Spun my car the other night...
Discussion
I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a slagging thread, just looking for some advice!
Anyhow, I went backwards over a kerb and ended up in some grass.
Is there anything I should check for damage beyond the good look around I've already had?
I've checked the exhaust and back box, dampers, rims & tyres. All seem to be fine. It's not leaking any fluid either.
I'm sure the tracking is out as there seems to be a bit of tyre scrub on the wheel that took the thwack to the kerb, as it's heating up more than the otherside and after a (careful) run up the motorway there was a slight smell of burnt rubber.
Is there anything else worth checking?
Many thanks!
Anyhow, I went backwards over a kerb and ended up in some grass.
Is there anything I should check for damage beyond the good look around I've already had?
I've checked the exhaust and back box, dampers, rims & tyres. All seem to be fine. It's not leaking any fluid either.
I'm sure the tracking is out as there seems to be a bit of tyre scrub on the wheel that took the thwack to the kerb, as it's heating up more than the otherside and after a (careful) run up the motorway there was a slight smell of burnt rubber.
Is there anything else worth checking?
Many thanks!
Easily done, as long as no real harm down then treat it as a lesson.
I half-spun mine/tank slapped once after I got it on a very slippery hairpin - reeled myself in after that.
What he said though - now go to an alignment shop and get it all straightened out. Will drive much nicer when its done.
I half-spun mine/tank slapped once after I got it on a very slippery hairpin - reeled myself in after that.
What he said though - now go to an alignment shop and get it all straightened out. Will drive much nicer when its done.
Thanks chaps.
I'm not going to lie, it caught me completely unawares, I've never had the car slide as quickly as it did.
The morning after when I was checking it, I noticed something rather bizarre on the car that could have attributed to the spin.
I'll try and find a decent alignment place around here.
I need it done today though, so I may just have to take it to a local place and get it done 'properly' at a later date.
I guess it depends on how much I can trust Kwik Fit or similar!!
I'm not going to lie, it caught me completely unawares, I've never had the car slide as quickly as it did.
The morning after when I was checking it, I noticed something rather bizarre on the car that could have attributed to the spin.
I'll try and find a decent alignment place around here.
I need it done today though, so I may just have to take it to a local place and get it done 'properly' at a later date.
I guess it depends on how much I can trust Kwik Fit or similar!!
reacting to oversteer is easy especially in the 5. Just steer into it and don't make any sudden harsh inputs into the controls,
I was pulling out of a petrol station last week and must have got diesel on my tyres as when I pulled out it got very sideways. The guy coming towards me looked like he was about to poop himself. I just had the usual 5 grin.
empty wet carparks are you friend.
I was pulling out of a petrol station last week and must have got diesel on my tyres as when I pulled out it got very sideways. The guy coming towards me looked like he was about to poop himself. I just had the usual 5 grin.
empty wet carparks are you friend.
JFReturns said:
Just out of interest, what happened to cause the spin? Was it more the conditions or your driving?
Reason I ask is I am a bit concerned about how to react to oversteer if / when it happens....
very light touch on the steering, it will pretty much correct itself if you let it, rather than hanging on in a kung fu death grip. and light throttle, 10%. and practise on an airfield / driver training / track day rather than on the road.Reason I ask is I am a bit concerned about how to react to oversteer if / when it happens....
I got very sideways, somewhat unexpectedly the other day, luckily the car didn't want to kill me on this occasion. Naturally, my amazing talent clearly saved me when I quite obviously hit one of these patches of diesel everyone talks about. It was absolutely nothing to do with a little too much enthusiasm, oh no.... 
Seriously though, slow in fast out and smoothness are the key. Even after well over 6 months of rwd fun, I'm still nowhere near great IMO. Keeps me on my toes though
Seriously though, slow in fast out and smoothness are the key. Even after well over 6 months of rwd fun, I'm still nowhere near great IMO. Keeps me on my toes though
Im still learning the '5 - had a few sideways moments.. admittedly all with intent
Unfortunately for me ive currently got reasonable toyos on the back and ditchfinders on the front, so any kind of enthusiasm results in epic understeer.
As soon as i get the car serviced im booking onto a Mazda on Track day at finmere.. look like great fun for starters and i rekon will improve my confidence in the car no end
Unfortunately for me ive currently got reasonable toyos on the back and ditchfinders on the front, so any kind of enthusiasm results in epic understeer.
As soon as i get the car serviced im booking onto a Mazda on Track day at finmere.. look like great fun for starters and i rekon will improve my confidence in the car no end
I must admit, I have had mine a month and drive like a pansey in the wet. I have no real idea where the limits are, and I reckon I could do with some off-road practice to explore the grip. I pulled out of a side junction today in the wet and the back went way earlier than I would have expected it to. Good fun, but I would rather it didn't take me by surprise. I'm sure I'll get used to it though, and will have plenty of fun in the process, I'm sure.
the cars to be honest aren't particularly capable in the wet, although most are run on summer tyres. they handle ok but the grip is not fantastic.
i remember pootling round a wet castle combe on a sighting lap in an evo i think, not pushing at all, and thinking that my car wouldn't stick at that speed. we went out, i was second in line, and the car in front span on the first corner he got to
i remember pootling round a wet castle combe on a sighting lap in an evo i think, not pushing at all, and thinking that my car wouldn't stick at that speed. we went out, i was second in line, and the car in front span on the first corner he got to
GravelBen said:
NeoVR said:
Unfortunately for me ive currently got reasonable toyos on the back and ditchfinders on the front, so any kind of enthusiasm results in epic understeer.
Swap them around!
But seriously. These cars are not animals. They will slide about a bit and its a little odd at first but you get used to it and if properly setup, with half decent matching tyres all round they are very predictable.
As for having 'low' grip in the wet, I dont think thats true - compared to most shipping trolley cars even in the wet they will hang on.
Its just that rather than terminal plough on understeer if you overstep it, you get a more 'exciting' reaction.
Wet roads also give the best opportunities for massive controllable powerslides out of T junctions
JFReturns said:
Just out of interest, what happened to cause the spin? Was it more the conditions or your driving?
The former mostly. Although I was feeling as rough as a bag of.... It was pissing it down with rain and the bit of road I fell off has awful camber and a s
t surface.Very nearly came to rest in oncoming traffic, so it could have been much worse!
Anyhow, had the tracking done today. It was massively out on the back where it thwacked the kerb!
Glad you are ok Luke and that the car is fine. I personally recommend an MOT Car Control day. 
I wish I'd done it before the ring, I've not yet come close to spinning on the road, can slide it all day long though*... 
I wish I'd done it before the ring, I've not yet come close to spinning on the road, can slide it all day long though*... - if the road is clear/well sighted naturally.
Edited by BCA on Friday 19th February 00:28
LukeBird said:
Thanks chaps.
I'm not going to lie, it caught me completely unawares, I've never had the car slide as quickly as it did.
Your alignment is out, that's what caused that. The MX5 telegraphs everything to you when properly set up.I'm not going to lie, it caught me completely unawares, I've never had the car slide as quickly as it did.
Don't even think about going anywhere near somewhere like Kwikfit. There a top place in Hampshire IIRC - Micheldever Tyres, something like that?
It'll cost you over a ton and will take a good couple of hours, but you'll have a completely different car afterwards.
Even with good alignment they can slide very quickly with certain tyre/surface combinations. For the most part I agree they're very predictable and forgiving to slide around, however theres one particular roundabout near me which is fine when dry, but even dawdling around it like a granny when its damp you can find yourself suddenly reaching for the lock-stops with practically no warning.
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