handling question

[Briank]

Driving on the street I don't have the opportunity to push my NSX very often but once in a while I do get a freeway on ramp to myself and I can get some ware near the limit of my stock NSX. When I go through a long on curved ramp the rear of my car feels like it is going to come around on me. It is very controllable but just feels weird. Is there any thing wrong with my car or is this oversteer normal for the car?

 

[Ponyboy]

You are indeed at the limit (which is not a good thing on the street) if you are experiencing oversteer. A stock NSX has a slight tendency to understeer. Theres a huge list of possibilties that include but not limited to:

* tires (pressure, brand, alignment, etc)
* worn shocks
* road conditions

I'd try analizing the road conditions, tires, and the driver (no offense intended) before considering other possibilities.

 

[DocL]

There are too many variables in this scenario. Is the on ramp a decreasing radius? How are you approaching the curve? You do know that you can turn the car by using the accelerator and that yes you may be inducing throttle oversteer.

If you are unsure as to what the car is doing you should take it easy on these on ramps. They are not designed to be taken like a race car as the camber can be offset to aid in water drainage.

Be careful because your car may "come around" on you and you'll be in a whole lot of trouble very quickly.

 

[Briank]

You are indeed at the limit (which is not a good thing on the street) if you are experiencing oversteer. A stock NSX has a slight tendency to understeer. Theres a huge list of possibilties that include but not limited to:

* tires (pressure, brand, alignment, etc)
* worn shocks
* road conditions

I'd try analizing the road conditions, tires, and the driver (no offense intended) before considering other possibilities.

I am running stock tires at recommenced presures, had a alinement this spring to stock specs. The oversteer is controlable but I can feel I am coming to the limit. Just a little reduction in throttle gets things back under control. It just seems like it happens in a long sweeping corner where I am going 50 - 60 MPH. Just looking for some feed back on this issue,

Thanks

 

[apapada]

Driving on the street I don't have the opertunity to push my NSX very often but once in a while I do get a freeway on ramp to myself and I can get someware neer the limit of my stock NSX. When I go through a long on curved ramp the rear of my car feels like it is going to come around on me. It is vary controlable but just feels weird. Is there any thing wrong with my car or is this oversteer normal for the car?

#1-Find yourself an empty parking lot with lots of runout areas around without no trees, curbs, etc...
#2-Keep the steering wheel at a given angle and progressively accelerate until the car starts understeering (your radius should be increasing).

If the car actually oversteers (rear loses traction first), then you might have a problem you want to look asap. It is normal for an NSX to understeer at the limit (as long as you don't use the throttle with sudden moves). If yours doesn't, it is not doing what it was designed for...

if the car does understeer, then you're in the clear and your next step is to discover how it responds at the limit with different throttle and/or steering inputs (Not advised to try it in a public place). All mid-engine cars with low polar moment of inertia can be very tricky to control intially. But once you master the technique, there is no substitute imho.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

[/QUOTE]

They are not designed to be taken like a race car as the camber can be offset to aid in water drainage.

Damn I thought they were. I take them all @ WFO. Experience does help though with the car and with driving at the limits too.

Briank, I suggest yo do some local autocrosses or even a non-timed big track school like NSXPO, BMWCCA, Tracktime etc.

 

[SoCal-NSX]

Whoa!

My two cents is to find a local auto cross, take the car there and so you can really figure out where your limits are. AutoX is about car control in a reasonably safe environment. Sometimes they have skid-pads so you can experience first hand as much as you want exactly what it feels like right before your tires give up and what to do/not do after you start spinning.

Just my opinion.

Dave

 

[Aiken Drum]

Just looking for some feed back on this issue,

Perhaps you've heard this old one:

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"

"So don't do that."

Same applies here.

 

[tararan]

Re: Whoa!

My two cents is to find a local auto cross, take the car there and so you can really figure out where your limits are. AutoX is about car control in a reasonably safe environment. Sometimes they have skid-pads so you can experience first hand as much as you want exactly what it feels like right before your tires give up and what to do/not do after you start spinning.

Just my opinion.

Dave

i agree with so-cal nsx. you can't feel any more safe pushing your car to its limit even passed its limits on a autocross track..

this way you can judge for your self how fast you supposed to be goin on a curb by watching people go first on the track. im no expert but im sure am addicted to drving my NSX hard.

 

[apapada]

Re: Re: Whoa!

i agree with so-cal nsx. you can't feel any more safe pushing your car to its limit even passed its limits on a autocross track..

this way you can judge for your self how fast you supposed to be goin on a curb by watching people go first on the track. im no expert but im sure am addicted to drving my NSX hard.

imho, there is too much distraction at an autoX event for someone to discover his car limits for the first time. I agree an autoX event would be a great place to perferct driving skills, but as a first time exploratory exercice, I dunno if its the best place...

 

[Nimbus]

You don't gain full competency with one autocross event, do a full season or two and I'll guarantee you'd be a much better driver with better understanding of your vehicle's dynamics.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

WOW silly me I just saw where you are from! I HAVE A SOLUTION! Go here---> www.cgimotorsports.com They have around 10 events a year @ Gingerman (South haven MI) on a 2 mile extremely safe road course. No tire walls, armcos, etc just grass and more grass. I have been there several times. The only wall on the track is down the start/finish. to seperate the track from the pits. A lot of NSX's do the CGI event, and can offer ride along instructors too. check them out. Also in a couple of weeks, there is the Badger BMWCCA drivers school at Road America. I think they have a couple spots open yet. Go to www.roadamerica.com and click on "clubs" on top.