Hit a curb yesterday

[VBNSX]

Car caught gravel through a turn and after like 3 fishtails I hit the median.

Car was still driveable, took it to acura it's a bent tie rod and a tiny crack in the bumper.

Which brings me to my question, I've always driven FWD cars like a champ. And I KNOW that if I was in my other car I could've easily controlled that turn... all I did w/ the other car would be floor it through the turn, b/c of the LSD and fwd, the car would pull itself through the turn..

is not the case w/ rwd. Anyone got any good websites or stuff on educating one w/ rwd turning basics?

thanks,
-x-

 

[DocL]

The first problem is that you went into the turn too fast and didn't notice the gravel before the turn. The second problem is that you are not familiar with the characteristics of a mid-engine/rwd car. The best thing to do is sign up for a advanced or three day driving school like Skip Barber so you can learn the basics of car control. This not a flame, but most of us have picked up some very bad habbits through our previous instructors: Mom and Dad.

You were very fortunate that you didn't do more damage to the car. A bent tie rod and bruised ego is a cheap price considering that you could have gotten into a lot more trouble.

 

[VBNSX]

I won't doubt I was going fast..
and I definitely don't deny that I'm new to the characteristics of this car...

so now apart from the I told you so's

do you know any place that would be closer that could offer this unique driving school experience?

thanks,
-xavier-

i'm located in virginia.

 

[cpmoran]

X, dude Greg now you.. Whats up man I hope I am not next, I was just going to send you an e-mail telling you how impressed I was with how beautiful you car is looking. So Sorry to here post some pics or I just might stop over if the rain holds off.

 

[nsxtasy]

do you know any place that would be closer that could offer this unique driving school experience?

thanks,
-xavier-

i'm located in virginia.

There are professional driving schools located all over the country - everything from the big-name, big-buck places like Skip Barber and Bob Bondurant, to the marque clubs, to other groups that hold schools. Click here for more suggestions. Some of the groups that have events in the Southeast include Chin Motorsports, NASA, Car Guys, and TrackTime.

 

[Nimbus]

If you don't want to go through a full blown driving school that teaches you the complete aspecs of high performance driving, simple skid pad excercies are good for your basic oversteer/understeer car control that can save you in the situation you encountered on the streets.

 

[PKim]

I agree with Nimbus, if you want to experience your car, the next time it rains alittle take the car to a open parking lot and use it like a skid pad. Learn the characteristics of the car in understeer and oversteer situations. Also as Nsxtasy said, don't lift when your backend comes around you'll definately go into a uncontrolled spin.

 

[VBNSX]

I had fish tailed twice.. when in the middle of the hassle I said.. hmm.. maybe if I let go of the gas it'll work..

well when I let go.. that's when I shot towards the curb..

hmm..

parking lots.. here I come..

thanks guys..

-x-

 

[Nimbus]

I agree with Nimbus, if you want to experience your car, the next time it rains alittle take the car to a open parking lot and use it like a skid pad. Learn the characteristics of the car in understeer and oversteer situations. Also as Nsxtasy said, don't lift when your backend comes around you'll definately go into a uncontrolled spin.

Umm.. I didn't exactly suggest doing skid pad exercises in public parking lots...

 

[nsxtasy]

He said open parking lots - meaning parking lots with no other cars, no lighting stanchions or other obstacles, etc.

 

[PKim]

He said open parking lots - meaning parking lots with no other cars, no lighting stanchions or other obstacles, etc.

Exactly! I would also make sure there is no speed bumps or parking markers.

 

[tararan]

damn, that sucks bro. it happened to me before but i was on my mr2 and was on a big and clear road.

if you can attend an autoX event do so and you will learn a lot about the limits and trick of your car.

empty parking is also doable..

 

[NSX/MR2]

Any above-averaged or high-powered sport cars do not like the water at all (NSX, MR2....)

 

[405AngryHorses]

Any above-averaged or high-powered sport cars do not like the water at all (NSX, MR2....)

I feel that any vehicle (this includes civics) that breaks traction for a uncontrolled prolonged period of time in water would result in a accident.
LOL so, where exactly is the 'high powered' sport car? its a simple rwd factor of a loss of traction. due to the fact the car is being pushed and rather than pulled from fwd. and a mr2 would be considered an average sport car. peace.

p.s. I hope you meant atleast the turbo that has 200hp and not the 2.2 liter 4 cylinder with 135 hp base model hot rod.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Any above-averaged or high-powered sport cars do not like the water at all (NSX, MR2....)

Oh please! As I've posted here and in many other threads:

"It doesn't sound like many of you have actually driven the car hard in the rain. I have had more than one occassion to push the car very hard at the track in the rain. The results? On OEM Yoks in a driving rain with lots of standing water I was able to take the car to straightaway and cornering speeds nearly equalling the speeds I reached in the dry. I never once lost control or even drifted much. Under hard braking, cornering and accelerating the car was a dream to drive.

Driven with care the NSX exhibits no worse wet weather characteristics than any other car. IMO it's even better than most!"

I think you may find some others here that agree with that statement.

 

[NSX/MR2]

p.s. I hope you meant atleast the turbo that has 200hp and not the 2.2 liter 4 cylinder with 135 hp base model hot rod. [/B]

Yes, I was talking about the turboed model MR2 which is extremely easy to modify and have the capability to smoke the hell out of your ZO6 and certainly the NSX. Beside, they are not bad looking, either.

What's with the attitude? You keep the ZO6 (too unreliable and little quality) all you want, I ain't going to buy that car, (NSX and other mid-engined only sport cars for me.) PEACE! Real appropriate kind of language!

Ohh, please. I already lost a silver-MR2 and did a 360 with the NSX in the rain. I drive my cars even when it is raining (almost everyday) so I would know a little bit about these cars.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Ohh, please. I already lost a silver-MR2 and did a 360 with the NSX in the rain. I drive my cars even when it is raining (almost everyday) so I would know a little bit about these cars.

I'm not implying that you know little about these cars, but I am saying that the NSX does not have an inherent tendency to spin in the rain. The car is extremely well balanced and, quite to the contrary, handles brilliantly in the rain on properly inflated tires with plenty of tread (OEM Yoks are my preference).

Just because you have spun your NSX in the rain is not enough evidence to indict all NSXes.

 

[nkb]

One great way to learn how to drive your car properly is attending some sort of driving school (as mentioned above). But, unless you have thousands of dollars burning a hole in your pocket, Skip Barber, Bondurant, et al is out of people's reach sometimes.

What I've found is a great way to learn are Driver's Education courses put on by various enthusiast car clubs. They are generally very reasonably priced ($150 - $200) for a weekend, and they supply experienced drivers as instructors.

You drive your own car on a race track, so what you learn applies to what you will be driving day-to-day.

I thought I was a pretty decent driver before I went out to a Porsche event in Texas, and thought I was pushing my car pretty hard at times, but, holy shnikies, was I wrong. You will be amazed at what your car can do (no matter what type of car it is), and what you can do. You realize how far away from the limit you have been in your typical driving.

The instructors will teach you plenty (though it can be hit-and-miss sometimes with the quality of instructor), and once they think you have progressed enough, you go out on your own, and practice what you've learned.

In general, you will get 4 sessions a day, maybe 20 minutes or so per session. Granted, I know it doesn't compare to one of the professional driving schools, where you have multiple days of intense personalized instruction, but I think it's a cost-effective alternative.

George

 

[nkb]

Ohh, please. I already lost a silver-MR2 and did a 360 with the NSX in the rain. I drive my cars even when it is raining (almost everyday) so I would know a little bit about these cars.

Not trying to start anything, but if you're spinning cars regularly (mid engine or not), I would venture to state that you DON'T know your cars that well.

George

 

[ChopsJazz]

One great way to learn how to drive your car properly is attending some sort of driving school.

The best money you'll ever spend modding your car is on "the nut that holds the wheel".

 

[JJCNSX]

NSX like every MR car is NOT very forgiving at all. When the tail start to give, you have very little time to save it back and gotta be precise with your counter steer.

i used to think my driving skill is pretty decent.. and never had any problem pushing my supra to the limit on tracks.. it gives a lot of warning before let go.. once it let go, it is relatively easy to save its tail.

when i had my first spinout with my nsx, i clamly do my countersteer with gentle depress on throttle pedal.. for a while i thought i had it back in control.. next thing i know my nsx was doing 180 spin to the left and then 720 to the right on the state route.. scared the F out of me.. Everyone there were stunned.. and i am lucky that i didnt hit anything...

from then on, i learn that MR is a very different animal.. i am planning on selling my supra tt and pick up a used MR2 so i can learn how to master a MR.. hopefully i can one day bring my NSX to track and master it.

-jjc.
red nsx 6spds
blk supra 6spds

 

[NSX/MR2]

ChopsJazz,

I have tracked my car (1/8; 1/4,) drifting and auto-X it. Hell, I have destroyed three pair of clutches and one engine in the process. Give me your NSX and i will let you drive mine, or you can drive your own vehicle if you like. We both hit the very tight corner (TCS off) that i went through in the wet at about 35-40mph and I will bet you that you will lose control before I do. In that situation, I say you are the one that need to be a bit more educated and haven't explore the limit on your vehicle yet.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Give me your NSX and i will let you drive mine, or you can drive your own vehicle if you like. We both hit the very tight corner (TCS off) that i went through in the wet at about 35-40mph and I will bet you that you will lose control before I do. In that situation, I say you are the one that need to be a bit more educated and haven't explore the limit on your vehicle yet.

No thanks, you can go and spin your own NSX. If I went into the same corner that you spun on in the rain at 35-40 mph, I can guarantee that I would do it differently than you. Probably slower and keep the nose pointed ahead of me, not at my tail.

 

[DocL]

...I have tracked my car (1/8; 1/4,) drifting and auto-X it. Hell, I have destroyed three pair of clutches and one engine in the process. ...

Wow, now those are impressive numbers.

 

[NSX/MR2]

Hey, I drive my cars "hard." that was what these vehicles were meant to be driven anyhow. Yes, I will go through a lot more tires and clutches; hopefully no engine(s) though.