Wednesday 12th November 2014

Rain doesn't stop play: PH Blog

Why real men don't tuck the overpowered RWD weekend toy away just because winter has arrived

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On average, the UK experiences 140 days of rainfall per year. Which is quite a lot. Due to some sort of cosmic imbalance, it is also more or less guaranteed that none of the 225 'dry' days are likely to fall on a weekend. Or be particularly dry. Welcome to Great Britain.

James, being manly at Sunday Service

But for a nation of car lovers dwelling in such a climate we're surprisingly lacking in enthusiasm when it comes to wet weather driving. A brief glance at the forums before any Sunday Service will reinforce this, with many people muttering "I might bring the tin top if the weather is bad."

But to me though it's a waste to keep a fast car locked up in the garage. Doubly so because, put simply, driving in the wet can be fun.

Jaguar recently loaned us an F-Type R coupe ahead of our Sunday Service with them at Gaydon and I was the lucky so-and-so responsible for driving it to Warwickshire. Inevitably it was also raining for the entire time I had it. The reality of course is that almost any modern car will deliver you safely to your destination if you respect it and leave the driver aids turned on. But if you do press a few buttons, take a few brave pills and approach it sensibly then there is some genuine fun to be had and, with it, a closer bond with your car.

Just get out and drive, whatever the weather

I know I'm not alone in feeling this way, the PHer who turned up at Gaydon in a Porsche Carrera GT proving the point also and in considerably more style. I'm struggling to think of a vehicle accepted wisdom dictates would be as intimidating to drive in the wet, not just because of the car's nature but also courtesy of its value. But the owner arrived grinning and happy, and didn't exactly seem reticent or hard done by as he set off for the journey home either.

This mindset was forced upon me when I worked for Caterham, where I'd be required to drive some extremely high powered, very light and not always very friendly cars whatever the weather. Sadly these sometimes lacked doors and often a roof but, as they say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor clothing choices. In a Caterham the only driver aids are the windscreen wipers and indicators, so you're on your own if you like it or not.

These PHers aren't afraid of a drop of rain

But once you get over the initial trepidation you start to relish the challenge, adapt to your environment and rapidly understand where the car's strengths and weaknesses lie. With the limits on a wet road being far lower any 'moments' tend to happen slower than in the dry, giving you a bit longer to correct them and learn how the car reacts. Basically if you can tame a car in the wet, not only will you quickly learn to enjoy it when you get finally drive the car on a dry and sunny day you'll also be able to get the most out of it.

Well, that's the theory anyway.

James

Photos: Ben Lowden, Stewart Writtle

[V8 FOU]

Totally agree. When I had the Esprit V8, traction control consisted of 3rd gear instead of 2nd coming out of turns or roundabouts.

Any RWD will be fun with a modicum of care in the wet. Even my F350 truck will drift in the wet!

[NotNormal]

I think you have missed pretty much the whole point why people don't want to bring some of their P&J's out to a car meet in the rain!! I can pretty much guarantee it has nothing to do with "controlling a car in the wet" which is what this article thinks is the primary reason.

[chibbard]

NotNormal said:

I think you have missed pretty much the whole point why people don't want to bring some of their P&J's out to a car meet in the rain!! I can pretty much guarantee it has nothing to do with "controlling a car in the wet" which is what this article thinks is the primary reason.

^^^^Spot on^^^^

[Tyre Tread]

Provocative journalism?

[GordonRS200]

It's all well and good when your car is a carbon/aluminium/fibreglass plaything, but most of us are stuck with steel, and ageing steel at that. Rain and salt and old steel shell/chassis cars is more than likely the real reason so many people hide their toys away in the winter.

[ecs0set]

NotNormal said:

I think you have missed pretty much the whole point why people don't want to bring some of their P&J's out to a car meet in the rain!! I can pretty much guarantee it has nothing to do with "controlling a car in the wet" which is what this article thinks is the primary reason.

Like for example it's a bit of an arse trying to clean and dry it before putting it away again.

Or maybe because interesting cars tend to have had less R&D funds spent on tedious things like the ability to demist the windscreen. It doesn't make the cars undriveable, but it does tend to make the drive more exhausting and less fun.

Plus some on limited mileage policies (or for whom massive miles = massive depreciation) would probably prefer to save the miles for better conditions. Drive along the M4 in the pouring rain to a car park in Bedford or cruise along the Amalfi coast on an epic road trip. Tricky choice.

[Behemoth]

ecs0set said:

Drive along the M4 in the pouring rain to a car park in Bedford or cruise along the Amalfi coast on an epic road trip. Tricky choice.

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 get your point, though

[willisit]

Um.. yeah. Okay.

So, first thing - keeping a classic in the garage when it's wet is to preserve it. Nothing else. Fun or otherwise. As "fun" as the wet can be, it's also dirty and congested. Yey.. let's go drive. Nah.

Also.. "Real men"? <sigh>

[SturdyHSV]

ecs0set said:

NotNormal said:

I think you have missed pretty much the whole point why people don't want to bring some of their P&J's out to a car meet in the rain!! I can pretty much guarantee it has nothing to do with "controlling a car in the wet" which is what this article thinks is the primary reason.

Like for example it's a bit of an arse trying to clean and dry it before putting it away again.

Or maybe because interesting cars tend to have had less R&D funds spent on tedious things like the ability to demist the windscreen. It doesn't make the cars undriveable, but it does tend to make the drive more exhausting and less fun.

Plus some on limited mileage policies (or for whom massive miles = massive depreciation) would probably prefer to save the miles for better conditions. Drive along the M4 in the pouring rain to a car park in Bedford or cruise along the Amalfi coast on an epic road trip. Tricky choice.

You mean we aren't all loaned F-Type Rs to play about in? Piffle!

(For what it's worth I agree with the article, the Monaro is out in all sorts of weather, I just think the tone of it left a bit to be desired)

[RocketRabbit]

willisit said:

Um.. yeah. Okay.

So, first thing - keeping a classic in the garage when it's wet is to preserve it. Nothing else. Fun or otherwise. As "fun" as the wet can be, it's also dirty and congested. Yey.. let's go drive. Nah.

Also.. "Real men"? <sigh>

I agree. My sportscar is tucked up in teh garage. So in the horrible weather, I ride my motorbike instead. One wheel drive cuts through the traffic better!

[TheJimi]

GordonRS200 said:

It's all well and good when your car is a carbon/aluminium/fibreglass plaything, but most of us are stuck with steel, and ageing steel at that. Rain and salt and old steel shell/chassis cars is more than likely the real reason so many people hide their toys away in the winter.

Correct.

[FastRich]

My Chimaera is rubbish in the wet. I hate driving it. Sure, it can be fun getting the back end out but it does that in the dry. The screen mists up, the wipers push the rain in through the gaps around the window and down my neck, it refuses to go where it's pointed and likes to randomly jump lanes without warning.

And then there's the chassis. As we all know, TVR chassis' are made from sugar so a drive in the rain will cause the car to immediately dissolve.

It isn't a case of manning up, it's a case of protecting the investment and enjoying every one of the 5000 insured miles with the roof off.

[SaqibCTR]

I appreciate my old '90s Honda that bit more when I drive it only in Spring/Summer months - it'll be tucked away fairly soon for a potential cold snap and salt on our roads. I've seen way too many rusty Hondas, some with legendary status. Taking no chances!

[Dave G fsi]

I keep my pride and joy off the road in the rain/salt to preserve it and not add to the milage in rubbish conditions that I wont enjoy whilst driving it

That way I can truly enjoy it when I do drive it on a good dry day in the summer, and be happy knowing it isn't rusting away being driven over the winter. Also, you have to think of the other drivers, higher probability of them running into you in the rain/snow/ice

[firewallguy]

Mmm, I can't say I enjoy driving the Cerbera in the rain; at half-throttle, with the windows up and stuck behind the inevitable HGV on a rural A-road due to having less overtaking confidence than in the diesel company car

Also, as for "adapt to your environment and rapidly understand where the car's strengths and weaknesses lie. With the limits on a wet road being far lower any 'moments' tend to happen slower than in the dry", I tried that once, and spun off the road onto a grass verge exiting a roundabout, slowly.

[mon the fish]

Having just received a £3.5k service bill for my 550 Maranello, in part due to corrosion on suspension components, it's going nowhere until April due to rain & salt (I live in Aberdeenshire, the wife's car is on winter tyres for half the year)

[Gorbyrev]

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.

[JD PH]

willisit said:

Um.. yeah. Okay.

So, first thing - keeping a classic in the garage when it's wet is to preserve it. Nothing else. Fun or otherwise. As "fun" as the wet can be, it's also dirty and congested. Yey.. let's go drive. Nah.

Also.. "Real men"? <sigh>

Hi guys,

I actually completely agree with this - In my original version I had a section all about how the "whatever the weather" approach is completely off the cards in anything classic / collectable / not up to the abuse. Sadly this didn't make it past Dan's editing (I can't blame him, it did go on a bit if I'm honest!)

Equally, the "real men" bit didn't come from me, but is clearly a light hearted dig so don't take it too seriously.

Anyway, to clarify the point is that in a country as wet as ours, deciding to drive your pride and joy only in perfect conditions is a bit limiting and should be looked on as a good way to get to know your car. Oh, and that the guy in the Carrera GT is a hero!

JD

[Ej74]

Getting in the 2-11 when its raining is a hard choice to make - no windscreen, wipers, heater etc

Once inside and rolling and it does rain it is bearable but I like to avoid getting too wet

[Cable]

Wet/torrential roads + Cold, track day, tyres + '90s turbo lag + RWD = monumental opposite lock

Not ideal for safely travelling down the Fosse way at any sort of interesting pace.

I think the main point about the wet weather, for me, is that once I'm at my destination, I'd rather not be a standing in a car park getting soaking wet. The drive there isn't really the issue.