RE: Drifting modes are pointless: Tell Me I'm Wrong
Discussion
SKYLINE3333 said:
What would the penalties be if you were seen doing this on a public road by the police ???
And would "well its got this button you press that makes it do it set up from the factory" be a get out from being charged for something ?
Or indeed the reaction from your insurance company when a claim is made as you've just side-swiped an oncoming vehicle or roadside object?And would "well its got this button you press that makes it do it set up from the factory" be a get out from being charged for something ?
I guess claiming (or them finding out) you were in drift mode at the time isn't going to make them particularly keen to settle your request, quickly or at all?
MuscleSaloon said:
Focus RS Drift Mode fails !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOelONV_unQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpHx7iPNYVc
Talentless show offs treating cars like toys on public roads. Totally predictable.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOelONV_unQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpHx7iPNYVc
Edited by MuscleSaloon on Sunday 6th November 17:33
And caught on camera, so erm, yeah, no insurance cover
hondansx said:
I think some of you are missing the point. The Ford and Ferrari systems monitor steering input in combo with yaw and either back off or apply the electronic safety nets depending on how well are you doing.
Sure, but all ESP systems do that; it's the basic principle of its operation. 
In the UK if you get seriously sideways on most country roads you're going to crash. I just did about 2000 miles over 4 weeks in Wales, Northern Ireland and Cornwall, and it reminded me just how narrow British roads can be. Drift mode really is pointless for 99% of drivers. For myself at least, a good grippy hot-hatch really is the best way to enjoy fast driving in Britain.
(I can and have drifted on mountain roads in the US and Australia, where there are wide hairpin switchbacks and smooth predictable surfaces. I wouldn't dare try the same antics in many places in the UK, except maybe this one close to where I grew up: http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-mydreamdriv... )
(I can and have drifted on mountain roads in the US and Australia, where there are wide hairpin switchbacks and smooth predictable surfaces. I wouldn't dare try the same antics in many places in the UK, except maybe this one close to where I grew up: http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-mydreamdriv... )
No you're not wrong.
Instant gratification = no sense of reward, and it encourages idiots like the two in the videos posted earlier to use it in completely inappropriate places.
For me, learning a car over a period of time, and progressively being able to drive it "better" is a big part of the experience. I don't want to push buttons, I want to learn and experience.
Instant gratification = no sense of reward, and it encourages idiots like the two in the videos posted earlier to use it in completely inappropriate places.
For me, learning a car over a period of time, and progressively being able to drive it "better" is a big part of the experience. I don't want to push buttons, I want to learn and experience.
cookie1600 said:
Or indeed the reaction from your insurance company when a claim is made as you've just side-swiped an oncoming vehicle or roadside object?
I guess claiming (or them finding out) you were in drift mode at the time isn't going to make them particularly keen to settle your request, quickly or at all?
On the same basis that my car has a "button from the factory" that makes it go 190mph when pushed, it won't excuse you from driving like a twunt in Plod's eyes, and rightly so !I guess claiming (or them finding out) you were in drift mode at the time isn't going to make them particularly keen to settle your request, quickly or at all?
Lot's of sense being spoken here!
I think TG and Clarkson in particular has been promoting RWD cars (predominantly since they got the airfield to play in) that drift as petrolhead cars, which is fine while they hoon them round on an open airfield, burning out tyres at someone elses expense and in cars they wouldn't treat like that if they used their own money.
Lots of sheep follow on and try to to the same in car parks and open roads which can be very dangerous in the hands of those who mostly, can't do it!
If car manufacturers are going to insist on fitting them, then the tech exists (like in Japan where the GTR only exceeds the speed limit when the car detects it's on a track) to only make them active on a track.
I think TG and Clarkson in particular has been promoting RWD cars (predominantly since they got the airfield to play in) that drift as petrolhead cars, which is fine while they hoon them round on an open airfield, burning out tyres at someone elses expense and in cars they wouldn't treat like that if they used their own money.
Lots of sheep follow on and try to to the same in car parks and open roads which can be very dangerous in the hands of those who mostly, can't do it!
If car manufacturers are going to insist on fitting them, then the tech exists (like in Japan where the GTR only exceeds the speed limit when the car detects it's on a track) to only make them active on a track.
Edited by Nors on Monday 7th November 14:14
Speaking as an owner of an RS, I got the car for it's feel, involvement and adjust ability on the throttle and it is perfect for this and I wanted it as a replacement for a Subaru 
To be perfectly honest I have tried the drift mode and it just feels wrong and nothing like controlling a drift in a RWD car or in a awd car like a Subaru. Anyone who thinks it is helping them learn to drift will have a very steep learning curve when try and drift an unassisted car.
I have no problem with the button being there, although it is unlikely that I will ever use it again. If it helps Ford/Merc sell the car as a marketing gimmick, good on them. I can't understand persons complaining about it though, Ford make it clear that it shouldn't be used on the roads and they are not forcing you or anyone to use it and it isn't the only way the car can be driven. It is one of the drive modes on the car, which a lot of cars have (drive modes I mean) and I doubt every driver uses every drive mode in their cars, so why make a fuss about this one?
It wasn't built to be the best drift car, it was built to be a exciting, competent hot hatch, which it is and that is how it can be used and how, I would think, the majority of responsible drivers will use it.
I would suggest you concentrate on enjoying using the car to the best of it's abilities rather than getting too worked up about a button you don't have to use.
I might be wrong but I think the point is what an earlier poster has suggested, this rant might be somewhat linked to justifying the praise which was heaped on a recently departed Honda
Which I will just say, is also a great car, although I wanted a awd carand I can't stomach the looks of the Civic
That's my speech finally finished
To be perfectly honest I have tried the drift mode and it just feels wrong and nothing like controlling a drift in a RWD car or in a awd car like a Subaru. Anyone who thinks it is helping them learn to drift will have a very steep learning curve when try and drift an unassisted car.
I have no problem with the button being there, although it is unlikely that I will ever use it again. If it helps Ford/Merc sell the car as a marketing gimmick, good on them. I can't understand persons complaining about it though, Ford make it clear that it shouldn't be used on the roads and they are not forcing you or anyone to use it and it isn't the only way the car can be driven. It is one of the drive modes on the car, which a lot of cars have (drive modes I mean) and I doubt every driver uses every drive mode in their cars, so why make a fuss about this one?
It wasn't built to be the best drift car, it was built to be a exciting, competent hot hatch, which it is and that is how it can be used and how, I would think, the majority of responsible drivers will use it.
I would suggest you concentrate on enjoying using the car to the best of it's abilities rather than getting too worked up about a button you don't have to use.
I might be wrong but I think the point is what an earlier poster has suggested, this rant might be somewhat linked to justifying the praise which was heaped on a recently departed Honda
Which I will just say, is also a great car, although I wanted a awd carand I can't stomach the looks of the Civic
That's my speech finally finished
Drift Mode allowed much bigger angles but it's hard to keep it sliding, it's definitely aimed at people who can't provoke a slide themselves. In track mode I could induce oversteer into the corner under braking and then bury the pedal and keep the slide going for much longer but with a smaller angle. It was much more fun and defeated the point of the Drift Mode for me personally.
Isn't drift mode really just 'ESP OFF' re-labelled by the marketing department?
I know that some systems are good enough to enable even the most inept of budding Ken Blocks to produce a half decent slide, I think these features are more about providing a something that appears to add value, even if it will never be used.
I would be interested to know what part vehicle legislation is playing here. I imagine it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to produce a car that shows any wayward behaviour in its default state. Making the driver choose to enable a mode that allows the car to be drifted straight into the nearest wall at least absolves the manufacturer of any responsibility?
I know that some systems are good enough to enable even the most inept of budding Ken Blocks to produce a half decent slide, I think these features are more about providing a something that appears to add value, even if it will never be used.
I would be interested to know what part vehicle legislation is playing here. I imagine it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to produce a car that shows any wayward behaviour in its default state. Making the driver choose to enable a mode that allows the car to be drifted straight into the nearest wall at least absolves the manufacturer of any responsibility?
With all the phenomenal electronics and computer controlled mechanics in modern cars it would be far more fun to have a dial that allowed you to select driving years as modes. I.e. You can select a mode that makes your car drive like it's 1975 or 1991 etc so get crappy suspension, poor engine response, weird over or understeer, slushy auto changes, lumpy engine with flat spots. Even select particular car models from the past that you want to simulate the handling and character of. Each day you could just dial in a different year of classic car driving experience for the commute. 
In short you could just have your new AMG drive like the original Hammer for s
ts and giggles. That would be a fun use of that computing power and ability.
In short you could just have your new AMG drive like the original Hammer for s
ts and giggles. That would be a fun use of that computing power and ability. Motormatt said:
Isn't drift mode really just 'ESP OFF' re-labelled by the marketing department?
I know that some systems are good enough to enable even the most inept of budding Ken Blocks to produce a half decent slide, I think these features are more about providing a something that appears to add value, even if it will never be used.
I would be interested to know what part vehicle legislation is playing here. I imagine it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to produce a car that shows any wayward behaviour in its default state. Making the driver choose to enable a mode that allows the car to be drifted straight into the nearest wall at least absolves the manufacturer of any responsibility?
No, there's a track mode which is ESP off. To me, it felt like Drift mode seems to wait for a very specific scenario to be created and then channels a certain amount of drive to the rear wheels and tapers it off as it measures forward speed versus sideways and angle based on, I'm assuming, wheel speed between all 4 wheels. I know that some systems are good enough to enable even the most inept of budding Ken Blocks to produce a half decent slide, I think these features are more about providing a something that appears to add value, even if it will never be used.
I would be interested to know what part vehicle legislation is playing here. I imagine it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to produce a car that shows any wayward behaviour in its default state. Making the driver choose to enable a mode that allows the car to be drifted straight into the nearest wall at least absolves the manufacturer of any responsibility?
TooMany2cvs said:
Ed Straker said:
Have you ever seen Monkey drive anything at all without going sideways?
Well, there was the video where he was driving what he described as "the world's best car"...
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