Scary Experience

[cro320]

my brother took mine for a spin yesterday in RAIN...when he got back reaction was: this is lethal!

of course it is when you drive Mazda from 2009 with FWD,ABS....
these cars are very dangerous in wet only to those who learned to drive new FWD cars with loads of shitty elec.systems...for others more experienced drivers they are pure joy and fun...that's why we drive them

[George]

To be honest I've found the E30 fairly well behaved.

Back in the day it used to have 4 different tyres: 1xGoodyear 1xFate-O 1xPrimewell and 1xFederal. Not so much of an issue in the dry but once it rained you had to be on your guard for fear of catching out out. Motorways were a bit interesting as you could feel the car 'slipping' when changing lanes as the tyres went over the painted markings!

Now it has 4x Kumho Ecsta KU31s and I have to say I've been impressed. Had a minor incident last week in super heavy rain on the A12 to the extent that I needed to slow the car down to <40. Started to aquaplane on me but luckily control returned a second later. Scary!

[turkeysneck]

I had a monumental moment a few weeks ago in the wet, entering a dual carriageway (and not driving like the middle-aged man child I am) I was just cruising along trying to save fuel for the long journey ahead. As I entered the dual carriageway it starts off as a long sweeping left hand bend and just as it started to straighten out I gently started to feed the power in, as I'm in a go slow mode and not really concentrating I was caught smack with my pants down, the rear brutally snapped away. Before you know it my eyes are redder than the devils dick and I'm hotter than a cats crotch. Now I'm on full opposite lock when the front left wheel then bounces up the kerb and just as I'm thinking I'll need a dustpan and brush to sweep up what's left of the car once it's smashed into the barrier and as the car was about to reach the point of no return it bit and threw me the other way then fishtailed twice more before it finally straightened up.
If it wasn't for the fact it was two lanes it would have been game over.

Thankfully my girlfriend wasn't in the car or else she would have probably stabbed me through the heart.

I suppose they don't call em yuppie killers for nothing.

I still wouldn't sell it for the world, it's a real drivers car and very rewarding to drive but it can bite.

[mwggriffiths]

If I were an old man, I'd say "kids these days, always driving everywhere too fast"

But I'm not, I'm 22, and I can't say I've had an issue yet and I'm no saint....

Maybe its because I've only got a 4 pot?

Or perhaps its because I've either got Winters or T1-R's on, and refuse to drive anything on cheap rubber?

[ajay]

I used to blast the country lanes from potters bar to the A1 in my sport on my way home from work,i knew the roads inside out and looked forward to it. Then i stopped using the sport for commuting and got a 318is,well the first time i did my usual blast as i exited a curve (with a slight camber and a bit of a hump) the .is. took off and i ended up heading straight for a lorry on the other side of the road.With my heart in my mouth i was fighting to regain control heading from ditch one side to other side of the road and back again,luckily i regained control and continued my way home shaking like a leaf. What the car behind or the lorry driver must have thought i don,t know! my sport had a fresh suspension lsd and decent rubber, the .is. diden,t the difference between LIFE and DEATH on an e30!!

[hennared323i]

Reading these stories I'm surprised anyone is left alive on the zone.

Might trade mine in for a nice safe Saab

+1

[ross_jsy]

No wonder diesel prices are so high, the amount of diesel that is allegedly on the roads worse than talking to a bunch of bikers

Every time I have come across a spill it has left a rainbow effect on the road.

Had one major pant shitting moment. First time in the wet on r888's and was taking it easy. Found them to be surprisingly grippy through the corners and gained a lot of confidence in them. Booted it down a straight, hit standing water at about 100 and it went broadside for what felt like ever before stopping 90 degrees to the road. Got out the car and threw up everywhere second time I have puked from fear

[mattmk1]

I think aswell, how often you use the car and what your used to driving plays a part. If you use a newish car monday to friday then jump into something old and RWD at weekends, they can catch you out.

As someone said above, im 24 and have never had any major scares in an E30, but then i grew up with cars and the only FWD thing iv ever owned is a 205 GTI Mi16. Scariest thing iv ever driven is a Skyline R32 with bald rear tyres.

Oh and i once was driving back from a trackday in my 205, mid summer, and got caught in torrential rain. The car was running on Dunlop Formula R track tyres, and despite slowing to 20 odd mph, the thing just aqua planed for about half a mile down a country lane. Pretty much lock to lock, couldnt do anything but my cross my fingers. Pulled over and refused to drive it home, got a mate to come pick me up.

But my E30s have always been well behaved, driven them daily through rain, wind and snow, never had a problem. I enjoy the predictability of them to be honest.

But diesel can be a killer, so can wet leaves in autumn.

[HJG-E30]

No wonder diesel prices are so high, the amount of diesel that is allegedly on the roads worse than talking to a bunch of bikers

Every time I have come across a spill it has left a rainbow effect on the road.

Not to easy to spot in the pissing down rain at 11.30pm!

[Jos]

It's nice of the law to let bikers use the bus lanes but given the amount of derv that runs out of Translink buses it's safer to not use the bus lane in light rain.

I find the dirty36m3 much easier to deal with in the wet than the e30 but I suspect that's LSD vs open being the case.

[ross_jsy]

Would say it's down to the z link rear end. Always found e36' more sure footed in all conditions.

[Jos]

so how do we fit that to an e30?

[ross_jsy]

Funnily enough I was thinking the exact same thing last night!

Without a lot of fabrication/cutting it's not going to be possible. e36 rear end:





e30 rear end:

[Jhonno]

There is another factor in here.. An E30/RWD would NOT just suddenly lose control travelling at a constant 30mph..

[Jhonno]

Nothing wrong with a trailing arm setup either.. Drove mine with an S50'd shitter in ALL conditions and never once did it 'suddenly lose control'.. That even had 'evil' 17's on also.

[oldroydsr4]

Sorry if this offends, but all this talk about e30's being 'lethal' in the wet is just BS.

I can't help thinking its down to a combination of poor driving and poorly maintained e30's.

Admittedly, a 325i with ditch finder bottle tops, knackered suspension bushes and an open diff is a little hairy when pushing on but lethal is laughable.

I can guarantee you, an e30 with good tyres (toyos T1Rs etc), new suspension bushes and a good LSD is a hoot to drive in the wet.

RWD cars just need a little respect.

[Jhonno]

Sorry if this offends, but all this talk about e30's being 'lethal' in the wet is just BS.

I can't help thinking its down to a combination of poor driving and poorly maintained e30's.

Admittedly, a 325i with ditch finder bottle tops, knackered suspension bushes and an open diff is a little hairy when pushing on but lethal is laughable.

I can guarantee you, an e30 with good tyres (toyos T1Rs etc), new suspension bushes and a good LSD is a hoot to drive in the wet.

RWD cars just need a little respect.

Exactly.. We were probably even writing it at the same time.

[redcar]

Sorry if this offends, but all this talk about e30's being 'lethal' in the wet is just BS.

I can't help thinking its down to a combination of poor driving and poorly maintained e30's.

Admittedly, a 325i with ditch finder bottle tops, knackered suspension bushes and an open diff is a little hairy when pushing on but lethal is laughable.

I can guarantee you, an e30 with good tyres (toyos T1Rs etc), new suspension bushes and a good LSD is a hoot to drive in the wet.

RWD cars just need a little respect.

Couldn't have put it better.

[yung-gun]

Personally i think its much more frightening to be out of control with your front wheels due to diesel on the road. Think RWD helps with the corrective side of things

[yung-gun]

Personally i think its much more frightening to be out of control with your front wheels due to diesel on the road. Think RWD helps with the corrective side of things

Meant FWD shitty under steer

[beemerbird]

Sorry if this offends, but all this talk about e30's being 'lethal' in the wet is just BS.

I can't help thinking its down to a combination of poor driving and poorly maintained e30's.

Admittedly, a 325i with ditch finder bottle tops, knackered suspension bushes and an open diff is a little hairy when pushing on but lethal is laughable.

I can guarantee you, an e30 with good tyres (toyos T1Rs etc), new suspension bushes and a good LSD is a hoot to drive in the wet.

RWD cars just need a little respect.

Surely you're not suggesting that the instant hero status achieved by anyone who drives an E30 without destroying it / themselves is not earnt??????

[MattTheHat325]

I've got to be trying hard to make mine step out in the wet, T1r's, open diff and a lot of camber. Was a different story with bald wanli's mind, but it never scared me. Foreign substances on the road surface seem to be the most likely cause of most hairy moments if the car is in rude health.

E30's are lively if you push them but they are famously forgiving due to the linear power delivery and smooth torque curve. When you're pushing a 2wd cosworth in the wet, you will die.

[Jos]

Personally i think its much more frightening to be out of control with your front wheels due to diesel on the road. Think RWD helps with the corrective side of things

Meant FWD shitty under steer

What was the saying:

Oversteer: passengers are scared
Understeer: driver is scared

[ross_jsy]

There is another factor in here.. An E30/RWD would NOT just suddenly lose control travelling at a constant 30mph..

+1.

Cars don't suddenly loose control without there being an underlying reason.

Unless there is standing water I am more than happy to push on in the wet

[Speedtouch]

Speedtouch, you were lucky to survive that! Glad to know you got out of that wreck out.

Wasn't on the Thanet Way, by any chance? Or is that the Isle of Sheppey in the background?

Thanks. I was surprised too - I just clambered out without a scratch, with just slight neck ache the next day, a testament to the E30's strength!

Yes, it was on the Thanet Way, near Dargate, a notorious accident blackspot. The same week, another car went off, at the same position, destroying the junction box that my car brushed up against:

[mattmk1]

. When you're pushing a 2wd cosworth in the wet, you will die.

Cossies are fine until the power starts creeping up. Standard 325i with open diff, big heavy lump up front, no weight in the rear, dodgy camber, slow steering etc Vs standard 220bhp cossie with its LSD and quicker steering etc? Out of the two id feel more comfortable in the cossie.

350bhp cossie vs S52 E30 on a wet road? Id still rather take the cossie.

[Jhonno]

350bhp cossie vs S52 E30 on a wet road? Id still rather take the cossie.

S50 E30 you mean?

I'd take the E30 everytime.. Linear power and torque curves vs. boost in a Ford shed... The former wins ALL day long. Nevermind the fact there is nothing wrong or killer about an E30 in the wet.

[mattmk1]

Yeah ha, S50. Damn BMW and their engine codes. Personal preference i guess, boost is fine once you know when and how its going to spool up.

But i agree totally, compared to many cars - porsche 911's as an example, E30's are pussycats. I just think that in standard form, with many wearing cheaper tyres, open diffs etc, with the weight distribution and slow steering, its not surprising that many of them end up facing the wrong way.

[Jozi]

Not had any scary moments really with the touring, maybe the extra weight over the rear end helps a little?

[redcar]

E46 067 rack makes a big difference i think. Standard e30 rack may be difficult to tame.

[Jozi]

E46 067 rack makes a big difference i think. Standard e30 rack may be difficult to tame.

Have one ready to go in

[redcar]

E46 067 rack makes a big difference i think. Standard e30 rack may be difficult to tame.

Have one ready to go in

You will love the difference. Best upgrade for an e30 any day

[Jozi]

E46 067 rack makes a big difference i think. Standard e30 rack may be difficult to tame.

Have one ready to go in

You will love the difference. Best upgrade for an e30 any day

I had a normal e46 rack fitted so I'm curious to the difference! Not that I can remember what that was like to drive with.

[redcar]

Did you even find it too light as that's what some have said they experience when they fit a normal e46 rack into the e30.

Glad you got the desired 067 rack though The steering feel is a good weight and the speed of the rack as well as the lock is immense.

[Jozi]

I remember it being light, can't remember was it to light though. It was a relatively inexpensive buy from ebay and I'll sell the old one on with pipes and spacers (I got the nice bent pipes from Dan).