have been doing this kinda thing a while and didnt try anything exciting until I was comfortable with the car (i.e: after a couple of months of sensible driving).

 

As Sky89 says - its probably advisable to learn how your car handles beyond the limit, before you're in an emergency situation. My advice is keep your speed well down to start with and get a good understanding of the basics - find somewhere quiet and away from other road users too.

 

But most of all, enjoy your car and respect its potential.

i cant say im convinced if im honest - too many other cars around to hit if you get it even slightly wrong. Maybe i need to find a nice big empty roundabout at night to get over my fear of oversteer on public roads.

 

Ive done a lot of trackdays and drift days in an mx5 and a 328i, when the back steps out there its awesome and nicely balancable, but still a long way from trying it on the road. Im mainly buying a zed for overtakes - thats my poison on the queens highway :)

i cant say im convinced if im honest - too many other cars around to hit if you get it even slightly wrong. Maybe i need to find a nice big empty roundabout at night to get over my fear of oversteer on public roads.

 

Ive done a lot of trackdays and drift days in an mx5 and a 328i, when the back steps out there its awesome and nicely balancable, but still a long way from trying it on the road. Im mainly buying a zed for overtakes - thats my poison on the queens highway :)

 

Thats exactly right. Me and my mate used to go out after midnight to a local industrial estate with 3 roundabouts of various sizes. We would lap around for hrs without seeing another vehicle. Perfect conditions for learning how your car handles. If you can drift on track then thats pretty impressive, but I'm not sure I'd ever try drifting on a highway. I have a few favourite bends where I know I can kick the backend out (pretty safely) but generally I try to stick to out-of-town areas with low traffic density at off-peak times.

i did my first donut today in the works yard lol, much fun, but very childish. also had to scrub the tyre marks off cuz the boss was pissed lol

Oh drifting, one of my favourite things, thats why i own a 200sx and a 300zx :), the 300 isnt a happy drifter, i can tell you that for a fact. Unless of course you are a lucky sod who doesnt have HICAS :).

 

Na with a tt engine, the RIGHT combination ;)

My truck goes sideaways at the drop of a hat !

 

Alan.........

i did my first donut today in the works yard lol, much fun, but very childish. also had to scrub the tyre marks off cuz the boss was pissed lol

 

Absolute Fascist. Your boss was pi55ed cos he can't get it up and his missus is thinking about shagging their neighbour's son:ohmy:

 

No doubt there was some drawn out lecture on the company image and how it just wouldn't do to have cool as fook skid marks all over the car park.

 

Good on ye son, next time do it outside his house!!!:whistling:

I love a medium size roundabout near me. You can see across it so no pedestrians, cars coming or anything, then into it at 45-50, boot it, squeel, boot it again and it really steps out.Lovely.......Then go round for another go :tt2:

I'm a bit of a RWD fan, even the sensible 4 seater car is a 4.4 v8 manual 540.

seems lots of you need to learn the difference between powerslide and drifting. ;-)

seems lots of you need to learn the difference between powerslide and drifting. ;-)

 

Please enlighten us, oh learned one!

I used to love my MR2 in the corners, one of very few cars you can just kick the end out and steer round the corner with the accelerator without having to crap yourself knowing it'll be a bugger to reign back in :D

 

Perfectly balanced 50/50 which is what i'm aiming for with the V8 fingers crossed. It's definitely got the torque to lose the back end but handlingwise not a clue :rofl:

 

Shall look forward to having an experiment around some private land :)

My experience of MR2s is that they stick like the 'proverbial' to a blanket!! Took a mkII rev 2 for a 'test drive' and was amazed how well it hung on, not sure I'd fancy trying to slide one, but I guess with a bit of familiarity and confidence you could.

 

Looking forward to seeing your V8 finished - was considering popping over on sunday to see how things were going, but after reading your thread I can see that its probably going to be finished very soon, so I will wait another week or so, then come over for a bit of a play - hopefully we can find some, ahem, 'private land' then!

 

Good luck with the MOT Nick

 

Cheers

the 300 was a lot easier to control and a lot less prone to stepping out like my supra but both are still very easy to master where as my old mk2 1800 warrior was utterly unpredictable and once it did go you were very lucky to have any control other than steering in

My experience of MR2s is that they stick like the 'proverbial' to a blanket!! Took a mkII rev 2 for a 'test drive' and was amazed how well it hung on, not sure I'd fancy trying to slide one, but I guess with a bit of familiarity and confidence you could.

 

Looking forward to seeing your V8 finished - was considering popping over on sunday to see how things were going, but after reading your thread I can see that its probably going to be finished very soon, so I will wait another week or so, then come over for a bit of a play - hopefully we can find some, ahem, 'private land' then!

 

Good luck with the MOT Nick

 

Cheers

 

They really do hold on well but when they do go it only takes a little provoking and they're off out sideways although not as much as an ex work colleagues MX5 mk1 :D

 

He'd been riding a bike for 5 years prior to this and this was his first road car in years. It was the first wet day he'd been out in it and i saw him boot it coming out the roundabout and span 3 times before coming to rest backward across the other side, sat there for 2 seconds with a huge grin on his face and stuck two thumbs up at me laughing :rofl: Bless him the daft bugger lol

 

You're always more than welcome to pop over buddy, you've got my number (i think!) from the last time you were here but you may as well leave it till the beast is on the road before you come to see it as it's pretty much done now. Working on it all this week to get it on the road taxed and tested before the weekend for the tunnel run then i'll invite all the midland lot round for a bbq :)

 

I've deliberately mounted all the weight behind and below the wheels to get as neutral handling a car as possible so even though it will be twitchy i won't be wrestling it in the event of a slide