Skids still for kids? PH Blog
Is Dan ready to eat his words about drift modes being pointless?
No swearing in my (thankfully rather shorter) vid from the E63 launch; just a bit of giggling and tyre squeal. So do I still think drift modes are pointless?
I'll stick by the central thrust of my argument that they are, essentially, novelty. But an interesting chat yesterday with a friendly chap from GKN Driveline (suppliers of the Twinster AWD system that lets the Focus RS do what it does) and dinner table small talk with AMG's development boss Oliver Wiech at least shed some light on how and why these things have come about.
I'll park Cadogan's point about manufacturer-endorsed 'douchebag modes' for now, while accepting they do raise some interesting ethical questions. Credit to AMG though; you're not going to select the E63's Drift Mode by accident and the fact it insists on leaving you totally exposed with no driver aids whatsoever should (hopefully) concentrate the attention of anyone intending to try it out. Morally - and potentially in insurance terms - you're on your own. The Focus is a little different, given you have to scroll 'past' Drift Mode any time you want to cycle through the settings, temptation made considerably more accessible than it is in the AMG.
Anyway. In the E63's case I think it's a more symbolic move. 90 per cent of the previous shape E63s sold were 4Matics, even in those markets where customers had the choice between that and the rear-driven set-up RHD markets got as standard. This rather suggests buyers of monster saloons buy into the IDEA of huge power and hairy-chested handling. But, when given the choice, readily opt for 'nannying' all-wheel drive. The new technology in the 4Matic+ system means AMG can vary the torque split from zero to 31:69. Adding a setting that fixes it 0:100 is technically very simple. And provides a cake and eat it solution. Look at it this way: if Porsche had been able to install a button that made a clutch pedal drop into the footwell and change the PDK shifter to an H-pattern manual in the 991 GT3 and RS it would have spared itself a lot of grief too; slightly more challenging technically but there is that facelift pending...
Modern performance cars are packed with ability and technology buyers demand but - in the vast majority of cases - will never use. Like 'ring lap records owners delight in reciting but will never achieve themselves or off-road modes in posh SUVs I'd file E63's Drift Mode in that category. And appreciate the privilege of being able to try it out at AMG's expense. Due journalistic diligence and all that. Without the self righteous rage, or apparent desire to see someone killed to prove my point.
Dan
John Cadogan calls out Focus RS's Drift Mode (very NSFW!)
The AMG, is front longitudinal engined, sends all it's power backwards and then sends a bit forwards depending on conditions.
The RS, is front transverse engined, sends all it's power forwards, and then sends a bit backwards depending on conditions.
The AMG's mass distribution favors what is, in effect RWD, with a bit of a pull front the front to help out, the RS favors FWD with a bit of a push from the back to help out. As such "drift mode" in the RS is always a slave to it's (inferior) powertrain layout and hence although it makes the car go sideways when provoked, reduces overall lateral performance and always heavily loads the front tyres. The AMG however, starting with a balanced layout can overload just the rear tyres without overloading the fronts as well. This makes a big difference to the effectiveness of any "drift mode"
Yes drifting on dry tarmac is silly. And fun, as long as you're not paying wear and tear from your own average salary...
The AMG, is front longitudinal engined, sends all it's power backwards and then sends a bit forwards depending on conditions.
The RS, is front transverse engined, sends all it's power forwards, and then sends a bit backwards depending on conditions.
The AMG's mass distribution favors what is, in effect RWD, with a bit of a pull front the front to help out, the RS favors FWD with a bit of a push from the back to help out. As such "drift mode" in the RS is always a slave to it's (inferior) powertrain layout and hence although it makes the car go sideways when provoked, reduces overall lateral performance and always heavily loads the front tyres. The AMG however, starting with a balanced layout can overload just the rear tyres without overloading the fronts as well. This makes a big difference to the effectiveness of any "drift mode"
Also, any chance PH/others could stop referring to drifts/drifting as "skids/doing skids"? It doesn't sound good, and the only reason I can see for not just calling it "drifting" is the carpark/wrong'un stigma attached to drifting, despite pretty much all auto journos (and most keen drivers on here) appreciating the fun to be had from it.
It's cringeworthy. I may be the only one that feels this way though.
I don't think anyone needs to choose, just enjoy your preference and if your car comes with a drift mode, you are free to ignore it, like as a non smoker I have never used cigar lighters, my last car stereo came with a demo mode turned on that made it light up like a 1950's Wurlitzer but I disabled it and its presence never troubled me.
Drift Mode is just software, a menu option, not sure why it generates such ire, is it considered cheating as we should all be able to hold a car in a long lurid drift by skill alone ? is it seen like leasing your dab of oppo ?
It's cringeworthy. I may be the only one that feels this way though.
Skids are found in underwear when you don't wipe your arse properly, or when the back wheel of your old BMX locked up on gravel. 90% of the MCM demographic couldn't pull of a proper 'skid' if their life depended on it, hence why you get clips on YouTube of that berk 'skidding' his RS into a cliff.
Still, people need to be seen to be down with the 'skids' these days huh?
Feel free to set up a video camera and spend 18 minutes swearing at me if it makes you feel better though!
Cheers,
Dan
It's cringeworthy. I may be the only one that feels this way though.
Skids are found in underwear when you don't wipe your arse properly, or when the back wheel of your old BMX locked up on gravel. 90% of the MCM demographic couldn't pull of a proper 'skid' if their life depended on it, hence why you get clips on YouTube of that berk 'skidding' his RS into a cliff.
Still, people need to be seen to be down with the 'skids' these days huh?
None of the terms particularly bother me, but if 'skids' grinds your gears, I'm surprised drifting doesn't, given that I think both skidding and drifting have come from specific 'disciplines' (I use that term as loosely as possible for the Australians ) and were then incorporated into common usage by 'the kids', whom we all hate
Skid:
fking about like an Australian, see:
https://youtu.be/CMkpizqclnY?t=15s
Drift:
fking about like someone from Japan, typically sideways well before the corner starts, see:
https://youtu.be/Z_IWEMtV7zo?t=6s
Sideways/oversteer/'dab of oppo':
fking about like everyone has done for years, covers everything else.
To me a tail slide is a skateboarding trick
And yes, to agree with Dan for once, in my mind the fact that 'skid' is of Australian origin gives it an appropriate level of 'fking about like a childish ape' that is far more relevant than 'drifting'
Feel free to set up a video camera and spend 18 minutes swearing at me if it makes you feel better though!
Cheers,
Dan
If you're reading this RenaultSport, then it's my idea, i thought of it first!! ;-)
You'll no doubt be very interested to hear of the 'powerskid' too.
This involves lining up on a straight piece of track (ideally), nailing the throttle, and blowing the tyres off for as long as possible, no brakes allowed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6Fe7vdz8U
...
It's cringeworthy. I may be the only one that feels this way though.
So in effect, we should be talking about how AMG did the very opposite of what we're discussing and added the boredom of grip, making the car more mature and accessible* without killing joy completely... Imagine the uproar if they had killed rwd altogether!
- now a complete noob will be able to keep this car under control untill it goes waaay too fast... Is that good? Or will the anti collision systems reign it in on time?
Feel free to set up a video camera and spend 18 minutes swearing at me if it makes you feel better though!
Cheers,
Dan
My irritation with it, apart from it sounding rubbish (I have a similar reaction when I walk past a branch of "Scoff & Banter", but that's my issue) stems from the perception I have that because drifting has negative connotations amongst the more mainstream driving fraternity, a word that doesn't really have a normal useful meaning (at least in the UK) gets used instead, and the "d word" is pretty much never used, even when it's more appropriate. And that's notwithstanding the fact that the same car enthusiasts who are so negative about the drift scene are extremely keen to watch journos drifting expensive machinery. I'm no drift scene fanboy either, but the overall feel of the approach just doesn't sit right with me.
Now, where's that video camera? I'm sure I've got other petty linguistic points I could rant for 18 minutes about
The RS is the opposite and in turn it just comes across as if it's trying to hard. It has plenty of other merits above a drift mode!
Essentially though, this particular button doesn't really appeal to me very much as I prefer fast cornering rather than sideways cornering so each to their own.
You'll no doubt be very interested to hear of the 'powerskid' too.
This involves lining up on a straight piece of track (ideally), nailing the throttle, and blowing the tyres off for as long as possible, no brakes allowed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6Fe7vdz8U
Is that in Australia? I can't imagine an American keeping it on the track. They struggle to keep standard Mustangs and Corvettes on the road, let alone something a good deal more powerful
I believe the South Africans do some kind of car waltz thing where they get the car into a donut and then leap out of it, and then jump back in! Madness!
I've no issue at all with drifting, but making drifting modes is making it look uncool. It's like acknowledging you're a hipster in a time of peak hipster-ness.
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