Sh!t my pants....
Discussion
Coming back from london, I was heading into Southampton on the M271, came off the feed lane and round the bend onto the main carrageway passing a tanker truck and a car transporter. I was at about 3k revs doing about 45mph and the back end comes right out. I am looking at the fuel tank on the tanker and getting ready to panic. I steered into the skid and bliped the throttle and somehow recovered it. I was expecting a "snap back" but it didnt come.
I really think there is some diesel on the road.
Thankyou Lotus, The car saved me, I know my driving isnt that good!
I remember another 'R having an accident around there, he wasnt as lucky, who was it?
I really think there is some diesel on the road.
Thankyou Lotus, The car saved me, I know my driving isnt that good!
I remember another 'R having an accident around there, he wasnt as lucky, who was it?
Esprit said:
Wow... well held.... I've found that although the car's snappy, if you're awake it's very controllable.... I think I'd be taking 50% of the credit for that one mate... half you and half one helluva brilliant car
Controllable compared to what?!?!
The Elise has some pretty nasty snap oversteer. Great car and I loved mine, but nontheless!
My car gave me a real fright a couple of weeks after delivery, when I hit a patch of diesel right in the middle of a fast bend, on a wet night. The back end shot out, then gripped and flicked back out the opposite way, before my ham-fisted overcorrection took the tail out again. Frankly, it was sheer luck and the ABS rather than my skill, but I managed to keep things pointing the right way, and remaining on the black stuff. Luckily, it was late at night so there was no-one else around.
Bizarrely, all I could think about whilst frantically sawing at the wheel was the noise of the accident I thought I was about to have, and how I was going to explain things to the dealer. Strange how the mind works (well mine at any event)!
[k]
Bizarrely, all I could think about whilst frantically sawing at the wheel was the noise of the accident I thought I was about to have, and how I was going to explain things to the dealer. Strange how the mind works (well mine at any event)!
[k]
DanH said:
Controllable compared to what?!?!
The Elise has some pretty nasty snap oversteer. Great car and I loved mine, but nontheless!
I've cut my teeth on a TR7... now THEY'RE tricky... short wheelbase makes them great handling and probably no more snappy than the Elise, but they're SOOOO much harder to correct..... the few times I've had the Elise pop sideways, it's been reasonably littledrama to bring her back... always snaps pack in line without a hint of overcorrection..... not counting my chickens though, and I DEFINITELY treat her with respect.
Exactly the same happened to me, but unfortunately mine ended up doing a 360 spin down a ditch and spent the next 13 weeks being patched up 
.
Why are Elise's so prone to kick out? I've never owned a car where I've had to watch the road surface in fear of my life. Like most people in this post have already said there seem to be no warning from the car that it's going to kick out.
You just have to rely on your own skill to compensate the slide and get her back straight. Gooby I think you should give your self a little more credit mate, it could of ended very differently.
I know after my accident I think twice about accelerating round any bend no matter what speed I'm doing.
Just for the record I was only doing about 35mph in mine, and I had plenty of grip on the old rubber. This was probably due to the fact that I’d only picked the car up from the dealer 4 weeks previous Doh!
. Why are Elise's so prone to kick out? I've never owned a car where I've had to watch the road surface in fear of my life. Like most people in this post have already said there seem to be no warning from the car that it's going to kick out.
You just have to rely on your own skill to compensate the slide and get her back straight. Gooby I think you should give your self a little more credit mate, it could of ended very differently.
I know after my accident I think twice about accelerating round any bend no matter what speed I'm doing.
Just for the record I was only doing about 35mph in mine, and I had plenty of grip on the old rubber. This was probably due to the fact that I’d only picked the car up from the dealer 4 weeks previous Doh!
cfoster said:
Why are Elise's so prone to kick out? I've never owned a car where I've had to watch the road surface in fear of my life. Like most people in this post have already said there seem to be no warning from the car that it's going to kick out.
You just have to rely on your own skill to compensate the slide and get her back straight. Gooby I think you should give your self a little more credit mate, it could of ended very differently.
The design of the 'liz will make it step out. Because the weight bias is about 65% (?) to the rear and it is rear wheel drive you have to expect it! I dont think any car handles well with diesel under the wheels!
I think I had the best education when driving a liz. I used to have a Mk1 Mr2 which is heavy and incredibly difficult to catch but would swing out on every wet roundabout.
I was surprised at the lack of snap. I was really thinking that if the front doesnt hit the tanker the rear will hit the transporter on the snap. I thought I was buggered either way!
I have not explored the limits of this car so I dont know how they come back from a tail out situation. You have to push a liz far harder than is safe on the road (or within my skill) so I dont have the experience. It did come back very well.
As someone on SELOC says "it isnt the sh!tting myself, it is the sitting in it afterwards!". I was grateful for a long que of traffic at the other end of the road so I could compose myself!
Thanks for the words of support guys!
Gooby - Glad to hear it all sorted itself out.
On a general note, would anyone be interested in actually taking their Elises out to a skid pan and learning the correct way of doing things.
It is the one thing that scares the hell out me, the back end snaping out and me sitting there wondering what to do next. I wouldnt have a clue.
For this very reason, I dont push the car that hard, I'm to scared of ending up under/over/in something.
If enough people were interested I would be more than happy to organise it. However if someone could point me in the right direction of where to start
On a general note, would anyone be interested in actually taking their Elises out to a skid pan and learning the correct way of doing things.
It is the one thing that scares the hell out me, the back end snaping out and me sitting there wondering what to do next. I wouldnt have a clue.
For this very reason, I dont push the car that hard, I'm to scared of ending up under/over/in something.
If enough people were interested I would be more than happy to organise it. However if someone could point me in the right direction of where to start
beachbum said:
For this very reason, I dont push the car that hard, I'm to scared of ending up under/over/in something.
If enough people were interested I would be more than happy to organise it. However if someone could point me in the right direction of where to start
I would love to attend a skid pan day. I have no idea where to start looking. I am afraid of putting "skid pan" in any search engine !
I just had a chat to the guys at Thruxton (Driving Management ltd) A 3 hour course costs £75, 6 hours @ £125. If there are 9 of us attending the there is a reduction of £10 per head.
We get a briefing, Demo then get to learn techniques like cadence braking and car control. If you do the longer session then you do "bandit runs"
At the end of the session you can take your own cars on the skid pan!
I have been on an off road driving course run by these people and they are VERY good. I really had a great day!
www.skidpan.org.uk/
Anyone up for this?
>> Edited by gooby on Wednesday 6th July 09:53
We get a briefing, Demo then get to learn techniques like cadence braking and car control. If you do the longer session then you do "bandit runs"
At the end of the session you can take your own cars on the skid pan!
I have been on an off road driving course run by these people and they are VERY good. I really had a great day!
www.skidpan.org.uk/
Anyone up for this?
>> Edited by gooby on Wednesday 6th July 09:53
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