Confidence Problem

[DemonDaz]

I guess I must be getting old, buy previously when I bought a new car, I would be giving it all I could to see what it could do. The last two cars I've had, I have taken it really easy.

The last car was a convertible Mk2 Astra, and now a convertible e30 325.

Now I know it is sensible to take it reasonably in the snow we have here in Kent, but I fell like I am driving like an old Granny! (I'm not but it just feels like it!)

I guess it comes from having lots of bad liuck and not wanting to lose any more money on insurance with an accident, but I am really edgy on cornering in case the back steps out. Perhaps it's just my old E36 had a handling problem?

I also expect something to go wrong, even though I have thoroughly checked the car.

Does anyone else sometimes feel their over cautious with a new car?

[Davenotouring]

I always feel cautious with a new car or a car I haven't driven before.

It takes quite a while to understand the cars' charater and handling characteristics.

I take it easy and then get back to normal!

Definately don't go flat out in a car I know nothing about, it does take time to 'get to know' a car.

[billgatese30]

don't worry about taking it easy, i always do even when it's wet, lt alone snow. if your not careful the ice will twat you in the arse when you least expect it...trust me

[Jhonno]

im always careful in a new car till i learn how its gonna react...

Altho mine has scared me recently so i was bein careful when i crashed into the Volvo...

[Splondike]

Now I know it is sensible to take it reasonably in the snow we have here in Kent, but I fell like I am driving like an old Granny! (I'm not but it just feels like it!)

Where in Kent are you mate ? Loads of snow here today

[Davenotouring]

I'm bored, and thinking of taking a drive to Kent...

Is there lots of snow? Settling on the road??!

[Splondike]

Dave - you should have seen it falling around midday today it was mental mate like someone chucking snowballs out of the sky


About 4 inches layed this morning, was melting a late afternoon - but we have had another inch or so since.

[Davenotouring]

Hmmm. Looks like I could go for some fun!

My g/f is coming round to stay now, and she's moaning about me wasting money on fuel and the car in general.....I'll leave it for tonight.

[DemonDaz]

I live in Rainham, But work in Rochester so I had to navigate the gridlocked M2 bluebell hill area.

Splondike, where are you?

Dave, Seems to be mainly slush here on the road now, but try coming off the M2 at Junction 3 (Chatham) Should be loads round there stioll, it is the highest point!

[SCOTT325SE]

Im totally with you guys on taking it easy in new cars!

When i bought Russ' 318iS i drove it from Solihull to Carmarthen and didnt break 75mph once. I knew its history and knew it was a great car, but like any frindship, you have to get to know sum1 or a new car before you trust it completely.
You learn to respect their weaknesses and play to their strengths. The only weakness to Russ' iS was no ABS. It handled beautifully and did what you told it to, but it wasnt good under braking and it didnt have the torque im used to.... so i learnt to drive to its strengths not its weaknesses. Thats what happens when u get to know a car.

[Splondike]

I live in Rainham, But work in Rochester so I had to navigate the gridlocked M2 bluebell hill area.

Splondike, where are you?

Ashford matey... maybe see you at the next Lakeside meet in April then

[johnono]

with comment to demon daz, it only takes a few days to feel like a star in your car but only a couple of seconds to write it off, or worse..

i drive like a granny in snow, because once u loose it u may as well cross your arms and take in the scenery.

sidewaysin and driftin in normal conditions is a calculated loss of traction, and although u can still loose it the margin for recovery is greater. on snow u take your chances.

as for the expecting something to always go wrong.. i have it too, like the smell of the car in front gets me sayin to the missus " quiet!..can u smell that??! "

nurotic mate

[Guest]

I don't rag any old car, whether I'm familiar with it or not. It's me who has to pay for the repairs!

[Lordschleife]

Well its always good to learn a new car, before pushing it too hard, and good to err on the side of caution when cornering a RWD car too if you dont feel confident in it.

Took me the best part of a year to fully regain confidence in driving a car to the limit after destroying the previous one. I'm probably still not there in the cornering to be honest.

[Turbo-Brown]

Definately worth taking the time to learn a new car. Wouldn't say just RWD though. My 1.9 205GTi took some getting used to in terms of throttle steering and lift off oversteer too!

That said, I spent about 5 months driving my '95 325i like a granny and it returned 35mpg for my efforts, the Pug only ever did 28mpg!

[Lordschleife]

Well lets face it, you should never lift off in a corner unless you want to tighten your line a bit (or getthe back end out) and you should be prepared to straighten up the wheel as you do it!

My CRX was quite fond of the old lift off oversteer

Really think they should teach weight transfer as part of the test

[SwirlyE30]

I try to drive as carefully as i can, ill admit ive had some fun when no ones around, but thats just spinning the wheels etc, all basic stuff really.

Seeing as ive only been driving a couple of weeks,after seeing the comment Lordschleife posted about lifting off (ive heard other people say it) are there any tips people would give to a new driver in an E30 (1., RWD seem to have certain tendancys, and although im confident most of the time, i dont wanna take risks through ignorance of not knowing..

[Karan]

some cars i feel i can get into and do anything--it varies soo much!!

when i got my iS i was very scared of pushing the limit abd getting the arse out at first as it felt very snappy

then i got my sport which with the lsd i felt like a god as soon as i got in it, i drove it hme at night, letting it rip on a few occasions and i was like woah!!!!especially after having a iS 4 pot,, it felt great and safe though
then the next day i got the arse out when i got to try it on corners- and i was well happy!!

then when i got the m5 end of last year... and i took it for a spin the long wheelbase instantly inspired confidence more so than the sport... i swear anyone could get in that car and have the arse out on every corner! it really is that easy to drive compared to an e30

Karan

[Lordschleife]

I try to drive as carefully as i can, ill admit ive had some fun when no ones around, but thats just spinning the wheels etc, all basic stuff really.

Seeing as ive only been driving a couple of weeks,after seeing the comment Lordschleife posted about lifting off (ive heard other people say it) are there any tips people would give to a new driver in an E30 (1., RWD seem to have certain tendancys, and although im confident most of the time, i dont wanna take risks through ignorance of not knowing..

Yeah its a good idea to keep the power on in the corner, if you need to lift dont do it sharply or totally - leave some power on and straighten the wheel a little as you do. Of course if you get it badly wrong you may have to just jump on the brakes - but only if you've seriously screwed up and as a last resort

Basically if in doubt try to go for slow in, fast out (apply the power gradually so you can feel what the cars doing) try to apex late too (ie when you can see the exit) that will save you from running out of road if a corner is tighter/longer than you think

I'm sure you can find much better driving advice if you search the net.

Also if you have a PC and a wheel for it I'd advise picking up the old 'grand prix legends' game for a fiver - good physics gives you an idea of how a car behaves with power on/off and really teaches you about weight transfer/balance.

[Lordschleife]

some cars i feel i can get into and do anything--it varies soo much!!

when i got my iS i was very scared of pushing the limit abd getting the arse out at first as it felt very snappy

then i got my sport which with the lsd i felt like a god as soon as i got in it, i drove it hme at night, letting it rip on a few occasions and i was like woah!!!!especially after having a iS 4 pot,, it felt great and safe though
then the next day i got the arse out when i got to try it on corners- and i was well happy!!

then when i got the m5 end of last year... and i took it for a spin the long wheelbase instantly inspired confidence more so than the sport... i swear anyone could get in that car and have the arse out on every corner! it really is that easy to drive compared to an e30

Karan

I guess at the end of the day the quicker a car can change direction, the less stable it'll feel - cant have it both ways <shrug>

[6potWil6pot]

What ive learnt from books, watching others, own driving habits etc is being as smooth as possible, imagining the car like a little tub of water and being concious of sudden changes in direction. Oh and getting all your braking done in a straight line and only going on the gas hard after the apex of a corner. It kinda makes drifting quite unnatural for me cause you have to forcefully upset the car off its natural balance, but its all a learning curve!

I agree totally with Robins slow in fast out and never lifting points!

[astondg]

Basically if in doubt try to go for slow in, fast out (apply the power gradually so you can feel what the cars doing) try to apex late too (ie when you can see the exit) that will save you from running out of road if a corner is tighter/longer than you think

That is how I drive when I don't know the road but I always get to the end and think I could have gone so much faster . I often come into a corner easy because I am not sure but then it turns out to be just a slight bend and I wish I hadn't slowed so much.

I suppose it is better than going into to fast and realising I'm not going to make it . Luckily that hasn't happened on the road but a couple of times on the race track I have caught the edge of the accelerator pedal with my foot while braking and suddenlt I wasn't slowing down like I thought I would. I managed to take the corner but it was exciting (in a bad way )!

Oh and getting all your braking done in a straight line

My 323i is ok with a little bit of trail braking. The back feels fairly stable under brakes, maybe not at higher speeds though.

Aston

[Lordschleife]

Yeah I've done the catching the accelerator thing once when braking late for a motorway roundabout, shat myself, but just about made it!

I think you can get away with a little trail braking as the brake balance is quite far forward in road cars

[calder]

if you want somewhere safe to learn try www.carlimits.com
Andy Walsh is the instructor at North Weald Airfield, just off M11, first junction north of M25.
Safest place i know to loose control at over 70mph on a bend!

Four of us have booked a day with our SELOC E30 Milltek Challenge race cars for a bit of practice & tuition in late March. I've been there several times before with various cars.

Sadly i'm not on commission cos i could do with a discount and more practice.
cheers, Richard

[DemonDaz]

That Track tuition looks cool, shame after buying the car there's no cash left for it

Bring on the summer, then I'll have some fun!

[Wyldie]

I always take it easy dry, wet, snow whatever... I have alot of respect cos I know if it wants to kick out and do something I'm not used to then it will..
I dont go round driving like a maniac or anything anyway but saves crashing into someone or something else then you wont be going anywhere