Ditchfinders + Wet + Liftoff =

Scottland · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:18

A field and me feeling very, very embarrassed

Not much to it other than that, came off the gas on a bend not realising how wet it was. Spun, over corrected and then ended up in a field. Backwards

At first glance, the damage is only a bumper and a few scratches. I think my pride bore the brunt of it.

Alex UK · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:21

Unlucky, just be glad you didn't hurt yourself!

What car is it?

Booner! · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:23

Rich1988 · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:30

Booner! said:
RWD?

probably fwd, I have a fwd car and the exact same thing happened to me

paradigm · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:32

Rich1988 said:
probably fwd, I have a fwd car and the exact same thing happened to me

Lift off oversteer can happen in front or rear wheel drive.

Sudden changes in momentum or direction are never a good thing in low-grip situations (unless being provoked for fun).

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:36

I'm going for Peugeot 306?

loltim · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:37

I'm going for Renault Clio

Scottland · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:38

Clio 172, it wasn't being provoked in this instance. But I know how easily it comes out in the wet, and should have slowed before the corner.

paradigm · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:45

Scottland said:
Clio 172, it wasn't being provoked in this instance. But I know how easily it comes out in the wet, and should have slowed before the corner.

Slowing mid-corner, or lifting off the throttle, is baaaad mkay, and IS provoking it

mrk · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:46

Happened to me too in a Honda Civic resulting in intimate relations with a chain link fence

Poop tyres never again!

paradigm · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:47

You do realise that not being able to drive/making a mistake is the bigger factor here rather than the tyres?

AmDaMan · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:49

Bad tyres don't help that car at all

mrk · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:50

But at the end of the tyre still matters a lot. The Civic was the only car that this happened in and was the only car with non branded cheapo tyres and my driving style has not changed since that time either so I can only attribute it to this in "my" scenario anyway

Poppy · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:51

A pair of Goodyear F1's doesnt make up for driver error ...

Scottland · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:52

paradigm said:
Slowing mid-corner, or lifting off the throttle, is baaaad mkay, and IS provoking it

I'll rephrase it then - I wasn't intentionally provoking it

I don't really remember why exactly I lifted off - I don't remember any need to, I probably just wasn't paying enough attention; Lesson learned.

AmDaMan · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:53

Poppy said:
A pair of Goodyear F1's doesnt make up for driver error ...

This is true, but they an help a LOT.

paradigm · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:56

AmDaMan said:
This is true, but they an help a LOT.

They will not help if you anchor up on the apex of a bend, they might offer more lateral grip, but they cannot overcome physics.

Thomas. PLease. · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:57

I remember the first time i got caught by lift off oversteer. Think i just sat in the seat, not really knowing what was going on till it was over, thankfully with my car still on the road. Since then two years have passed, and i have learned to drive in a much way better as a result, as well as provoking a slide every now and then.

AmDaMan · 9 Jul 2008 at 19:00

paradigm said:
They will not help if you anchor up on the apex of a bend, they might offer more lateral grip, but they cannot overcome physics.

Never said it would, I'm simply saying that it makes the whole situation far more controllable.

Poppy · 9 Jul 2008 at 19:02

Just for the record i had a pair of F1's fitted to front of mine last week... im very impressed with the grip levels in the wet