1st very powerful car

[Nigel_O]

I agree that IAM (and presumably RoSPA?) tend to focus on avoiding an incident, rather than dealing with it - its not such a bad thing (prevention is better than cure, and all that) but I suppose that some coaching on how to react to the unexpected might be useful (I know - IAM will claim that one should always expect the unexpected, thus rendering it no longer unexpected...)

The IAM group that I learned with ran regular events at the local Police skidpan training centre. Using an old Sierra with slick rear tyres produced some phenomenal drifts and gave equal measures of hilarity and education.

My experience of IAM was VERY positive, with all instructors following the rules when required, but perfectly willing to flex the rules where the situation allowed. I can still vividly remember my test examiner purposely engineering the test route so that I passed about 10 miles from home. He asked me to pull over, told me I'd passed and then "instructed" me to give it some beans on a gorgeous B road for the 10 miles to get home. I didn't go mad, but I certainly enjoyed the road. He only mentioned when we got back that he was a serving bike cop, but also said he'd enjoyed the ride.

RobM77 said:

Nobody's perfect.

On that point, I think we're all in agreement.

PS - great to have a discussion about differences of opinion - on some other PH forums, this would probably have descended into an online slanging match

[DavidJG]

At lot of points on here relating to anticipating / prevention being the best approach to road incidents & problems and I couldn't agree more.

But there will occasionally come a time when something total impossible to anticipate happens. There's no getting away from this fact. Could be diesel on the road, could be a wild animal, drunk pedestrian etc. This is the point where your car control skills will be a factor.

To me the answer is both - driving on the road requires that we anticipate and re-assess probable hazards at all times. But it's always good to really know what your car is capable of for that moment when the unexpected happens - then you can drive it within its limits and hopefully avoid the unexpected hazard.

It the case of the OP - for most people the Boxster's limits are generally higher than those of the driver. But it's good to know where those limits are, for that one time when you actually have to get close to them.

[Pan Pan Pan]

QBee said:

The last Boxster I saw stationery on the M1 was one that had hit a river running diagonally across the road on a downhill, curved section just after a cloudburst.
Driver had lost control, hit the central armco hard with the front end and had ended up hitting the armco on the hard shoulder with the other end of the car.

I think it was the lighter weight of the car that was the problem - my heavy old front wheel drive Saab just ploughed through the river with very little deviation.
My TVR is similarly harder to control in downpour conditions than my Saab due to the lack of weight of the car. And the less rain-focussed tyres too.

Do enjoy your new car in dry conditions, just use your years of common sense in very wet conditions, and your right foot as traction control.

I did a track day at Bedford some years ago, which started dry, but gradually turned into a cold wet day, with large puddles on the track.
I watched a TVR in front hit a large puddle at speed, which proceeded to blow the bonnet clear off the car, and some 30 feet into the air. managed to avoid hitting it, or it hitting me. The TVR finished the event with its bonnet duck taped down onto the body.

[Nearlyretired]

I have done rallying,karting and track days and because I understand the
dangers of getting things wrong I drive SLOWER than most drivers in bad conditions,and quicker in good safe conditions.
If I come into a bend at 130mph in the wet too fast! on a track day and the front locks up I will cadence brake and try to get around on understeer using whole track.If that fails unbalance the car (if I can) and oversteer it around.
If that fails let the car spin or slam the brakes on and wait for the car to stop.
I have NEVER had to do this on the road,but I have the skills, this is because I drive slowly/safely/considerately.
You cannot compare track driving with road driving they are totally different.
My advice to anyone who has never owned a high powered car before is to drive it SLOWER than normal for the first few months and in all conditions.This takes discipline,but that's what good driving is all about!
Most of all...have fun.

[Nearlyretired]

Praising the "superb Porsche stability control"
O dear, is this what the world of sports cars has come to!
The human race will lose all it's cognitive skills........sad.

[Si_man306]

Nearlyretired said:

I have done rallying,karting and track days and because I understand the
dangers of getting things wrong I drive SLOWER than most drivers in bad conditions,and quicker in good safe conditions.
If I come into a bend at 130mph in the wet too fast! on a track day and the front locks up I will cadence brake and try to get around on understeer using whole track.If that fails unbalance the car (if I can) and oversteer it around.
If that fails let the car spin or slam the brakes on and wait for the car to stop.
I have NEVER had to do this on the road,but I have the skills, this is because I drive slowly/safely/considerately.
You cannot compare track driving with road driving they are totally different.
My advice to anyone who has never owned a high powered car before is to drive it SLOWER than normal for the first few months and in all conditions.This takes discipline,but that's what good driving is all about!
Most of all...have fun.

Very much agree. With a new car I will tend to drive much slower, building up my knowledge of it in differing conditions and my confidence, for up to around 6months before then going on track to push harder towards the limits so I am clear where these are and how to anticipate what the car will do in a given situation (and it's huge fun). I will always drive uk tracks before the longer European ones, again to build experience.

With modern safety nets switched on its amazing what a car can deal with on the road, but that isn't the same as good driving/ control which is my ultimate aim with any car. An S2 exige will spin you straight out of a bumpy off camber wet corner at circa 30-40 mph without driving like a loon I can assure you (!). Preventionnif this is ideal but knowing when it will occur and what to do when you get there allows you to respond to unexpected events, some of which no one can predict.

That's where track driving and tuition is so useful and I would say essential. IAM style tuition then should lie alongside this in a separate but important role making a fully rounded more competent driver.

[waremark]

If the OP is following this, what have you done with the Boxster Spyder and how have you got on?