A word of Warning!...hope I can help others thru my idosy.
10-03-2006, 07:11 PM
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A word of Warning!...hope I can help others thru my idosy.
Listen, I'm not a teenager and I pride myself in my driving skills and I love/respect my 8.............
but this past weekend I did somethng really, really dumb and it stll kinda haunts me......
I was driving in the country and decided to some spirited driving. I tried to take a curve way, way, way to fast.........Completely lost the car, backend came around and that was it......
I suppose I instinctively steered into the skid and maybe tried to modulate the gas pedal........Who knows......What I do know is that the stability control most likely saved my life. The car simply flew sideways out of the curve straight down the road till it finally gripped again (which was a long way). It really should have been rolling thru a cornfield. Instead, we went thru a stop sign and came to a rest on the adjoining road......
My point is:
This car is very seductive. It feels the same at 100mph as it does at 20. It handles like a champ..........Often one doesn't realize how quickly things are coming at them (my big mistake) and you think you got big brakes to compensate, maybe......etc, etc...
But just remember, the car's good points can hurt you. It takes a lot to throw this car sideways (on purpose or not), so don't try!!! And the "lack of torque" is seductive as well. You got you foot mashed to the floor cause you don't feel the push in the back. Look down and see you're much faster than you thought you were.....(too fast to be looking down)
So go ahead everyone and lambast me for my lunacy, I deserve it. I'm only asking that those out there that think this car is like Superman, re-think your view.....be respectful of what it can do..........it can most certainly kill you and others.............ugh........
Thanx for letting me rant......................
but this past weekend I did somethng really, really dumb and it stll kinda haunts me......
I was driving in the country and decided to some spirited driving. I tried to take a curve way, way, way to fast.........Completely lost the car, backend came around and that was it......
I suppose I instinctively steered into the skid and maybe tried to modulate the gas pedal........Who knows......What I do know is that the stability control most likely saved my life. The car simply flew sideways out of the curve straight down the road till it finally gripped again (which was a long way). It really should have been rolling thru a cornfield. Instead, we went thru a stop sign and came to a rest on the adjoining road......
My point is:
This car is very seductive. It feels the same at 100mph as it does at 20. It handles like a champ..........Often one doesn't realize how quickly things are coming at them (my big mistake) and you think you got big brakes to compensate, maybe......etc, etc...
But just remember, the car's good points can hurt you. It takes a lot to throw this car sideways (on purpose or not), so don't try!!! And the "lack of torque" is seductive as well. You got you foot mashed to the floor cause you don't feel the push in the back. Look down and see you're much faster than you thought you were.....(too fast to be looking down)
So go ahead everyone and lambast me for my lunacy, I deserve it. I'm only asking that those out there that think this car is like Superman, re-think your view.....be respectful of what it can do..........it can most certainly kill you and others.............ugh........
Thanx for letting me rant......................
10-03-2006, 07:27 PM
#2
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Somehting similar happened to me when I first got it making a 120 degree turn onto a freeway. That was after driving a civic though...
Curious, were the tires cold? You must have been hauling *** because if I am taking turns aggresively I don't think I would be able to make a slide like that with t/c and abl on. I've never really had something like that happen to me, and I don't necesarrily think its the cars comfort level but the driver's knowledge. If you had a true feeling of the cars limits and knew what it was capabale and not capable of, it wouldn't have happened. Try to either take autox classes or just go start autocrossing - I can guarantee it will make you more in touch with your car and what it can and can't do.
Best advice I know is, "In a spin, both feet in (clutch+brake) - When in doubt, both feet out)
Once again, if you can learn the physics of the car this will never happen (at least the chances drastically decrease) I'm glad you are safe, I think this incident will make you a better driver in the long run
Curious, were the tires cold? You must have been hauling *** because if I am taking turns aggresively I don't think I would be able to make a slide like that with t/c and abl on. I've never really had something like that happen to me, and I don't necesarrily think its the cars comfort level but the driver's knowledge. If you had a true feeling of the cars limits and knew what it was capabale and not capable of, it wouldn't have happened. Try to either take autox classes or just go start autocrossing - I can guarantee it will make you more in touch with your car and what it can and can't do.
Best advice I know is, "In a spin, both feet in (clutch+brake) - When in doubt, both feet out)
Once again, if you can learn the physics of the car this will never happen (at least the chances drastically decrease) I'm glad you are safe, I think this incident will make you a better driver in the long run
10-03-2006, 07:35 PM
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It's ok man, I feel your pain (almost),
I too took my RX-8 a little too fast for a turn on a private road one late evening. Approaching a 35 mph curve at around 80mph, I was confident that the RX-8's superior brakes would stop me enough to take me comfortably around the bend, and they did, but I made one crucial mistake. I continued to firmly press the brake through the turn, and without enough weight on the rear tires the back suddenly lost grip and started to throw me around. Luckily I caught my mistake quickly and counter-steered, albeit a tad too much from my panic resulting in a bout of swerving, but well enough to regain control of the car on the turn. I won't do that ever again...
but then I got my RB sway bars installed. To be continued...
I too took my RX-8 a little too fast for a turn on a private road one late evening. Approaching a 35 mph curve at around 80mph, I was confident that the RX-8's superior brakes would stop me enough to take me comfortably around the bend, and they did, but I made one crucial mistake. I continued to firmly press the brake through the turn, and without enough weight on the rear tires the back suddenly lost grip and started to throw me around. Luckily I caught my mistake quickly and counter-steered, albeit a tad too much from my panic resulting in a bout of swerving, but well enough to regain control of the car on the turn. I won't do that ever again...
but then I got my RB sway bars installed. To be continued...
Last edited by lshu; 10-03-2006 at 07:37 PM.
10-03-2006, 09:23 PM
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Yesterday is the first time I've had DSC kick in. The road I have to turn onto just before I get to my house is right by where they just finished some construction/maintenance. Well, there is always loose gravel right at the corner which I keep wishing someone will clean up (I should probably do it myself if I want it done, LOL). Well, I slowed down to turn the corner, going right about 20 mph or just a little less. Well, there must have been more gravel than usual or something, because I do this turn nearly everyday. Bella skidded on the gravel and slid sideways a little. The DSC lit up. Kinda scared me a little. I didn't think it was enough gravel to actually cause any sort of problem since it hasn't in the last month since they reopened the road.
10-03-2006, 09:31 PM
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On a drive-along to a mazda meet a guy in a Mazdaspeed Protege at the front of the pack took an entry ramp really fast with a stiffer rear antirol bar which made the rear tires slip up slightly, some counter steering could've saved hum but he panicked and went both feet in, turned around, cliped a concrete wall and was facing the wrong way. I nearly smashed into the miata in front of me, but I saw his brake lights through the smoke. No one got hurt, but the point is, we all do stupid things. I'm 16 and I haven't lost control yet, but I know I will regret something I do in my car greatly at least once in my life.
Pics of crash on Mazdameet drive:
What the car should look like: (this is Titanium gray instead of sunlight silver)
Crash Scene:
(wrong way)
(holding the grille insert that popped out)
Damage:
Pics of crash on Mazdameet drive:
What the car should look like: (this is Titanium gray instead of sunlight silver)
Crash Scene:
(wrong way)
(holding the grille insert that popped out)
Damage:
Last edited by '87 Turbo II; 10-03-2006 at 09:52 PM.
10-03-2006, 09:44 PM
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Oh and a word of warning about RB sways, its MUCH harder to tell when you're going to lose it than it is with OEM suspension... one thing i find myself doing in this car is overcorrecting in the rain a lot and getting a pendulum type slide going back and forth. This is strange becuase my last car was awd and I always make an effort to keep overcorrection to a minimum (awd cars will really bite you in the *** when they regain grip and have a lot of steering angle). I really need to get myself to skip barber or something soon though.
10-03-2006, 09:47 PM
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I'm guessing there isn't any damage swerver? Or do you mean you literally went into a stop sign?
I've never really lost control of my car, despite taking turns and curves too damn fast. I've let my back end swing plenty of times but I'm always able to recover easily and instantly. The only time I slided sideways too far was taking a sharp 90 degree turn at an intersection at about 40 mph...ugh. There wasn't a curb, and the side of road sort of faded into grass, I guess that's why I wasn't worried about taking it quickly. This was with bald stock potenzas as well.
And I've been turning DSC off lately because I'm tired of it straightening me out every day. Just having it off makes the car feel so much more alive. I think I'll only leave it on in the rain or when there's the few days of ice here in DFW.
- edited out something, don't wanna jinx myself
I've never really lost control of my car, despite taking turns and curves too damn fast. I've let my back end swing plenty of times but I'm always able to recover easily and instantly. The only time I slided sideways too far was taking a sharp 90 degree turn at an intersection at about 40 mph...ugh. There wasn't a curb, and the side of road sort of faded into grass, I guess that's why I wasn't worried about taking it quickly. This was with bald stock potenzas as well.
And I've been turning DSC off lately because I'm tired of it straightening me out every day. Just having it off makes the car feel so much more alive. I think I'll only leave it on in the rain or when there's the few days of ice here in DFW.
- edited out something, don't wanna jinx myself
Last edited by Raptor2k; 10-03-2006 at 09:49 PM.
10-03-2006, 09:52 PM
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This is my point. Hell, I've wrecked before in my younger years basically cause I didn't know how to drive. But that is no excuse anymore. I've autox-ed, know the tricks inately, etc....
My biggest sin is that I was showing off for someone else in the car. The curve came way to fast. The rest is like stop-photography. I remember everything exactly as it happened but only in still photos, some time period apart........ugh...
If I had to guess, I probably panicked in hitting the curve too fast and did the absolutely wrong thing and tapped my brakes which of course destroyed any friction on the back end and sent the car toward a spin.......
I'm gonna retrace where this happened and see what is real vs. what is in my head. I'll post it..............
My biggest sin is that I was showing off for someone else in the car. The curve came way to fast. The rest is like stop-photography. I remember everything exactly as it happened but only in still photos, some time period apart........ugh...
If I had to guess, I probably panicked in hitting the curve too fast and did the absolutely wrong thing and tapped my brakes which of course destroyed any friction on the back end and sent the car toward a spin.......
I'm gonna retrace where this happened and see what is real vs. what is in my head. I'll post it..............
10-03-2006, 09:54 PM
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Related story
I was with a group of friends on the way to a diner, each of us driving our own cars or in pairs. I was alone, behind two guys in a wrx. As we head towards an downsloping onramp to route 1, I pass the wrx before the two lanes merge into one.
The pass was aggressive, but nothing outrageous. Unfortunately, it was contagious because I wanted to take the onramp aggressively too. The rain didnt really phaze me.
Instead of braking hard (I was carrying speed from the pass) I decided to downshift to third and enter the curve with light braking, thinking the engine would slow my car enough. Boy was I wrong. So I gave more brake pressure. That, plus the downsloping ramp, plus the rain, plus the lack of DSC on my 8, sent my tail sliding. I could only clutch and brake, spinning 450 degrees and stopping sideways in the middle of the ramp. Both the front and rear of my car bounced off concrete.
Like similar stories, I maybe could have countersteered and stayed on the road. But without any experience, if I countersteered I probably would have just ended up flying off the other side of the ramp carrying so much speed.
Afterwards, I spent $75 for paint and materials online and fixed the damage myself. And to this day I drive like a grandma in the rain.
Most valuable $75 lesson of my life.
I was with a group of friends on the way to a diner, each of us driving our own cars or in pairs. I was alone, behind two guys in a wrx. As we head towards an downsloping onramp to route 1, I pass the wrx before the two lanes merge into one.
The pass was aggressive, but nothing outrageous. Unfortunately, it was contagious because I wanted to take the onramp aggressively too. The rain didnt really phaze me.
Instead of braking hard (I was carrying speed from the pass) I decided to downshift to third and enter the curve with light braking, thinking the engine would slow my car enough. Boy was I wrong. So I gave more brake pressure. That, plus the downsloping ramp, plus the rain, plus the lack of DSC on my 8, sent my tail sliding. I could only clutch and brake, spinning 450 degrees and stopping sideways in the middle of the ramp. Both the front and rear of my car bounced off concrete.
Like similar stories, I maybe could have countersteered and stayed on the road. But without any experience, if I countersteered I probably would have just ended up flying off the other side of the ramp carrying so much speed.
Afterwards, I spent $75 for paint and materials online and fixed the damage myself. And to this day I drive like a grandma in the rain.
Most valuable $75 lesson of my life.
10-03-2006, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Raptor2k
I'm guessing there isn't any damage swerver? Or do you mean you literally went into a stop sign?
10-03-2006, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by swerver
not a bit of damage, I suppose that's what makes me feel so guilty.....
10-03-2006, 10:15 PM
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****, sorry swerver, when I first read it I thought you said you were a teenager, haha
Disregard my post, it was more oriented towards the new-to-driving over-confident kids who think their car is invinncible.
Curious what gear + speed? If you entered the turn too fast it must have been a damn sharp turn to spin you around, my guess is you would have just plowed through. I guess if you had the rpms high enough a touch of gas could break the back loose and induce a spin.
edit: Just read that you may have tapped the brakes, that was probably it. Ah, I really hve to read more carefully before I post
Disregard my post, it was more oriented towards the new-to-driving over-confident kids who think their car is invinncible.
Curious what gear + speed? If you entered the turn too fast it must have been a damn sharp turn to spin you around, my guess is you would have just plowed through. I guess if you had the rpms high enough a touch of gas could break the back loose and induce a spin.
edit: Just read that you may have tapped the brakes, that was probably it. Ah, I really hve to read more carefully before I post
10-03-2006, 10:47 PM
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thanx for the addendum tiltmode43.............
but to all, here is what I remember.......and I don't in any way sanction what I did........
I was driving country roads I usually knew but I was still being stupid. Apparently, a large mall had been built into the countryside and subsequently, they had built a lot of entry roads into the mall area (which was many miles away). These used to be good country roads. ..
So whereas there was once a good country road, now it had been altered. The road in front fo me turned nastily to the right and ended at a stop sign that opened onto the new 4 lane blvd toward the new mall. And to those that asked, I have no idea what gear I was in or RPM's I was doing; I had nothing but eyes on the road. If I had to guess, I was probably in 4rd at very high rpms so figure out the speed.....All I know is the curve came up way to fast and way to sharp than what I was expecting..........There was 0 reaction time (again my own fault). I did what is inately trained but the car was gone before I even knew it (I had to have tapped the brakes in panic). The car was literally sideways and all I heard was the grating noise that the ESC makes. I turned into to skid, initially tried to modulate then jerked my feet from the peddles) and watched thru of my side window as I slid sideways thru the stop sign.....and I slid a long ways...............ugh...end of story....
but to all, here is what I remember.......and I don't in any way sanction what I did........
I was driving country roads I usually knew but I was still being stupid. Apparently, a large mall had been built into the countryside and subsequently, they had built a lot of entry roads into the mall area (which was many miles away). These used to be good country roads. ..
So whereas there was once a good country road, now it had been altered. The road in front fo me turned nastily to the right and ended at a stop sign that opened onto the new 4 lane blvd toward the new mall. And to those that asked, I have no idea what gear I was in or RPM's I was doing; I had nothing but eyes on the road. If I had to guess, I was probably in 4rd at very high rpms so figure out the speed.....All I know is the curve came up way to fast and way to sharp than what I was expecting..........There was 0 reaction time (again my own fault). I did what is inately trained but the car was gone before I even knew it (I had to have tapped the brakes in panic). The car was literally sideways and all I heard was the grating noise that the ESC makes. I turned into to skid, initially tried to modulate then jerked my feet from the peddles) and watched thru of my side window as I slid sideways thru the stop sign.....and I slid a long ways...............ugh...end of story....
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