Driving RWD for the first time

mr tommo

mr tommo

mr tommo

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hi,

On saturday i'll be insured on my dads Jaguar S-type.

Now its RWD and ive heard a lot of fuss about how you need to be careful with powerful RWD cars.

So just looking as what i should avoid doing? Will i actually notice its RWD if i don't "drive it like i stole it"?

Also just a general Q on Pro's n Con's of RWD.

Thanks, Tom
 
It's a big, heavy saloon car. Unless you nail your foot to the floor mid-corner with the traction control turned off, I doubt you'll have any problems :).
 
You wont notice it as much as you would in a lighter, sportier car.

It will probably only be an issue if you boot it out of a corner in the wet.

mac
 
It will have driver aids - like mentioned above, as long as you don't boot it on a wet corner you will be fine.


Edit, and yeah if you don't drive it like you stole it, you won't even notice that it's RWD.
 
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Providing you don't drive your current FWD car as if the accelerator is an on/off button, you'll be fine.


It's only the people who have no control with their right foot that normally have problems.

I drove a 200sx a few weeks ago, 1.8 turbo, rwd. I got the back end to step out ONCE, which was on a roundabout that my Prelude later slipped a little on, and that was only because I stuck my toe to the floor and it came on boost as going round. But it was only a gentle let-go, and lifting off caught it.


Drive it sensibly, and you'll be fine. Every BMW doesn't get written off, and they're all RWD! ;)
 
RWD is tricky to drive fast and requires a high level of skill to do properly (that i do not posess).

You won't have a problem driving normally with TC on.

FWD ot 4WD is a lot harder to mess up, and hense faster for the less skilled driver.
 
Dont make the mistake I did, thinking that if the traction control light is lit up on the dash that its on.

My dad has a nice S-Type too. Think he wants the 4l V8 next, but its only a golf club going car so he will have to wait.
 
This one is the 4.0 V8.

My dad also made the same mistake with the TC, untill he tried to pull off with a bit of speed and got no where.

There's also a nice "sport" button, but i think i will leave that well alone :p

tom
 
mr tommo said:
This one is the 4.0 V8.

My dad also made the same mistake with the TC, untill he tried to pull off with a bit of speed and got no where.

There's also a nice "sport" button, but i think i will leave that well alone :p

tom
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4l V8 is nice, :) Hes just got a 3l Sport, but its a second car.
 
Oblivious said:
Dont make the mistake I did, thinking that if the traction control light is lit up on the dash that its on.
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Ha, was that the Omega? I did that too :D.
 
I went to pick up the old mans 740i after having new tyres fitted, No one told me that they are greasy for the first 100 miles. Came off a roundabout, hit the kick down and also ran over some white lines signalling a junction off the slip road, the back started sliding round and a load of lights lit up on the dash and suddenly I was back in control. Never cakked myself so much (til I wrote off my car).
 
Oblivious said:
Dont make the mistake I did, thinking that if the traction control light is lit up on the dash that its on.
Click to expand...


I did that too in a Focus :o. Everytime it started raining or snowing (:eek: ) I turned it off thinking I was turning it on...
 
NickXX said:
Edit, and yeah if you don't drive it like you stole it, you won't even notice that it's RWD.
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^^^^^^
What he said.

Just cos a car is RWD doesn't mean it's a death trap or requires you to have the skill of a pro rally driver, most of the time you won't even notice.
 
As regards to the Accelerator as an on/off switch, i might have to get out of that habbit :) But what do you expect coming from a 1.4 Megane :p

The reason i bought it up was because my dad was telling me to be careful today as its not like driving my car and it will be a lot more dangerous.
 
mr tommo said:
So you drive it then?

As regards to the Accelerator as an on/off switch, i might have to get out of that habbit :) But what do you expect coming from a 1.4 Megane :p

The reason i bought it up was because my dad was telling me to be careful today as its not like driving my car and it will be a lot more dangerous.
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The main issue won't be RWD, but the rather the speed at which it accelerates, even from high speeds. You will likely get way above the speed limit before even noticing it if you're used to a Megane 1.4. You may also find yourself doing silly manoeuvres just because you can, as you climatise yourself to the hilarious increase in power.
 
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