Controlling oversteer - RWD

-westy-

-westy-

-westy-

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Just after a bit of info.

I've got a fairly good idea of what to do if the back end steps out on my 205, however, I'm not entirely sure what to do in a RWD car.

So..what would be the best course of action? I'm assuming you don't just slam on the brakes, or bury the throttle either. Is it just a case of balancing the throttle, or am I missing something else?

Thanks.
 
Use slightly less throttle but don't come off it altogether, steer against it on the steering wheel

This is assuming you want to recover safely. I've done this a few times in a Skyline and a VX220 Turbo and found it resolved the back end nicely. You will be suprised how easily RWD can catch you out, especially if the car in question has a turbo as the power can come in surges.

IMO the best thing you can do with a RWD car is go out on a damp or wet night to a quiet industrial estate where you won't be bothered and practise getting the back end out. Once you know how you do this yourself you will be much better prepared for it when it happens accidentally, and you will know how to control it better. Do this well away from curbs or manhole covers if possible :)
 
as above and if the car is fitted with a good LSD it makes the process even easier, it takes very little opposite lock to correct a slide (or should i say less than you might expect) :)
 
I think the hardest thing is noticing when it has stepped out enough to put some opposite lock on... and doing it fast enough....

So mainly the whole technique :D

I think I might follow your advice Stoned, even tho i've got a FWD.
 
ethos said:
I think the hardest thing is noticing when it has stepped out enough to put some opposite lock on... and doing it fast enough....

So mainly the whole technique :D

I think I might follow your advice Stoned, even tho i've got a FWD.
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I was taught that the best thing to do with FWD is pretty much put your foot down, and counter-steer. Its worked for me a lot of times in the past.
 
Yea, i've never really had any problems before... had the 205 slip out a bit a few times (P6000s on the back :() but the octy seems pretty well planted.
 
Turn into the skid and let off the throttle. Nail the throttle and you'll make the skid worse and probably overcorrect and start fishtailing. How much opposite lock to add is just down to practice and when you get better at it you won't have to let the throttle completely off to correct it.
 
205s share the same rear passive steering as the 306/Xsara then?

I assume all the french hatchbacks with the rear torsion have it?
 
fonzee said:
that'd be because your handbrake is still on mate.

:p
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I'm not Jeremy! :p

I guy we know bought a Porsche 928 (went up with a guy who has a NICEEEE 911 targa and knows his stuff about porsches). Anyway, when they got back the guy who bought the 928 was annoyed at the lack of power until the other guy pointed out that the handbrake was still on :eek::(

He's just bought a 3 litre 944... watch out roads! :o
 
RWD is much easy to correct IMO as it's much more intuitive and controllable - though having an LSD makes it more or less so depending on your driving style...

Turn into the slide, keep the throttle even or decrease slightly. You don't always need opposite lock it depends on whether or not you want to just correct the slide or you want to keep it up. Sometimes a little input or flick of the steering wheel is enough. Letting go of the throttle altogether is likely to make you fishtale.
 
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I always thought with oversteer in a FWD car, just put your foot on the throttle a little bit... don't floor it (while countersteering).

Seemed to have worked for me so far :)
 
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:) After an encounter with a large patch of diesel on a roundabout I've lost my bottle, it was a very "sideways" moment, the snapback when the car regained traction was painful (the Z4 has a huge amount of grip, just not on diesel)
 
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