What's The Big Deal?

[ThePoet]

I've been reading all over the forum of people that think this car is very unpredictable and that it will "bite back" if pushed too far, but if I'm being completely honest here, I find it to be as tame and predictable as a kitten. Especially with the Primacy tires on it. I feel like I could balance this car in a slide mid turn all day if I wanted to.

I also don't have too much experience with rwd cars, or any cars for that matter, mind you, and I'm only 17, so I've only been driving for a little over a year at all. The only other rwd car I've had is a 98 Corvette, which is what I came out of for the FRS. THAT car was unpredictable, let me tell you... No steering feel whatsoever and wide, sticky tires that would let go without any warning (All experimentation was/is done on a private tarmac in case anyone was about to grill me for not driving safely on the streets )

Anyways, I just want to know what other people's thoughts are on the issue? Do you think these cars are unpredictable? I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes who have had issues with unpredictability or losing control, but I'm genuinely interested in how you got these cars to snap at you without being able to control it?

[jflogerzi]

Sounds like you still have all the nannies on (which for your age IS a good thing). Also in normally street driving you really won't get the back end out unless you try(or the road is very slick/wet)

Take it to a track or autoX event where its safe and approach the cars limits and take it slow. I bet only then you see the car start to dance a bit more. Remember always to be safe. On public roads if you do something dumb, other people can get hurt. On a track no one should** get hurt.

[ThePoet]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

Sounds like you still have all the nannies on (which for your age IS a good thing). Also in normally street driving you really won't get the back end out unless you try(or the road is very slick/wet)

Take it to a track or autoX event where its safe and approach the cars limits and take it slow. I bet only then you see the car start to dance a bit more. Remember always to be safe. On public roads if you do something dumb, other people can get hurt. On a track no one should** get hurt.

Maybe you misunderstood the point I was trying to make, because you just sort of restated it for me... And I definitely have the nannies off, I'm not retarded
In response to what I put in bold in your reply, which was my point to begin with: I had been reading that people were scaring themselves on the street with the performance of this thing, and I was wondering how, unless they're being stupid. Because even on the street, if I'm driving at sane speeds, and using common sense to judge the turn I'm trying to take, I've found it to be easily correctable if the back end comes out a little bit.
Oh, and thanks for the advice. I'm definitely not trying to pretend I know it all, and I definitely acknowledge that I still have a lot to learn about driving.

[Surok]

i think americans arent used to anything that isnt fwd and automatic... or a pickup truck. so a rwd sports car is just out of this world for them

[TuxedoCartman]

I think a lot of kids on here (yes... kids!) cut their teeth on Civic Si's and SRT-4's and other FWD grocery-getters, and have never owned a car that doesn't hold their hand while driving. I have nothing against FWD cars... they can be great fun on occasion... but the fact of the matter is that the platform enables bad driving habits, by letting you get in over your head then rescuing you from your own stupidity (for example: diving into a corner too fast, understeering, going "Oh shit...!", then hitting the brakes. You can do this in a FWD; a RWD will slap you for this kind of idiocy).

So all these kids who've been coddled by a more forgiving platform have spent years learning these bad habits, thinking they're really fast drivers all this time... and have now moved over to a completely different platform, where their bad driving habits are floating to the top like so many dead fish. Almost feel like there should be some sort of law requiring them to own a first or second-gen Miata before being able to purchase this car; something a bit slower and still RWD to get some seat time in.

But I'm kinda like you, from the sound of it. My first seven cars were all front engine, rear-wheel drive. I'd had my license for over a decade before even driving something front-wheel drive, so I had the opposite problem there: learning how to go fast in a FWD vehicle took some effort on my part.

[Grishbok]

There is no such thing as an "unpredictable" car. A car only ever responds to driver input. You dont see a car parked on the driveway randomly crash and catch fire do you? Inexperienced drivers blame the cars for their mistakes, and its completely bonkers to listen to.

If you do the exact same inputs the car will respond the same way each and every time. It is true that chassis handle differently from one another, but a real driver knows this and adjusts his inputs accordingly. Its not the cars fault if the driver can't do that.

[DanoFA20]

Originally Posted by Surok

i think americans arent used to anything that isnt fwd and automatic... or a pickup truck. so a rwd sports car is just out of this world for them

umm...what? actually no...

[ThePoet]

Originally Posted by Surok

i think americans arent used to anything that isnt fwd and automatic... or a pickup truck. so a rwd sports car is just out of this world for them

Hey now, don't be hating! I think most of us on this forum are Americans. Why can't we all just get along?

[ThePoet]

Originally Posted by Grishbok

There is no such thing as an "unpredictable" car. A car only ever responds to driver input. You dont see a car parked on the driveway randomly crash and catch fire do you? Inexperienced drivers blame the cars for their mistakes, and its completely bonkers to listen to.

If you do the exact same inputs the car will respond the same way each and every time. It is true that chassis handle differently from one another, but a real driver knows this and adjusts his inputs accordingly. Its not the cars fault if the driver can't do that.

THIS ^^
My dad hammered those exact words into my brain for the first 6 months that I had my license. Couldn't agree with you more, man.

[Surok]

you guys on here .. on an FRS forum.. are not "most americans" are you!

[enjoi23]

Originally Posted by ThePoet

I've been reading all over the forum of people that think this car is very unpredictable and that it will "bite back" if pushed too far, but if I'm being completely honest here, I find it to be as tame and predictable as a kitten. Especially with the Primacy tires on it. I feel like I could balance this car in a slide mid turn all day if I wanted to.

I also don't have too much experience with rwd cars, or any cars for that matter, mind you, and I'm only 17, so I've only been driving for a little over a year at all. The only other rwd car I've had is a 98 Corvette, which is what I came out of for the FRS. THAT car was unpredictable, let me tell you... No steering feel whatsoever and wide, sticky tires that would let go without any warning (All experimentation was/is done on a private tarmac in case anyone was about to grill me for not driving safely on the streets )

Anyways, I just want to know what other people's thoughts are on the issue? Do you think these cars are unpredictable? I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes who have had issues with unpredictability or losing control, but I'm genuinely interested in how you got these cars to snap at you without being able to control it?

I guess some people let the drivers feel get the best of them and tried to accelerate after a hard turn or something. I'm 18 and can drive this car DECENTLY. I use the term "decent" because I originate from a country where they reverse up slopes for fun lol. I'm not at that level yet.

If you really want to feel how awesome this car is, go to the track..or wait till it rains one day and go wild in a really big parking lot. make sure its empty..

[Calidrifter]

Not every 17 year old starts off in a 'Vette. Which in itself taught you some very important safety lessons especially when dealing with RWD. So due to your previous experience, and your assumption that everyone else has had the same experience as you, you can't really ask the question that you did it the first post.

[TuxedoCartman]

Originally Posted by Surok

you guys on here .. on an FRS forum.. are not "most americans" are you!

Now, as an American myself, I am allowed to say most Americans ARE lousy drivers, who never bothered to learn how to drive manual, and drive bloated SUV's 10 MPH under the limit in the fast lane while putting makeup on over their cheeseburger smeared faces and guzzling their 78 ounce sodas.

But when it comes to some foreigner saying that about Americans... oh, wait, it's still true. Carry on!

[mRdeMs83]

I hate this thread...IJS.