Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.

How fast do you take corners?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 09-16-2004, 02:49 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Vertigo-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hilo, HI
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How fast do you take corners?

Just wondering how fast people have tried taking corners in the RX-8 before something starts giving out. I'm normally a pretty docile driver so I tend to chicken out at about 50 mph through tight turns before I start getting on the brake. I'm always afraid one day I'll end up in the other lane as a car comes the other way!

And on another note, what is the best way to enter/exit a curve for maximum G's? Just mainly want to get the "Oh my GAWD we're gonna flip!!!" comment outta the passenger the right way. :D
Old 09-16-2004, 02:55 PM
  #2  
Administrator
 
zoom44's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 21,958
Received 115 Likes on 88 Posts
take a 2 lane tight right hand sloping down clover leaf on ramp from one hichway to another at 10-20 mph over the speed limit (not the suggested speed for the curve the actual limit) on the inside lane keep your revs at about 5k or so and right at the apex pass to the outside lane then floor it as you come around to the straight. i did that with yellow 8 on my tail and my mother in law and wife in the car- the yellow 8 thought it was fun as hell- the mother in law was a little squeamish and didnt like it so much.....
Old 09-16-2004, 03:02 PM
  #3  
A turbo what?
 
yz007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wynne, AR
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I live in the country by a national park, take curves everday at 70-80 mph,most cars go about 55 max around these curves, sure gets the adrenalin going when your surrounded by trees, but the car always feels confident, i keep the dsc on, as extra safety and it does work very well for oversteer, but not understeer, most the time i just throttle out of the curve to compensate.
Old 09-16-2004, 03:04 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
PUR NRG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sounds like you want to take the largest constant radius curve possible to produce the longest duration g-force. Not the fastest way around the corner but the best way to elicit the response you're looking for.
________
MERCEDES-BENZ W116 HISTORY

Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 04:38 AM.
Old 09-16-2004, 03:09 PM
  #5  
⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠
 
mysql101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 8,625
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
General rule of thumb, however fast the speed limit is for a turn, double it, and you should be fine.
Old 09-16-2004, 03:10 PM
  #6  
Registered
 
JmurphRx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have to say about 52-53mph
Old 09-16-2004, 03:13 PM
  #7  
Administrator
 
zoom44's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 21,958
Received 115 Likes on 88 Posts
oh yeah and generally on "normal roads" when you see people applying brakes around a curve you dotn have to bother. just maintain what ever your speed is and you can fly right thru the corner no problem. you only need to brake when the people ahead of you are too close.
Old 09-16-2004, 03:15 PM
  #8  
Short Bus Allstar!
 
Meowloud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Go to Dragon Tail (SE Forum) next year and test out some real curves!!
tailofthedragon.com
Old 09-16-2004, 03:18 PM
  #9  
Bigus Rotus
iTrader: (3)
 
Nemesis8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,573
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by abbid
max turn was 45 MPH left turn, felt the understeer...
MS Suspension upgrade solves this - no understeer anymore for me :p I did on occassion find myself moving in the OEM seat. Maybe a new aftermarket seat would hold my butt better

Last edited by Nemesis8; 09-16-2004 at 03:20 PM.
Old 09-16-2004, 03:31 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
graphicguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
While it really does depend on the corner radius, the amount of traffic and whether the road is dry, oily or wet, I take corners as fast as I can....which is very fast indeed in an RX8.

The tail started flying out a couple of times but trac control took hold and slapped me back in line (litterally).
Old 09-16-2004, 03:44 PM
  #11  
Time of your life, kid...
 
bgreene's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When I can get the room to do it, I tend to take freeway ramps/interchanges at double whatever the yellow signs say.

Cornering in town, I can make a normal right hand turn at around 30, but usually widen it a bit to turn into the 2nd (from the right) lane at 35. Not sure if I really need to do that, but I'd prefer not to learn the hard way...

All this is only when the area is more or less clear of traffic. There's really no good reason to push the envelope with people/cars in the path of any skid you might find yourself in. Also, this is all with the Racing Beat suspension kit (springs & sways, stock shocks) on the car, which according to the manufacturer increases max cornering g's by about 4% (0.87g to 0.90g)
Old 09-16-2004, 04:31 PM
  #12  
Numbah 1 in da hood... G
 
sup3rbad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sylmar/ Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
normal right angle turns around 40-45 (when no other cars are on the road) with some nice heel-toe action. driving normally about 20-25, thats when theres people around.
Old 09-16-2004, 04:44 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
PUR NRG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sup3rbad, please describe in more detail what you are doing. 40-45 is your slowest speed during the turn? Or is that your corner exit speed? Right or left hand turn? One lane or two for the exit?

What you're describing does not seem possible for a right hand turn with one lane on exit. Which, incidentally, should be the standard everyone uses to describe turn speeds since left hand turns are way too variable. A left hand turn from a single lane into a single lane is much slower than a left from a 4-lane road onto a 4-lane road.
________
Fisting Amateur

Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 04:39 AM.
Old 09-16-2004, 06:10 PM
  #14  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Vertigo-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hilo, HI
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Indeed, 40-45 seems insanely fast for entering a right angle turn. I don't doubt that it's possible but damn. I usually get scared doing 30 into right angle turns as it is.

Originally Posted by bgreene
All this is only when the area is more or less clear of traffic. There's really no good reason to push the envelope with people/cars in the path of any skid you might find yourself in.
Definitely agree with this sentiment. Main reason I asked the question was to find out how fast others have taken turns before, before something started sliding, so that I could know how fast of a speed I can safely experiment with. It's fun loading up the g's, but not at the expense of sliding into another car at 50+ mph!

Last edited by Vertigo-1; 09-16-2004 at 06:16 PM.
Old 09-16-2004, 06:18 PM
  #15  
Not anymore
 
shelleys_man_06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've done 60 mph around this sharp curve near my house. Didn't break traction. The RX-8 is teh greetest! :D
Old 09-16-2004, 06:27 PM
  #16  
Numbah 1 in da hood... G
 
sup3rbad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sylmar/ Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by PUR NRG
sup3rbad, please describe in more detail what you are doing. 40-45 is your slowest speed during the turn? Or is that your corner exit speed? Right or left hand turn? One lane or two for the exit?

What you're describing does not seem possible for a right hand turn with one lane on exit. Which, incidentally, should be the standard everyone uses to describe turn speeds since left hand turns are way too variable. A left hand turn from a single lane into a single lane is much slower than a left from a 4-lane road onto a 4-lane road.
I'll have to get back to you on that... but i do know that i try to go into the lane next to the curb, so i end up about almost halfway into the next lane. i'll have to pay closer attention next time because i dont usually look in the speedometer as i turn. i look just before and after i turn. these are usually four lane roads, and i think i take left hand turns faster than right hand turns. sorry if i can't describe in further detail. i was describing left hand turns btw.

Last edited by sup3rbad; 09-16-2004 at 06:30 PM.
Old 09-16-2004, 07:59 PM
  #17  
Sonic the Hedghog
 
Adamrotor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: EVOLV-Chicago
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
78mph on a long medium turn
Old 09-16-2004, 08:31 PM
  #18  
~~> Next 10 miles
 
Spazm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
50 mph on a turn marked 10 - right angle :D

Its a wide open area in town where I can see oncoming traffic for about 1 mile coming towards me, so I can slide into the next lane...that turn gets a great response from passengers, about 5-10 seconds before hitting it....

"Um, you gonna slow down?!??!"
"Nope!"
:Grabs whatever 'Oh ****' handle is available:
Old 09-16-2004, 10:12 PM
  #19  
Registered User
 
red_rx8_red_int's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
55 for a 90 degree street to street turn with a full shoulder. Car handled great with dsc not engaging. The car behind me (either a yellow stang or a yellow porsche, J/K, it was a stang with custom black graphics) was dumbfounded! I turned the blinker on, told my 2 passengers to hold on and just cranked the steering wheel. I'm finding myself having to relearn how to drive in this car. It just handles that well! I agree with the poster above that mentioned double your normal speed. I agree, if your coming from a non-sports car, like myself, then double the speed your used to and you'll be OK.
Old 09-16-2004, 10:22 PM
  #20  
Keepin' It Real Since '79
 
Liquid Rhino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Last week I took her out in a 'spirited' mood and took a 10mph 45degree at 53. It was incredible!!! Unfortunately I don't think I'll have the nuts to do that again anytime soon...

Usually corners for me are around 40-45mph, although the 8 seems to feel comfortable taking rights (and maintaining lane) at ~60mph.
Old 09-16-2004, 10:27 PM
  #21  
Overport
 
Overport's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 928
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i've taken a strong left hand sweeper at 50 mph. i felt i could have gone a little bit faster and still been safe. i love the handling on the RX-8.
Old 09-16-2004, 10:32 PM
  #22  
Numbah 1 in da hood... G
 
sup3rbad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sylmar/ Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hmm i dont have the luxury or DSC or TCS, but then again... I dont want it at all
Old 09-16-2004, 10:34 PM
  #23  
Not anymore
 
shelleys_man_06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You too? :D
Old 09-16-2004, 11:35 PM
  #24  
Numbah 1 in da hood... G
 
sup3rbad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sylmar/ Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
haha im livin life on the edge man
Old 09-16-2004, 11:38 PM
  #25  
Not anymore
 
shelleys_man_06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are number one in tha' hood...G.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: How fast do you take corners?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:52 AM.