Ajax

So a guy I work with wants to go for a ride in my car at lunch. He hasnt seen it yet and he wants to check it out so I say ok, let's go to lunch. I pull out of the lot and up to the intersection where I need to make a right and there's no traffic so i hit it pretty good. The back end slides a little bit and then the TCS grabs and we're moving.

I've done this a couple of times and it's fun but it kinda scares me. Maybe I just shouldn't give it so much gas when pulling around a right turn. I'm very thankful for TCS.

How often do you guys manage to break the rear wheels loose around a turn? How much can traction control and stability control really compensate for?

I haven't really driven the car out in the rain yet, but I'm a little worried that if I can break the wheels loose this easily on dry pavement that I'll be doing it uncontrollably in the rain.

Ajax

x3dfxWolfeman

I've only done this once, and it was because I really popped the clutch. The TCS picked up immediately and I was off and running.

Just make sure you dont pop the clutch, and you should be fine

93rdcurrent

It's just about the same on wet and dry pavement. The reason is that the DSC/TC allows a little bit of slip before it engages. It even made a significant difference for me in the snow. When I really wanted to have fun getting it sideways I had to completely shut the whole thing down by depressing the DSC button for 5+ seconds. Anyway it will keep you from getting too out of control. I recommend finding a vacant lot where you can punch it in a turn with nothing to run into and try this with the DSC/TC on and off. It will then show you what it's doing. Or you can sign up for a local driving school. Usually (if nothing else) a local chapter of the BMW club will hold open driving schools. There lots of fun.

Chief

I'm wanting to keep my tires in good shape so I try not to let that happen, however sometimes the same thing does happen. I don't have DSC but the car sems to have no problem correcting itself

Ajax

well, I didnt pop the clutch, i just gunned it. I rang the bell in first and second just to show off the car (i just broke 600 miles recently). Man it was fun.

srm858

We've had a lot of cold rain here lately and it has been fun breaking the rear end loose. With cold temps and the wet roads, the tires are pretty slick, so it was easy to do.

The DSC calmed things down pretty quickly. I have also activated it taking exit ramps a bit too fast. Don't worry about it, it's all part of having a powerful car.

f1michel

Guys, learn how to slide that car WITHOUT whatever driving aid that's available and then you will really (and safely) enjoy this car. If for any reason the DSC fails and you are not aware how to react you will be in big trouble.

chief8

I slide it daily with DSC completely disabled because it feels more natural and you just need to give it a 1/4 opposite turn to straighten it out. Just make sure you get used to it off public streets like 93rdcurrent suggested.

babylou

Hell yes! This is why RWD cars with LSD are fun whereas FWD just sucks. You point the car with the steering wheel but you steer with the throttle.

93rdcurrent

Woohoo!!! that's right and it is more fun than a jar of jellybellies.

Rotary Nut

:D Everyday as I leave the airfield at work!

RX8Bliss

airfield!!! OMG i'm sooo jealous, i've already clipped the damn guard rail twice! what i wouldn't give to have a runway/hangar all to myself!

as for sliding the rearend out in turns, you really shouldn't be scared of it, its a natural reaction, but the 8 can recover rather quickly (imo). I regularly turn dsc/tcs off and have ran the same country roads with both on and off, it makes a world of difference! with it off the car behaives like it should, and with it on, i can safely say that it will prevent many many accidents by people who aren't accustomed to "drifting" around corners. but i find the dsc/tcs to be a tad too aggressive for spirited driving.
its all driving ability though, and the better you are at controlling your car, the more extremely your car will slide in and out of corners. take a few sport driving classes, practice on the track, find a nice empty parkinglot (or airfield, you lucky bastard) and let her rip. you'll never look at a corner the same way again.

Ajax

this is my first rear wheel drive vehicle to own. I've driven others, but this is the first i've owned myself. I'd love to take some driving classes to learn how to controlled slide around stuff. I guess i'll look around for that.

DemonRX-8

I drive 99% of the time with the DSC/TCS completely disabled - yes, even in the wet. It's just more fun that way! If you're not familiar with rwd cars, take the time to learn how to drive it properly and the rewards will be enormous!

babylou

They should have a road driving school at the racetrack that has the NASCAR race there. If not, then check out the kart racing track in Denton. Maybe they have some rentals there. Karting is even more fun and challenging than cars.

Velocity-8

I'll second that!

Ajax

i know they have a school out at TMS. my dad went a couple of years back (1997?). He got to go for free tho. I guess I'll see how much it costs.

murix

I purposely bought mine without DCS/TCS as I knew I would turn it off anyway. This is without a doubt one of the easiest rwd cars I have ever driving. It does what it is supposed to. I agree with what was mentioned earlier. Once you learn how to throttle steer you will have much more fun with this car!

KrustyKlown

I second that. I spun my mustang out all the time. One time I was working at a "insta-lube" place in college and my foot was oily and I sipped on the clutch and spun it across a 4 lane road into the parking lot across the street. I got out shaken and the kids that worked at the car wash place next door were all outside clapping and the guys at the auto shop on the other side yelled in the reddest of redneck voices "It's people like you that give people like us a bad name" I walked across the street and told someone else to go get lunch. The other time I had my clutch adjusted and popped it from 2nd to 3rd on a on ramp and did a 180 and slid into the emergency lane. However, the miata taught me "the way" and the 8 is that much easier.

You will learn young jedi, just dont hurt yourself in the process. (seems hard to do on the 8 anyway).

G8rboy

Also check out the car clubs or SCCA in your area for autocross events. It's a great way to learn the handling limits of your car in a safe environment while hanging out with other gearheads and cool cars. They welcome beginners and usually offer veteran ride-alongs for pointers and basic instruction, along with loaner helmets... basically you just have to show up with your car and $20-$30 or so.

Astor

I slide all the time, so much fun, especially close to work pulling out of a particular side street, I have four lanes to slide across, I feather out the clutch at about 4k on takeoff, then put it in 2nd going around the corner at redline and pop the clutch, I can slide about 25 feet at about a 30 degree angle. I wait till it's dead around there or I don't do it. It could be why my Bridgestone's were gone at 10k miles. This car is so much more stable than my Camero I had two cars ago, it was an '82 with a modified V8 and tranny, if you gave it too much gas taking off, you would be facing the way you came.

T.H

You guys in the U.S appear to of missed half of the fun of this car..
People who bought the first five thousand cars in the U.K we given a free "Pro drive" day. The day consisted of full one on one instruction on what this car can do pushed to the limits. I had my day last Sunday and I was amazed by how this car can hold the road.

The day consisted of...

1. High speed driving.
Taking the 8 full on around a high speed testing track (over 100 mph) taking turns at over 80 mph and watching the car stick to the road.

2. Brake tests
So you know the full stopping distance of your car the instructors would get you to accelerate to 70Mph take your hands off the steering wheel and anchor the brakes.. Perfect stop in a straight line. Then you are allowed to take the car to what ever speed you want on the straight and anchor the brakes.. I managed to do it a 110 Mph. Fun.

3. Terrain course
This was basically a tight go kart course that you flew round in 2nd and third gear showing proper braking technique and how well the car will grip.

4. Ice simulator
Not strictly a skid pan this piece of road was made up of black tiles with water constantly sprayed on. The idea was that you tried to get the back end out and then bring it back in again with the traction control on at first and then with it completely disabled.. This was the most fun see RX8's flying off the track all over the place with amazing 360's. Just traveling fully sideways with full opposite lock is something everyone should try once.

5. Road driving
We took the 8 out on the public roads and had our driving styles analyzed and were given hints and tips to both drive safer and get more out of the car.

For people who had come from front wheel drive cars this days was very enlightening.

And best of all it was free (but retailed at £500)

Thorpie

Totally second that about the track day. It was extremely informative, safe, and best of all, every single instructor (they are all independant pro-drive people) said that they liked the 8 as it was so responsive, and predictable on the edge.

A couple of them also said that they preferred it to the BMW 330's that pro-drive use as drivers cars for their own track training days!

KrustyKlown

Yes, rub it in. Leave it to you Brits to remind us how great life is on the other side of the pond

Kas

i also drive with DCS fully off.

This car can be corrected from the most extreme sideways action! Just when everyone thinks i've lost it, the car flicks back and does it again on the other side =)