Bad driving, by me!

[R360]

This weekend I realised I was not as good a driver that I had thought, let me explain. A few weeks ago I bought myself a new weekend toy, a 1996 MR2, Been using it a bit, but this weekend I decided to go out for a brisk hoon after watching the grand prix.
I decided to drive up towards Bicester taking some very nice routes from Amersham, the B4009, A4129 and B4011. The weather was pretty bad it was raining heavily and on numerous occasions the back end slipped out. Each time I managed to catch the slide with arm full’s of opposite lock, but also each time my heart was in my mouth. The drive was not as enjoyable as I had hoped and it occurred to me that I am no way near as good as a driver that I thought I was.
So what do I do now, well I have decided I should get some proper tuition, something that will help me to be able to enjoy driving better in all conditions but also something which will help me in my everyday driving (I do about 40-50k a year). Also I know it was me not having enough skill as I know that the MR2 is a pretty good handling car so its not a car issue it’s a driver issue.
Can someone tell me what I should do; I don’t particularly want to go to a track day as im worried I will push to hard and just end up stacking the car. Is it worth trying one of the skid pan courses? Does anyone on here actually offer driving tuition and want to earn some money from a fellow p’her?
Not long after passing my driving test I started an IAM course with a local guy, but im now kicking myself for not finishing it, but some of what I learnt 10 years ago from him I am using in my everyday driving.

Edited by R360 on Monday 7th July 12:17

[_Batty_]

R360 said:

This weekend I realised I was not as good a driver that I had thought, let me explain. A few weeks ago I bought myself a new weekend toy, a 1996 MR2, Been using it a bit, but this weekend I decided to go out for a brisk hoon after watching the grand prix.
I decided to drive up towards Bicester taking some very nice routes from Amersham, the B4009, A4129 and B4011. The weather was pretty bad it was raining heavily and on numerous occasions the back end slipped out. Each time I managed to catch the slide with arm full’s of opposite lock, but also each time my heart was in my mouth. The drive was not as enjoyable as I had hoped and it occurred to me that I am no way near as good as a driver that I thought I was.
So what do I do now, well I have decided I should get some proper tuition, something that will help me to be able to enjoy driving better in all conditions but also something which will help me in my everyday driving (I do about 40-50k a year). Also I know it was me not having enough skill as I know that the MR2 is a pretty good handling car so its not a car issue it’s a driver issue.
Can someone tell me what I should do; I don’t particularly want to go to a track day as im worried I will push to hard and just end up stacking the car. Is it worth trying one of the skin pan courses? Does anyone on here actually offer driving tuition and want to earn some money from a fellow p’her?
Not long after passing my driving test I started an IAM course with a local guy, but im now kicking myself for not finishing it, but some of what I learnt 10 years ago from him I am using in my everyday driving.

Edited by R360 on Monday 7th July 12:01

get some decent tyres on the back.

My MR was a handful this weekend, but then my tyres seem to have been made for secondhand durex's.

Get some goodyears or Toyo's on the back

[Gizmo!]

I spun my MR2 on a very wet roundabout just outside Edinburgh a couple of months ago (and still maintain that there was a patch of oil or a slippery white line - it went the 'wrong' way for it to have been oversteer).

Get some proper tyres - Toyo T1R or Vredestein Sportrac 3s, and have the 4-wheel alignment checked.

That said, a 1996 would be a Rev3, surely... should have a limited slip diff...

[R360]

Thanks guys, It is a Rev 3 but like i said i think its more a case of me and not the car. I will however look at getting some new boots for it, i have just realised the rear tyres are bigger than the front.

Edited by R360 on Monday 7th July 12:16

[TankRizzo]

If you want to go on a driving day, you could try a Walshy (carlimits) day. A lot of the guys over at vx220.org swear by them.

http://www.carlimits.com

[Gizmo!]

R360 said:

I will however look at getting some new boots for it, i have just realised the rear tyres are bigger than the front.

There's a good reason for that

[R360]

Gizmo! said:

R360 said:

I will however look at getting some new boots for it, i have just realised the rear tyres are bigger than the front.

There's a good reason for that

Is it something to do with it being mid engined? Or due to the early ones being a bit tale happy therefore bigger tyres on the rear?

[Mark Benson]

If it's on-road, every day driving tuition you want, don't go for the airfield based people like Andy Walsh (good though they are), start somewhere liek Ride Drive, who teach on the road, in real conditions and will show you the way to 'make progress' safely.

Alternatively, try your local IAM or RoSPA groups.

[R360]

Mark Benson said:

If it's on-road, every day driving tuition you want, don't go for the airfield based people like Andy Walsh (good though they are), start somewhere liek Ride Drive, who teach on the road, in real conditions and will show you the way to 'make progress' safely.

Alternatively, try your local IAM or RoSPA groups.

Thanks for that i am quite tempted to do the IAM again but this time finish it rather than stopping half way through, not heard about ROSPA will look that up later.

[PhillT]

I did a couple of days at Ultimate Car Control and found it most useful.
http://www.ultimatecarcontrol.com/

[Gizmo!]

R360 said:

Gizmo! said:

R360 said:

I will however look at getting some new boots for it, i have just realised the rear tyres are bigger than the front.

There's a good reason for that

Is it something to do with it being mid engined? Or due to the early ones being a bit tale happy therefore bigger tyres on the rear?

The Rev 1 had 14" wheels 195 width all round, plus higher ground clearance and were a bit snappy (by reputation - I've not driven a Rev 1).
The Rev 2 onwards have 15" and the fronts are 195/55, rear 215/50 and lowered a bit (Mine's a Rev 2).
The Rev 3 onwards had the engine inclined further forwards and standard LSD plus (I think) different front suspension.

But all of them are roughly 45/55 F/R weight distribution, so they'll all go round quite happily if provoked, especially in the wet But what's the point of a car that never bites

[R360]

Gizmo! said:

R360 said:

Gizmo! said:

R360 said:

I will however look at getting some new boots for it, i have just realised the rear tyres are bigger than the front.

There's a good reason for that

Is it something to do with it being mid engined? Or due to the early ones being a bit tale happy therefore bigger tyres on the rear?

The Rev 1 had 14" wheels 195 width all round, plus higher ground clearance and were a bit snappy (by reputation - I've not driven a Rev 1).
The Rev 2 onwards have 15" and the fronts are 195/55, rear 215/50 and lowered a bit (Mine's a Rev 2).
The Rev 3 onwards had the engine inclined further forwards and standard LSD plus (I think) different front suspension.

But all of them are roughly 45/55 F/R weight distribution, so they'll all go round quite happily if provoked, especially in the wet But what's the point of a car that never bites

Well yes you are right, but it will be nice to have the skill to gain control of a car once it bites, this is what im afraid i am lacking. Also mine is a NA, i think only the trubo's have the LSD

[jon-]

The mr2 doesn't drive sideways well due to where the engine is, it's not a car you can drift easily like a 350z or somesuch (I own both) and in the wet, especially if turbo'd cars, they're a real handful so don't beat yourself up too badly.

Just to correct an above comment, rev2 onwards should really be running 205/55 front and 225/50 rear.

[otolith]

R360 said:

Not long after passing my driving test I started an IAM course with a local guy, but im now kicking myself for not finishing it

In terms of you losing the back of your car in the wet, I suspect that all the IAM or RoSPA would suggest is that you are driving too fast and/or using too much throttle. I don't think they are big on the idea of driving in such a way that you need any particular skill in keeping the car on the road. Something like a Carlimits day would probably be more the kind of thing you're after.

[OJ]

To be honest, if you caught an MR2 several times it sounds as if you've got a bit of car control built in! I race Caterhams and I still crap myself if the back end catches me by surprise on a public road.

I'd agree with the others, it sounds like the tyres need replacing

[Munter]

otolith said:

R360 said:

Not long after passing my driving test I started an IAM course with a local guy, but im now kicking myself for not finishing it

In terms of you losing the back of your car in the wet, I suspect that all the IAM or RoSPA would suggest is that you are driving too fast and/or using too much throttle. I don't think they are big on the idea of driving in such a way that you need any particular skill in keeping the car on the road. Something like a Carlimits day would probably be more the kind of thing you're after.

I was thinking similar. If you dont want to get the back out then IAM RoSPA. If you want to know how to control the car when you do want to get the backout then a track instruction/skidpan type event is probably the thing.

[ironictwist]

Munter said:

otolith said:

R360 said:

Not long after passing my driving test I started an IAM course with a local guy, but im now kicking myself for not finishing it

In terms of you losing the back of your car in the wet, I suspect that all the IAM or RoSPA would suggest is that you are driving too fast and/or using too much throttle. I don't think they are big on the idea of driving in such a way that you need any particular skill in keeping the car on the road. Something like a Carlimits day would probably be more the kind of thing you're after.

I was thinking similar. If you dont want to get the back out then IAM RoSPA. If you want to know how to control the car when you do want to get the backout then a track instruction/skidpan type event is probably the thing.

Prevention or Cure...Tough call. I'd do both if you can afford it :|

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

If you're doing that many miles each year then IAM / RoSPA should be your first point of call. Pretty much all advanced driver training is this country is based on the same system that they use, so it'll stand you in good stead if you want to go further.

I'd resist getting too much track instruction until you're better at the on-road stuff.

You might get better results posting here.

Well done for admitting you're not perfect - the correct attitude is the first thing you need before you can improve.

Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Monday 7th July 23:16

[bint]

I've done IAM, IMHO I'm not sure it would really help with what you're after.

Track day is better spend of money, with tuition. This will give you a chance to learn about how to drive the car and give you enough space to correct should things go wrong.

Taking a Caterham out in the wet on the Dunsfold Park track certainly helped me!

[eowen]

Dont want to sound like an old fart (too late), but I would never get the back out (intentionally) on a public road. I leave that sort of driving for the track.