Cliche Type Question to mull
Discussion
Depends on the layout of the car. Oversteer in a FWD car can be rather sudden and an inexperienced driver could be easily caught out.
If it has to be an 'unexpected' wahey moment I think understeer would be the safer and therefore preferable option. A nice deliberate helping of oversteer is much more enjoyable though!
If it has to be an 'unexpected' wahey moment I think understeer would be the safer and therefore preferable option. A nice deliberate helping of oversteer is much more enjoyable though!
Depends a lot on the circumstances - wouldn't fancy a tank slapper at a hundred leptons. On the odd occasion I've had unexpected oversteer (irrespective of the car's layout), it's usually been tidyed up with a dab that's been more of a natural reaction that something I've done consciously. With understeer, whilst a good marker to show you're reaching the limits of grip whilst pressing on, it can take a more concerted effort to sort out, be it lifting or braking. Given the choice betwen the two happening unexpectedly, I'd choose oversteer every time. Plus, after you've gathered things up, you feel like Muhammad I'm Hard Bruce Lee. 
sconzo said:
Depends a lot on the circumstances - wouldn't fancy a tank slapper at a hundred leptons. On the odd occasion I've had unexpected oversteer (irrespective of the car's layout), it's usually been tidyed up with a dab that's been more of a natural reaction that something I've done consciously. With understeer, whilst a good marker to show you're reaching the limits of grip whilst pressing on, it can take a more concerted effort to sort out, be it lifting or braking. Given the choice betwen the two happening unexpectedly, I'd choose oversteer every time. Plus, after you've gathered things up, you feel like Muhammad I'm Hard Bruce Lee.
Agreed. Now get me a cup of tea Errol..sconzo said:
SWoll said:
Agreed. Now get me a cup of tea Errol..
doogz said:
You don't get oversteer without meaning it, or getting some understeer first, in most road cars these days.
That's 'cos most road cars these days are FWD boxes with no flair.I'd guess that a lot of people on PH tend to drive RWD cars with less traction control, so oversteer is a very real possibility..
I guess overcorrected underteer can lead to an oversteering spin.
But in FWD (unless you are really hammering it) it's quite easy to just drive out of either.
Understeer in a RWD also isn't that bad, in that it can be corrected by braking or easing off.. .again, assuming you've not already hit a tree or bounced off a curb.
I think than an unexpected oversteer is the real scary one, because it's the one that can lead to some drastic wrong way action.
Especially when it's oversteer that puts the tail an extra 2 foot further out than you expected.
dan5oclocksmith said:
doogz said:
To the inexperienced, there's a good chance understeer is going to lead to a spin, or some oversteer.
You don't get oversteer without meaning it, or getting some understeer first, in most road cars these days.
How does understeer lead to a spin?You don't get oversteer without meaning it, or getting some understeer first, in most road cars these days.
dan5oclocksmith said:
doogz said:
To the inexperienced, there's a good chance understeer is going to lead to a spin, or some oversteer.
You don't get oversteer without meaning it, or getting some understeer first, in most road cars these days.
How does understeer lead to a spin?You don't get oversteer without meaning it, or getting some understeer first, in most road cars these days.
lionrampant said:
What unsettles you most during an unexpected "wahey!" moment - Oversteer or Understeer?
Surely it depends on the conditions, how much space you have, the vehicle you are driving and what you are now heading towards.Personally I'd probably say extreme plough on understeer at speed when unexpected.
SWoll said:
sconzo said:
SWoll said:
Agreed. Now get me a cup of tea Errol..
300bhp/ton said:
Surely it depends on the conditions, how much space you have, the vehicle you are driving and what you are now heading towards.
Personally I'd probably say extreme plough on understeer at speed when unexpected.
I wrote a car off as a young 'un with plough-on understeer. Personally I'd probably say extreme plough on understeer at speed when unexpected.
A wahey understeer moment leaves you feeling lucky, but a wahey oversteer moment leaves you feeling like a driving god.
I prefer the latter.
300bhp/ton said:
Surely it depends on the conditions, how much space you have, the vehicle you are driving and what you are now heading towards.
Personally I'd probably say extreme plough on understeer at speed when unexpected.
Well yes, but since there are a rather large number of combinations of those conditions I decided to go for the cheap version of the question :P Personally I'd probably say extreme plough on understeer at speed when unexpected.
My own opinion pretty much sits with yours actually.
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