Second Scion FR-S crashed in California

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Subie

I take issue with posts like this one. This isn't my first rear-wheel drive car by any means, and I never found myself drifting into a trash can in my previous RWD cars that lacked stability control. People need to keep common sense "on," not stability control.

I'm in the same boat as you, lots of experience with RWD (somewhere over a million miles at last count) and agree with you in theory.

For me though keeping common sense "on" includes leaving stability control on. I see no advantage to turning it off on public roads. What am I missing?

[Allch Chcar]

[rant]
Learning to drift in a new car is a terrible idea. Same goes for learning to drive in a new car. Starting out with a rattletrap POS is not just for kids with cheap parents, it's to build a healthy respect for limits.
[/rant]

The driver of this unfortunate car needs one of those new driver bumper stickers on their next vehicle. Probably damaged their confidence and will need to start over.

[Shinji2787]

Seeing these things reminds me of this old.. old.. video....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...842&q=turnbull

[ashtray]

Gotta admit, while I've driven many RWD cars (from pickups, to BMW's, to C6, you name it), I find the FR-S while easy to control/modulate, it also can whip around real fast if you do something dumb.

There's a tight U-Turn at a traffic light I have to make weekly. Larger cars have trouble making this turn without using reverse gear halfway through it. Anyways, I know how to easily tighten a radius - put VSC in Sport mode. In 1st gear, at 5-10mph, turn the first 60-80 degrees at full lock then nail the gas - the back tires light up and the back end whips around quick!

I have yet to "ride it out" in this turn - happy enough to lift a bit and straighten the wheel quickly. Brings everything back under control just as fast as it got sideways. If someone is trying to just do a 90 degree turn and the back end comes out at about 45 degrees into it - they're likely to swing it another 90 before reeling it in. Doing such, they've overshot their turn and are headed into the curb.

I don't recommend learning to drift on the streets. (I learned 20 years ago in empty parking lots in the rain - can really hone your skills at slower speeds.). If you plan to ever get the back end loose on the streets, just know it doesn't behave like many other cars. The C6 has power, but also wide sticky tires. My NA Miata has narrow 205 tires, but they're 3x more sticky than the Primacy's, and the Miata has a fraction of the power to induce a spin.

What I'm saying is be careful out there. Even if you've driven RWD all your life, each car behaves a little bit differently. Learn the FR-S in a safe spot before trying something "technical" in a tight spot with dumpsters around.

[sho220]

Originally Posted by Subie

I take issue with posts like this one. This isn't my first rear-wheel drive car by any means, and I never found myself drifting into a trash can in my previous RWD cars that lacked stability control. People need to keep common sense "on," not stability control.

Probably the same thing the guy who crashed this car used to say...

Keep the stability control on folks...you're not as badass as you think you are (most of your greatness is in your head)...and if you insist on switching them off, please pile into a tree, sign or dumpster, or something like that, and not my car. Thanks!

[MVJ1975]

I've noticed that, too. It's perfectly pleasant until you do something wrong, and then it can and will bite you.

[Synack]

Must've been one hell of a trashcan.

Keep the drifting to the streets and not parking lots. Sheesh. sarcasm

[Skywgn1]

Like the video................"DUDE..........That's gonna cost alot!"

[_F-R-S_]

He might still get money for those wheels!

[Subie]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I'm in the same boat as you, lots of experience with RWD (somewhere over a million miles at last count) and agree with you in theory.

For me though keeping common sense "on" includes leaving stability control on. I see no advantage to turning it off on public roads. What am I missing?

I agree with you, but posts like the one I quoted imply that VSC should be used to prevent a bad situation from getting out of hand; I prefer not to do stupid things on public roads in the first place.

[neutral]

At least put it in VSC Sport mode. Plenty of play to give you a smile without risking flying into something. More people need to read about my wreck -_-

[pnaysh0rty]

Hi Guys- I know you are all wondering what loser drifted(well that didnt ever happen) and damaged the FR-S.Well here is a quick short story to it..

Me and my BF(Driver the night of accident) we were headed home late night.. we were headed down our usual streets to head home.. we were going straight on a Green Light(we had the right of way).. Right when were about to get midway pass the intersection is when the oppossite negligent driver/car coming from the Left turning "Yield at Green light" well he did not yield.. he caused my BF to manuever enough to get away from a collision from his driver side fender/door.. we ended up hitting a palm tree(not a garbage can).. if he hadn't steered out of the way we would be in more serious injuries. Imagine what a side impact would have done to the driver side door(knock on wood this never happens to anyone else..

We'll thats what happened and were both still recovering..

Thanks FR-S forum for the support.

[Wolfking]

Originally Posted by Skywgn1

I know I would like to take the headlights out of the brz and put them in my fr-s, and start button and auto temp control. They can keep the front end.

Sigh! I did not want to admit that too! Well at least the push start, which I think is somewhat exotic; and the climate controls.

[Turbowned]

Ouch, I think I speak for all of us when I saw I'm sorry for your loss! I'm glad to hear you both made it out OK, and that really sucks to hear. If they don't/can't fix the car, I hope you can get set up with a replacement soon. Best of luck with recovery and the car.