RE: Rain doesn't stop play: PH Blog

[FastRich]

Cable said:

I'd rather not be a standing in a car park getting soaking wet.

There is that - I totally agree!!

But, thanks PH for making the effort to organise, it's not your fault if it rains!

[JD PH]

FastRich said:

There is that - I totally agree!!

But, thanks PH for making the effort to organise, it's not your fault if it rains!

Luckily it doesn't always rain - last weekend at Mercedes-Benz World it was actually pretty good, so much so that I even saw a few people cracking out their sunglasses!

JD

[articulatedj]

Another advantage in the wet is low wear on tires and brakes.

As a corollary, rain means you can take out street-oriented cars that might otherwise overheat or cook their brakes on track. Like, say, rental cars

[pjksutherland]

I moved from London to Calgary not long ago and bought a 1987 635csi as my main car - not an ideal choice for an area that is snow bound for most of November to April!

It was minus 22 when I woke up this morning and I had to take the BMW to work - it did fine to be fair, I only had the back end out inadvertently on 4 occasions, and only lost control under braking twice!

Fortunately this was all at low speed coming up to and pulling away from junctions - so the car is still in one piece, but I'm not sure I'll be using it as my main mode of winter transport!

[TNH]

Perhaps a better focus for the article would have been that you can drive RWD cars in wet conditions and don't necessarily need to have an AWD car as seems to be the mentality of quite a few PHers.

[EF Ian]

Would love to take the 260Z GTR out in the rain occasionally, sure it would be fun and a good way to learn more bout the car, although even on low boost trying to put 430hp to the ground in a lightweight RWD with no power steering, abs, traction or stability control it could be a bit hairy, no chance on high boost.

Main reason its a dry weather only car is because they just didn't get how to do proper corrosion protection back when they made these and they love to rust even if you keep them dry, taking it out in the wet all the time would be a sure way to make it rot, plus I don't like getting all the underneath and suspension parts caked in mud. Better to enjoy it in the dry and hopefully it will last much longer before I need to carry out a restoration on it.

[StarmistBlue400]

I don't mind taking my Chimaera out in the wet. Yes you have to take things a little slower but its no big deal. What I don't like is the car stationary in rain because it leaks and that ends up with wet and smelly carpets.

I suppose I could try and fix the leaks but TBH its not worth it to gain a couple of extra days usage.

[RichardAJB]

Behemoth said:

I spent a few weeks in a villa just down the cliff on the Amalfi coast road. It's a rubbish road, chock full of coach tours, motorhomes and caravans & a practically zero chance of passing anything. It's probably nice and empty this time of year, but avoid otherwise.

I suggest you go further inland; we had a week in Tuscany during May, & had some wonderful days out which involved driving along a virtually deserted Futa Pass to get places. As we were staying on it, it was impossible to avoid. Even the Mille Miglia didn't cause too many traffic issues.

Recommended.

[Leggy]

Sticking a wet car in a garage afterwards is not something I relish.
Especially if you know we were going to get loads of rain for the next few days.

[turbobungle]

Gorbyrev said:

Caterhams are brilliant in the wet roof up or down. Only downside is when the really torrential stuff starts there are no wipers on the inside of the windscreen! Have seen me driving Casey Jones style to see and having to overtake to escape the spray of the car in front. All this with a very game septuagenarian passenger on board.

Definitely need wipers on both sides of the screen. And you need to put your doors on or you get a face full of water when you turn right! :-)

[V8RX7]

420lbs of torque just off idle and the cold & wet makes for a dismal time, a Golf Tdi can beat you off the lights as you can't put your foot to the floor in any gear, pulling away in 3rd and still getting 12mpg - no thanks.

In such conditions I jump in my Forester and have 300lbs ft and 273bhp that is totally accessible.

[willisit]

Leggy said:

Sticking a wet car in a garage afterwards is not something I relish.
Especially if you know we were going to get loads of rain for the next few days.

Not just because it's horrible to think about that rain drying on the car.. but because it might not! At least outdoors the elements would usually dry it a bit rather than it sitting damp. <shudder>

[downsman]

I spent 3 days driving a Caterham round Wales in the pouring rain back in May. Great fun

As long as visibility is Ok then I'm happy driving in rain, but as soon as the salt goes down my car comes off the road.
It would be ruined in no time

[sideways man]

Had one of my most enjoyable trackdays,after a torrential rain storm meant a very wet colerne airfield. Luckily I had my motorbike waterproofs on,as the inside of my westfield was probably wetter than the outside! Full throttle was only possible in 4th gear and up,most of the lap was spent with the back end trying to overtake the front. Even now,the thought of it makes me smile.

[Gorbyrev]

turbobungle said:

Gorbyrev said:

Caterhams are brilliant in the wet roof up or down. Only downside is when the really torrential stuff starts there are no wipers on the inside of the windscreen! Have seen me driving Casey Jones style to see and having to overtake to escape the spray of the car in front. All this with a very game septuagenarian passenger on board.

Definitely need wipers on both sides of the screen. And you need to put your doors on or you get a face full of water when you turn right! :-)

Absolutely! Although get the seals wrong and slow down while going through a puddle and a whole torrent of water ends up on your 's) lap.

[Deako]

Shame my Yeti is just out of shot to the right of the Carrera GT!

[exceed]

Just in the process of buying some Michelin Cup 2s for the winter weather, I will be driving come rain/shine/snow/sleat/ice/etc.

[e21Mark]

exceed said:

Just in the process of buying some Michelin Cup 2s for the winter weather, I will be driving come rain/shine/snow/sleat/ice/etc.

Just driven from St Agnes to Newquay in torrential rain, on 235 & 245 Toyo 888's. Certainly need to keep your wits about you.

[Inspectre]

I took out the Spectre R45 when possible and "fondly" remember struggling with demisting and road conditions to and from a Pistonheads SS at Goodwood a couple of years ago....and then reading after about a few incidents of control including Garlick. But bottom line was a nice enjoyable trip knowing that cleaning up car afterwards would be needed ;-)

[2ndclasscitizen]

That 650S Spider is fking GORGEOUS.