Car balance and traction control; What should I try/buy?
Discussion
I've had my first car for about 6 months, I'm hooked. It's a 2.0L Diesel rover 25. Big heavy engine at the front not much weight anywhere else. And I've been driving a mk7 golf hire car this week. It feels beautifully smooth and balanced but the traction control kicks in too early even when it's off. It doesn't give the most feedback through the steering wheel. I actually thought it didn't give any until I turned the traction control off.
Can anyone recomend (cheap) cars that you can turn the traction control completely off, but are balanced and you can feel what the wheels are doing through the wheel? am I looking at an mx5? or do I need to spend serious money.
I'm planning to buy a cheap old three series because that seems the cheapest way to have a proper go with one. And maybe take a fiat 4x4 to the Italian alps this winter.
Can anyone recomend (cheap) cars that you can turn the traction control completely off, but are balanced and you can feel what the wheels are doing through the wheel? am I looking at an mx5? or do I need to spend serious money.
I'm planning to buy a cheap old three series because that seems the cheapest way to have a proper go with one. And maybe take a fiat 4x4 to the Italian alps this winter.
Driving for 6 months and only driven FWD slow cars and you are talking about feel and switching off traction control?
Before buying anything, least not a RWD car get yourself booked on some track days where guy get to drive some different cars and get some tuition
Without this I predict another thread in the next few months asking how to repair the car that has ended up in the hedge
Before buying anything, least not a RWD car get yourself booked on some track days where guy get to drive some different cars and get some tuition
Without this I predict another thread in the next few months asking how to repair the car that has ended up in the hedge
Try a Mk1 Focus. Nicely balanced with an ability to give a bit of lift off oversteer if provoked. They give a bit more feel through the steering than modern electric power steering cars.
Should be able to pick up a half decent ST170 for less than £2k. 1.8 or 2.0 Zetec also worth a look.
Should be able to pick up a half decent ST170 for less than £2k. 1.8 or 2.0 Zetec also worth a look.
If you explicitly want RWD, the BMW or MX5 are both good choices.
On the other hand, if FWD is fine, have you considered changing your Rover for an MG ZS? I just bought one myself, they drive well and are very cheap. There's a diesel one too, if there's a particular reason you need that.
On the other hand, if FWD is fine, have you considered changing your Rover for an MG ZS? I just bought one myself, they drive well and are very cheap. There's a diesel one too, if there's a particular reason you need that.
Nanook said:
When I passed my test, we didn't really have traction control, and I didn't crash once.
Calm down.
Neither did I but then again I also didn’t think I was a great driver either and learned through motorsport quite quickly that I wasn’t but hit a lot better for it and became quite good Calm down.
Just pointing out that a driver with 6 months experience in slow FWD cars into something RWD with more power is likely to end badly
psykx said:
I've had my first car for about 6 months, I'm hooked. It's a 2.0L Diesel rover 25. Big heavy engine at the front not much weight anywhere else. And I've been driving a mk7 golf hire car this week. It feels beautifully smooth and balanced but the traction control kicks in too early even when it's off. It doesn't give the most feedback through the steering wheel. I actually thought it didn't give any until I turned the traction control off.
Can anyone recomend (cheap) cars that you can turn the traction control completely off, but are balanced and you can feel what the wheels are doing through the wheel? am I looking at an mx5? or do I need to spend serious money.
I'm planning to buy a cheap old three series because that seems the cheapest way to have a proper go with one. And maybe take a fiat 4x4 to the Italian alps this winter.
Subaru make good cars, in your budget with LSD and traction which most other cars would cry for and a billion times better than a diesel rover. BMWs with RWD i am not sure is a good choice in the alps uless you fancy tumbling down a few k feet dropCan anyone recomend (cheap) cars that you can turn the traction control completely off, but are balanced and you can feel what the wheels are doing through the wheel? am I looking at an mx5? or do I need to spend serious money.
I'm planning to buy a cheap old three series because that seems the cheapest way to have a proper go with one. And maybe take a fiat 4x4 to the Italian alps this winter.
The auto Subarus i think you can switch off the traction also
Personally I've given up driving enthusiastically on the roads, just buy something cheap to get around in as required. Extra pennies can then be invested in track experiences and/or a track toy. There is no comparison between road and track driving. Every racing driver I've seen turns up at a track in a clapped out old diesel plodder unless they're sponsored to drive something nice. Add to that and a lost road licence = no track driving and there really isn't any point risking it.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff