I come from driving FWD Vehicles all my life and this is the first RWD I have had as my car. I have driven them before but never the amount I will be driving my car. So, I see allot of people make comments like you must get used to your RWD car before trying to push things. So, my questions is what are some helpful tips or techniques that I could do to better get used to my car and it's limits. I want to drive with the TCD Off like many of you say but as some of you also say that it can be dangerous if you don't know what your doing. So, what I am looking for here are simple things to look our for in driving this car, in Layman terms how is this car differn't then my FWD cars of the past. I just looking for some imput and breakdowns on some of these terms I see floatly around like oversteer, understeer etc etc. So, any imput would be much appreciated. I want to take my VDC off but I am no expert driver especially with RWD vehicles so any help or breakdown of things would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

Attend a high-performance driving school, check out a local autocross.

 

if you wanna live put ur VDC on. if you wanna die turn it off.

 

Good suggestions^. As for the VDC, it probably would be best to leave it on while on the streets, at least until you get some experience under your belt.

Short of the schools, especially if you're short on money, is to find an empty parking lot and explore the limits. Really, you need to know how to catch the rear if it starts stepping out on you. Basically, if you know how far you can push it before the rear breaks loose, you're much better off. Some practice in catching the rear and avoiding a spin is great too.

Just know the car's limits and how best to correct/control it when those limits are exceded.

 

I think a local autocross would be more beneficial - an empty parking lot won't have any points of reference but you'd have gates and cones as references at an autox. Besides, it's dirt cheap to partcipate in them.

 

^^^^ Well please try and explain how to catch the rear as you say? Some tips along these lines to practice in a parking lot is what I'm looking for. You say know the limits of what your car can do so my questions is in finding this limit could I not roll my car or is that pretty next to impossible to do? Again sorry for not being as versed as others.

 

Rolling this car would be a freakin' miracle - too low, too big a tires. That being said, I'm sure that someone has done it.

These suggestions have all been right on. Get some track time, instruction, auto-x, etc. under your belt with ANY RWD car. The best way to learn is to experience it. If you can find a non-parking lot auto-x on a road course that would be ideal. I did that locally at Blackhawk Farms in Rockton a bunch of times with my Z and there is NO better way to learn what you and the car are capable of!

The big difference between RWD and FWD is when and where you'll "lose" it. When you lose the azz end in a RWD car the easiest way out is to steer INTO the direction your rear end is going, if it's sliding out to the passenger side, adjust by steering to the right until you're starting to come back under control. One way to practice might be to hit a big open parking lot in the rain and TRY to break the rear end loose so you know what it feels like. When you get used to breaking it loose try and break it out and then control it back. You'll want VDC off for this kind of thing so you know how it really feels. Until you get used to it though, keep it on for regular driving.

Unlike many people here (apparently) I grew up w/ RWD cars and actually HATE FWD cars. I've owned one and the only thing it was good for was plowing through snow, once you start to slide in one of those though, just pray your headed for open area!

Another fun and basically harmless way to learn to control RWD is hit a go kart track. Same principals, try to get the rear end loose and then back under control.

 

You'll slide before you roll, but for an extra margin of safety get some practice in while the lot is wet. Things will be harder, but you'll learn that much faster.

I agree that an AutoX course would be good for learning better control, but in terms of finding out at what point the rear breaks loose, and how you can catch it, it's hard to beat an empty lot.

As far as how you "catch" the rearend, that will be a natural response after some practice. The first thing is finding at what point the rear breaks free. Then you begin to skirt that point, finding out how close you can get before she slides the *** out. Once you know what it takes to get the rear loose, then you'll know what it takes to avoid the same. But as the rear starts to break free, you "catch it" by reacting quickly and usually releasing the throttle and giving some counter-steer to straighten out the momentum (so to speak) instead of letting it swing around on you.

Kind of hard to explain, but explore the limits of adhesion, in a safe place, and you'll learn real fast what you can do and what you can't do.

Biggest thing is knowing what to expect, so if it does happen on the road your mind/body will automaticall work to correct it,. Otherwise, your mind says to your body "Oh ****", and that's that.

 

+1 for autocross or driving school. It's a fun, safe (no other cars or curbs to run into), and cheap way to learn the limits of your car.
Kurupt, where in CA are you? If you are in the SJ area, I can bring you to my company's autocross club monthly events.

 

Hey Diddy I live in S. Cali near L.A. or else that would be really awesome and great practice. If I ever get the time I will travel up that way and go to one of your events. Thanks for the offer man

 

Until you slide one of those meats into a curb or over a nice fat pothole at speed. This car will launch and roll just like any other.

Why do you want to drive with VDC off?

 

/agree with the autocross.. you really get to push your car to its limits as far as handling, in a safe friendly environment.

 

where do i sign up?

 

Thanks for all the great imput. The next questions I have is that does the front end ever slide out or does this not happen in RWD vehicles (again sorry if this is a stupid question) I've seen allot of comments about what happens when the Rear slides out and what to do but nothing on the front so thus my assumption. Thanks for all the helpful imput

 

Like nearly every new production car, there is some understeer built into it for safety. The front-end will ultimately push in OEM form, but backing off the throttle will put an end to it. Of course, and this is part of the fun of a RWD vehicle, you can add more throttle to rotate the rear around, replacing the understeer with oversteer.

There's no substitution for practice.