Almost wrecked my Esprit, what happened?
Discussion
Yesterday it was raining a little and at some point I took a right turn onto the freeway. Halfway through the corner I accelerated and 5 seconds later my car was turned more than 180 degree now facing the cars that were behind me. My topspeed in the corner was maybe 60 kmph. What happened exactly? What should I have done to prevent the car form breaking out? I was very lucky as there was no heavy traffic at that time.
Your rear wheels lost traction on a slippery surface and the momentum of your car carried the rear end around. It's possible there could've been oil or gas spilled there beforehand also (which happened to me once).
Unless it's dry, I won't accelerate in a turn. I like to get all my braking, shifting, and acceleration done while going in a straight line.
-Dave
Unless it's dry, I won't accelerate in a turn. I like to get all my braking, shifting, and acceleration done while going in a straight line.
-Dave
cbschriks said:
Yesterday it was raining a little and at some point I took a right turn onto the freeway. Halfway through the corner I accelerated and 5 seconds later my car was turned more than 180 degree now facing the cars that were behind me. My topspeed in the corner was maybe 60 kmph. What happened exactly? What should I have done to prevent the car form breaking out? I was very lucky as there was no heavy traffic at that time.
Not being rude or anything here but if you're unsure what actually happened some driver training (ie car control training) would probably go a long way, especially for a performance car such as an Esprit.
good luck
Russell
cbschriks said:
Yesterday it was raining a little and at some point I took a right turn onto the freeway. Halfway through the corner I accelerated and 5 seconds later my car was turned more than 180 degree now facing the cars that were behind me. My topspeed in the corner was maybe 60 kmph. What happened exactly? What should I have done to prevent the car form breaking out? I was very lucky as there was no heavy traffic at that time.
Too much torque, not enough grip.
Most roads are at their slipperiest the first few minutes of a rainfall. The reason is that the moisture lifts all of the oil, dust rubber and other junk that collects on the road when it's dry and forms a slick surface. Once it has rained a little while, most of the slippery stuff is washed away. This tends to be worse in locations where it doesn't rain often.
To avoid the problem, discipline your right foot. Become aware of the driving conditions at all times. The driver training suggestion is excellent. There are a lot of very good organizations that provide everything from basic driver skills to advanced race techniques. They might seem expensive, but most classes are about twice the average insurance deductable - pretty cheap when all you need to do is avoid an accident or two.
Mike
Been there... Take a car control class that has a skidpad as part of the curriculum. You might not get so lucky next time and hurt yourself or others.
It's not clear as to whether back end snapped around on you, or you thought you were doing okay and then all of a sudden found yourself facing the wrong way. Considering the speed you were at, it was probably the latter, which is caused by looking directly in front of the car instead of where you want the car to go. If you had been looking further ahead you would have been able to detect the back end coming around sooner and possibly corrected.
It's not clear as to whether back end snapped around on you, or you thought you were doing okay and then all of a sudden found yourself facing the wrong way. Considering the speed you were at, it was probably the latter, which is caused by looking directly in front of the car instead of where you want the car to go. If you had been looking further ahead you would have been able to detect the back end coming around sooner and possibly corrected.
Many years ago I read about a similiar incident just around the corner from me. I knew the road well ,it's a nice wide sweep, tighter than it looks but loads of visability so you'ld have thought it was pretty safe. Sadly an Esprit went round there, lost it and killed a young girl on the pavement. Apparently the driver hadn't had the car long and was showing his passenger his new toy. Take care for everyones sake!
cbschriks said:
Yesterday it was raining a little and at some point I took a right turn onto the freeway. Halfway through the corner I accelerated and 5 seconds later my car was turned more than 180 degree now facing the cars that were behind me. My topspeed in the corner was maybe 60 kmph. What happened exactly? What should I have done to prevent the car form breaking out? I was very lucky as there was no heavy traffic at that time.
Hi All,
This type of incident/accident is most common to the Esprit (and other mid/rear engined high power cars in general). I also lost my S4s this way a couple years ago ... I also remember a few others that had the very same happening !
Be careful when its damp/wet outside !
Marcus
>> Edited by Paula&Marcus on Tuesday 6th December 17:32
Thanks guys. I am definitely going to follow the course that some of you suggested.
I miscalculated the speed and turning point at which I and the car loose control.
Please be carefull guys. I consider myself a very conservative drive and it happened to me as well.
You should have seen the faces of the people in the cars that saw the turn.
I miscalculated the speed and turning point at which I and the car loose control.
Please be carefull guys. I consider myself a very conservative drive and it happened to me as well.
You should have seen the faces of the people in the cars that saw the turn.
Esprits are notorious at throwing the back out during slick conditions.
Powering out at the apex in the wet normally isn't a great idea.
Also without a LSD (assuming your Esprit is stock), you're putting that torque down unevenly which doesn't help the matter.
Heck, you can fishtail a stock Esprit wildly in a straight line in the dry.
That is the nature of the Esprit, just learn it's characteristics and you'll be ok.
Oh and I concur with everyone else, driving schools for performance cars is highly recommended.
T-Mac
MY01 V8-SE Esprit.
Powering out at the apex in the wet normally isn't a great idea.
Also without a LSD (assuming your Esprit is stock), you're putting that torque down unevenly which doesn't help the matter.
Heck, you can fishtail a stock Esprit wildly in a straight line in the dry.
That is the nature of the Esprit, just learn it's characteristics and you'll be ok.
Oh and I concur with everyone else, driving schools for performance cars is highly recommended.
T-Mac
MY01 V8-SE Esprit.
Esprit has fairly kind handling compared to some other mid-engine cars but still deserves respect. I think cars like the Lancia Beta Monte Carlo earned a bad name very quickly. Once any mid-engine car starts to go loose at the back you need to be quick and be careful to catch it. Otherwise you can spin easily. If you do catch the slide then over-correction can easily snap it back the other way - hence the undignified fishtailing!
Agree with the above... I learned more in a three day driving school than all the previous years driving.
On the slip and slide note, I actually gotter' side ways in the neighborhood a while back! I was doing about 20 - 25 MPH in a light rain (drizzle really) poping out to the corner gas station for some drinks. The road turns evenly to the left and drops down hill about 3 degrees. Anyway, out of the blue she tipped off spinning the front around to the left. Slow speed and all I caught it and the car stopped just as it was comming around forwards again. There was no drama at all. This was walking speed by this time...
Well upon insection I did find what appeared to be desil running accross the top of a little water run off (from a construction truck) and a low rear tire! I am usaually pretty good about checking this stuff, but a 20 degree temp change a short trip to the corner caught me pants down!
You will get the hang of the Esprit!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
On the slip and slide note, I actually gotter' side ways in the neighborhood a while back! I was doing about 20 - 25 MPH in a light rain (drizzle really) poping out to the corner gas station for some drinks. The road turns evenly to the left and drops down hill about 3 degrees. Anyway, out of the blue she tipped off spinning the front around to the left. Slow speed and all I caught it and the car stopped just as it was comming around forwards again. There was no drama at all. This was walking speed by this time...
Well upon insection I did find what appeared to be desil running accross the top of a little water run off (from a construction truck) and a low rear tire! I am usaually pretty good about checking this stuff, but a 20 degree temp change a short trip to the corner caught me pants down!
You will get the hang of the Esprit!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
cnh1990 said:I bought my Esprit back in the days when cars would have a first service after 1,000 miles or so. Decided to take mine back to the factory at Hethel where there used to be a service garage that owners could use instead of the dealer network. In the garage there were a number of newish turbo esprits waiting for accident repairs, all with both front and rear damage. I asked the workshop manager how they came to be there. He said it was quite common for buyers to get over-excited with the throttle pedal and spin the cars, resulting in a very predictable pattern of damage!
People have lost from a standing start in the wet with full boost before.
My recollection is the drivers manual contained some wording at the front to the effect "Esprit is a high performance car with an outstanding level of grip but cannot defy the laws of physics". Never a truer word!
Its simple mathematics.. Esprit + dry road = Lots of fun. However Esprit + Rain or Wet roads x When that turbo kicks in = Oh SH_T... No matter what tires you got.... Been there done that.. NOT fun except on a track...
Mine's parked for the winter except when its a "bright sun shiny day"... Otherwise it's Range Rover time.
Mine's parked for the winter except when its a "bright sun shiny day"... Otherwise it's Range Rover time.
i know the feeling well. during summer i spun my s4 on the roundabout right outside bloody police station. i had the tunes far to loud and not paying attention to engine sounds and failed to hear turbo kick in. fuel spillage from over filled vehicles will allways find a home on bends and roundabouts.very lucky that only damage was to my over inflated ego.
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