Going from FWD to RWD.Hints & tips please!
Discussion
Aside from not buying a RWD sports car on the day of the worst December snowfall in 30 years, what else do I need to know? 
Coming from a history of FWD hot hatchey type cars I'm well aware that I may have to alter my driving style slightly but just what they are i'm not quite sure yet.
I like to think of my driving style as smooth & subtle, no heavy handedness from me and I certainly think about what I'm doing.
I know it's only an MX-5 and not a hairy chested TVRRRRRRR but I still want to get the best from the tools that I have
Coming from a history of FWD hot hatchey type cars I'm well aware that I may have to alter my driving style slightly but just what they are i'm not quite sure yet.
I like to think of my driving style as smooth & subtle, no heavy handedness from me and I certainly think about what I'm doing.
I know it's only an MX-5 and not a hairy chested TVRRRRRRR but I still want to get the best from the tools that I have
Just build up gradually and you will be fine. Obviously, going to be tricky in the snow, but 2nd gear start if possible and take it really slow.
In the dry and slightly damp, you can drive it like a FWD once you know your car better. The vast majority of scare stories on switching from FWD to RWD is b
ks.
I went from a Honda Civic with not much grunt to a Z4. Took the first day getting to know the car and there was no drama after that.
In the dry and slightly damp, you can drive it like a FWD once you know your car better. The vast majority of scare stories on switching from FWD to RWD is b
ks.I went from a Honda Civic with not much grunt to a Z4. Took the first day getting to know the car and there was no drama after that.
Edited by sinizter on Thursday 2nd December 13:23
sinizter said:
Just build up gradually and you will be fine. Obviously, going to be tricky in the snow, but 2nd gear start if possible and take it really slow.
Tricky is one word! Driving to work the other morning and there was perhaps an inch of snow on the ground, taking it nice and steady about 30 mph in fourth, car felt quite happy when I must have increased speed by a whole 2mph, next thing the car is fish tailing, thankfully nothing was on-coming but it certainly opened my eyes.
Nothing to worry about. I did the same thing and had a few minor nerves but there's no reason for them. The MX5 is the perfect car to come onto as, yes it's tail will slide if provoked, but it's nice and easy and quick to gather up and correct.
Hints and tips from me...if you do experiment, make sure it's not on open roads, try to find an empty car park or plot of land to see how it'll behave in the sort of situations you'll find yourself in most of the time (exiting a junction (especially when wet), entering a roundabout etc. Just get used to that and you'll be covered for most of the little incidents that life throws at you.
Try it with TC on and off as I've found that in the NC the TC kicks in at the worst moments and "leaves you stranded" sometimes as it kills the power - hateful little thing but thankfully it's switched off very easily!
Also, I've not done it yet but am saving the pennies for a full driving experience that will teach me car control on (or over!) it's limits but wouldn't suggest a new car would be the tool for that job!
Enjoy the NC, it's a belter of a car!
Hints and tips from me...if you do experiment, make sure it's not on open roads, try to find an empty car park or plot of land to see how it'll behave in the sort of situations you'll find yourself in most of the time (exiting a junction (especially when wet), entering a roundabout etc. Just get used to that and you'll be covered for most of the little incidents that life throws at you.
Try it with TC on and off as I've found that in the NC the TC kicks in at the worst moments and "leaves you stranded" sometimes as it kills the power - hateful little thing but thankfully it's switched off very easily!
Also, I've not done it yet but am saving the pennies for a full driving experience that will teach me car control on (or over!) it's limits but wouldn't suggest a new car would be the tool for that job!
Enjoy the NC, it's a belter of a car!
Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 2nd December 13:29
kambites said:
That's little to do with RWDness though, that's mostly just driving too fast for the grip available.
What got me was that I'd been trundling along for 30mins up to that point, quite happy when without any obvious provocation from myself off it went Edited by kambites on Thursday 2nd December 13:25
Dropped the speed by 5mph or so after that and it was quite happy.
Splats said:
Over and above everything that has been said already remember the golden rule:
If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
Which I did and spun my car!
I was rather caught out by the conditions and lack of RWD experience. I 'knew' not to lift-off, but in that situation it all went a bit wrong!
Don't do anything silly OP and it will be fine.
Splats said:
Over and above everything that has been said already remember the golden rule:
If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
That's nothing new though, FWD cars lift-off oversteer too. If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
kambites said:
Splats said:
Over and above everything that has been said already remember the golden rule:
If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT[
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
That's nothing new though, FWD cars lift-off oversteer too. If the back end goes, back-off the throttle....DO NOT LIFT[
9/10 if you panic and come completely off the gas you'll convert power over-steer into lift-off over-steer.
M.
Don't drive like this guy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cn9lqm2mKA
Turn in, foot on throttle, wheels spinning, car starts sliding, foot still on throttle, wheels still spinning, round we go.
And again.
And again.
And again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cn9lqm2mKA
Turn in, foot on throttle, wheels spinning, car starts sliding, foot still on throttle, wheels still spinning, round we go.
And again.
And again.
And again.
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