First RWD car

[brainhulk]

I agree that lower power cars won't be that difficult to deal with. However if you are driving it like you stole it, one can theoretically be somewhere along the edge of the traction circle...then a lift here, ham fisted turning there or sudden inputs to throttle with cold tires can result into oversteer spin

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've been looking at the FR-S, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. It does have traction control.

Sorry, I meant that I was looking into understeer as a RWD phenomona rather than oversteer which is more typical of FWD (if my reading is correct at all). I don't know if I would turn into the slide by reflex to correct understeer. Although, I've heard the FR-S doesn't understeer easily and is more of an oversteer car.

Either way, I just want to steer normally lol



Probably not. Only 200HP on an FR-S, but I wanted to pick a car that couldn't get me into too much trouble. I'm not a terribly experienced/proficient driver.



Yeah, definitely planning on it.

On that topic, is engine break-in something you should actually worry about?

Read your owner's manual.

FR-S is a pretty neutral handling car from what I've read. An excellent choice.

 

[cyclistca]

Not good in snow

RWD is fine in snow with proper snow tires.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I say this as a proud owner of a wonderful '08 Z06, but it's been my experience that a disproportionate number of vettes are either driven by dowdy old men, or complete and total douchebag "bro" wannabes.

It's obvious why; it's a HELLUVA lot of power at a pretty cheap price, but it's sad to see fools who have no idea what they're doing endangering other people behind the wheel.

Also... In my experience with c5 and c6 vettes... They are absolutely terrible with TC turned off and being driven at the limit. There is a very fine line between planted and 100% breaking loose.. Compared to most other RWD sports cars which break loose slower and more predictably.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

If you're driving 'normally'.. as you should be on any public roadway.. You're gonna be perfectly fine.

If you do want to open it up and find the limits of your car - and more importantly, the limits of you - in a safe(er) controlled environment, I highly recommend getting involved with your local SCCA or NASA chapter and start running a few local Autocross or HPDE events.

You will learn more about yourself as a driver and what the car will and won't do in one weekend than you have learned in your entire life driving public streets.

Especially since you said you're not a very experienced driver? You'll get one on one seat time with driving instructors that will show you what to do and what not to do. A lot of which is directly applicable to street driving like looking ahead (yeah, that seems obvious but I'll about guarantee you and 90% of people out there don't look ahead nearly far enough - trust me on this)... Making smooth controlled throttle and steering inputs... Learning how to place your vehicle exactly where you want it to be... How to induce, reduce, correct and control oversteer and understeer.

But mostly you'll learn how the car communicates with you and most importantly how to communicate back to the car. Then if you do ever need to make some sudden moves to avoid a potential accident, you'll be armed with some valuable tools and less likely to panic in a pressure situation.

I have a RWD Mustang that's far from stock. It puts out 520-ish horsepower and gearing to make the most of it. I've driven it in sun, rain, and snow - no issues. But, that's because I've learned by driving it competitively in a controlled environment just exactly what the car will and won't do.

And when some of us are talking about driving at the limit... I've spun my car off course and lost control of it more than once and if you get involved with performance driving you will too - and that's OK. How can you possibly know where your limits and the cars limits are if you don't ever cross the limit once or twice!

FR-S is a fun-as-hell platform.. Probably the best one to come out in it's price range in more than a decade... (1999 Miata and the S-2000 both come to mind). You SHOULD get it out and have some fun with it! It's a driver's car and begs to be at a track - go - learn - have fun - on the track, not on the public highway system.

 

[Dumac]

If you're driving 'normally'.. as you should be on any public roadway.. You're gonna be perfectly fine.

If you do want to open it up and find the limits of your car - and more importantly, the limits of you - in a safe(er) controlled environment, I highly recommend getting involved with your local SCCA or NASA chapter and start running a few local Autocross or HPDE events.

You will learn more about yourself as a driver and what the car will and won't do in one weekend than you have learned in your entire life driving public streets.

Especially since you said you're not a very experienced driver? You'll get one on one seat time with driving instructors that will show you what to do and what not to do. A lot of which is directly applicable to street driving like looking ahead (yeah, that seems obvious but I'll about guarantee you and 90% of people out there don't look ahead nearly far enough - trust me on this)... Making smooth controlled throttle and steering inputs... Learning how to place your vehicle exactly where you want it to be... How to induce, reduce, correct and control oversteer and understeer.

But mostly you'll learn how the car communicates with you and most importantly how to communicate back to the car. Then if you do ever need to make some sudden moves to avoid a potential accident, you'll be armed with some valuable tools and less likely to panic in a pressure situation.

I have a RWD Mustang that's far from stock. It puts out 520-ish horsepower and gearing to make the most of it. I've driven it in sun, rain, and snow - no issues. But, that's because I've learned by driving it competitively in a controlled environment just exactly what the car will and won't do.

And when some of us are talking about driving at the limit... I've spun my car off course and lost control of it more than once and if you get involved with performance driving you will too - and that's OK. How can you possibly know where your limits and the cars limits are if you don't ever cross the limit once or twice!

FR-S is a fun-as-hell platform.. Probably the best one to come out in it's price range in more than a decade... (1999 Miata and the S-2000 both come to mind). You SHOULD get it out and have some fun with it! It's a driver's car and begs to be at a track - go - learn - have fun - on the track, not on the public highway system.

Great advice, thanks. I'll look into that.

It appears that also have novice and intermediate courses with instructors, so I'll look into that too.

As an engineer, I'm excited to have another machine to play with other than my computer.

 

[datalink7]

Great advice, thanks. I'll look into that.

It appears that also have novice and intermediate courses with instructors, so I'll look into that too.

As an engineer, I'm excited to have another machine to play with other than my computer.

Just don't drive like an idiot and you'll be fine. It's really nothing to get worked up about.

I think RWD care are more controllable than FWD cars, but maybe that's just because I'm used to them. I like that the power goes to a different set of wheels from the ones that you steer. It feels better IMO.

 

[hans007]

I bought a g35 as my first new car when I was a 24 year old moron 8 years ago. It rained hard a month after I got it and I fishtailed and rear ended a car at like 5mph. Also don't hit the gas on a curve when its raining..... learned those lessons the hard stupid way.