Advice
 

Hi FT86

Little about my self i am an security and alarm engineer and techinal things as such has always caught my attention i WAS NOT always a car lover, now the girlfriend says i never shut up.

When i was 17 i was in a car accident 3 people were in the car driver, back passenger and front passenger (ME) other 2 guys were ok i was on hospital for seven months major sugary i won't go into the details as such. I started to look into things such as why did my airbag not go of, why my seat belt snapped, why when the driver applied opposite lock did we not straiten up i knew NOTHING about cars.

All this free time and reading got me interested into car's then i started to go to car meets, events EXT. Now i love them such a passion of mine and a huge part of my life ( funny isn't it ). So onto my question.

I have a GT86 coming on the 23 of May and it is my first RWD car i just want some tips so i don't kill myself basically. Please don't start buy saying if your not confident in yourself then you shouldn't of get this car, i am a strong believer that i could get hit by a bus when i walk out of my house so i will do the things in life that make me and the people a care about happy.

Any advice would be helpful.
Thank You.

Keep traction control on

/thread

Leave all the traction control stuff on while you get a feel for the car. Start slow, take your time, and learn how it moves.

Go to an empty parking lot after a heavy rain and slide the car around a little bit. Start with the TC/VSC on, the with the TC/VSC in sport, then turn it off completely (pedal dance). Get a feel for how the system reacts at different levels. Try to sustain the slide instead of just spinning out. Make sure the parking lot has no curbs or pot holes.

Sign up for a track day with intructors. If you can handle the car at the limit of its abilities, then handling the car for daily driving shouldn't be a problem.

For normal driving, drive like normal and you won't kill yourself. This is a very stable car from the get-go and while it's easy to get the rear end out, it's also very easy to recover.

If you're a little nervous, just leave the nannies on.

If you want to find out how not to kill yourself and drive the car at the limit, I suggest you begin attending local HPDE's in your area and have an instructor with you (usually they'll have them for you there) to teach you.

Go to your local track and learn how the car reacts in different situations.

I learned shit ton at my first track day. Best 80 bucks spent ever.

Good advice. I have surprised all my passengers with how good the VSC sport mode is, even in the wet. I had my Dad starting to go "ahhhHHH!" then it kicked in a brought the car straight. He shook his head, "Technology these days!"

With all the nannies on this car is fool proof, granted you don't intentionally do something stupid like gun it around a corner in first gear in the wet.

These videos show a decent demonstration.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj7WIlliwgQ"]Subaru BRZ drift secrets, stability control, VSC and TRC settings - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8qggahGNH0"]Toyota 86 Traction Control Demonstration [SKIDPAD] - YouTube[/ame]

- go to a performance driving course with your car to learn it.
- be careful in the rain, don't make poor decisions.
- obey road signs as best as possible.
- don't endanger others
- keep traction control on until you're comfortable with the car
- don't use the pedal dance (black ice flaw)

I will tell you what will get you first in this car - the blind spot over your right shoulder (being in the UK) - Make sure you get a good long peek before doing any lane shifting. Be super careful in the roundabouts bro.

Otherwise - drive safe and have fun!

One thing I've learned from motorcycles, try to never go the same speed as everyone else on the road. Keeps you out of others' blind spots and keeps them out of yours :iono: I get really uncomfortable when people do the same speed around me. I start to lose track of where all the cars are around me.

I do miss my old car though. Huge windows, virtually no blind spots.

J turns. go.

If you drive like a reasonable responsible citizen you will not notice the difference between RWD and FWD.

The difference comes when you willingly exceed the traction limits of the tires, this should not happen in daily driving conditions.

Go to a local AutoX or Track Day, you'll learn more there in a day than what you can learn from any reading material or video, not to say you shouldn't read up but that hands on experience will easily dwarf academic knowledge with a days worth of seat time and a decent instructor.

Thank you all for the advise.
I have been driving for 3 years and roughly about 90000 miles worth of experience tho that was 25k in a van and 65k in a Vauxhall Vectra, it really is just the RWD aspect that has me worried a little.
Great to see other people sharing the experience with other's less experienced.
Looks like Closed car parks and Driving course's for me!
Thank you again.

Slow down in the rain and get snow tires if you want to drive in the snow. You'll be fine!

I had an accident a year ago (in a couple of days,actually..), but when I test drove this car, I actually felt very, very comfortable in it. Much to my surprise.

This car is VERY predictable. (at least imo) If you're nervous, just take it easy, or put grippier tires on it. Tires can make a whole world of difference.
I definitely agree with maybe some track day practice.