350i - how do they handle?
Discussion
Hey all.
As my wedge eeks ever closer to being road-worthy, myself, and my friends are now debating over how the beast will actually handle?
Logic tells me, that with a light engine behind the front axle, and reasonably good suspension geometry, it should be fairly neutral up until the limit. At which point (I'm guessing) due to its short wheel-base, it could be a bit of a handful.
This of course is all speculation! So, I'd be interested in the feedback of any seasoned wedgers to prepare me for that first hoon down the local country lanes
Bob
As my wedge eeks ever closer to being road-worthy, myself, and my friends are now debating over how the beast will actually handle?
Logic tells me, that with a light engine behind the front axle, and reasonably good suspension geometry, it should be fairly neutral up until the limit. At which point (I'm guessing) due to its short wheel-base, it could be a bit of a handful.
This of course is all speculation! So, I'd be interested in the feedback of any seasoned wedgers to prepare me for that first hoon down the local country lanes
Bob
What tends to happen is that the back end slides out, you steer into it, nothing hapens, then it suddenly snaps back the other way and you exit gracelessly, stage left. In the case of one guy I know, into a traffic island. Another rammed a lamp-post. Last time I did it in big style I was on a racetrack, luckily!
For similar reasons it's very easy to donut a wedge...
For similar reasons it's very easy to donut a wedge...
Mine is "only" a 280i so can't fully comment, but yes I would "go easy" at first and slowly build up to "spirited" driving.
My 280i I can push pretty much as hard as I like in the dry but have to go really careful at the first signs of any moisture on the road.
I guess the 350i when it is on a dry road will be a bit like my 280i on a damp road so be careful near the limit.
Once you have gotten used to it you should find it becomes great fun to drive even when approaching the limit, but as with most RWD be careful not to cross the line or you'll get bitten!
You'll have hours of "silly grin" driving like the rest of us wedgers!
My 280i I can push pretty much as hard as I like in the dry but have to go really careful at the first signs of any moisture on the road.
I guess the 350i when it is on a dry road will be a bit like my 280i on a damp road so be careful near the limit.
Once you have gotten used to it you should find it becomes great fun to drive even when approaching the limit, but as with most RWD be careful not to cross the line or you'll get bitten!
You'll have hours of "silly grin" driving like the rest of us wedgers!
Wedg1e said:
What tends to happen is that the back end slides out, you steer into it, nothing hapens, then it suddenly snaps back the other way and you exit gracelessly, stage left.
. This, if your suspension is decent.... If your suspension is worn it will be a f3k1n death trap. Be very careful.
I've had 5 Wedges. 4 of which had over 250hp. You will need quality tyres & suspension to keep you on the Black stuff if you drive in a spirited manner.
Be very careful!
I sold my 350i years a go to a chap who'd never had a TVR and 2 days later my insurance company called to ask about my accident in the TVR! Fortunately I had advised them of the sale immediately but their paperwork was a bit behind.
I don't know what happened to my old car or how bad it was.
I sold my 350i years a go to a chap who'd never had a TVR and 2 days later my insurance company called to ask about my accident in the TVR! Fortunately I had advised them of the sale immediately but their paperwork was a bit behind.
I don't know what happened to my old car or how bad it was.
Thing that caught me out a little at first is just how direct the steering was, I was having a few bites at the first few corners as it was turning in quicker than I thought.
As most have said here they can be a handful especially in the wet so I try to keep it smooth and sensible on the roads. On the track however you can explore the limits a bit more and I was surprised just how well it did handle overall. Initial understeer, solve that with more power () and then quite controlable slide out the other side. It is quite easy to get a tank slapper just again because of the very quick steering rack but once you remember and adapt to that I think they are pretty good.
All that said, I have had mega fun on the track but I am still more on the conservative side on the road, no slides around roundabouts etc, don't want to hit anyhthing solid!!
As most have said here they can be a handful especially in the wet so I try to keep it smooth and sensible on the roads. On the track however you can explore the limits a bit more and I was surprised just how well it did handle overall. Initial understeer, solve that with more power (
) and then quite controlable slide out the other side. It is quite easy to get a tank slapper just again because of the very quick steering rack but once you remember and adapt to that I think they are pretty good.All that said, I have had mega fun on the track but I am still more on the conservative side on the road, no slides around roundabouts etc, don't want to hit anyhthing solid!!
If going in to corners without a slight bit of throttle it is nearly under steering.... A bit of throttle makes it neutral.
It has a lot of grip, but when too much throttle applied, the back end will overtake you more quickly then you can blink your eyes. Happened on trackdays a few times.
Entered a course to learn to drift in the wedge, the comment of the instructors was: it is not an ideal car to drift (even they had problems to get it right in the wedge , so it wasn't only me). In the beginning I either spinned/donutted or went around at a ridiculous speed through the corners without any sign of drifting.... At the end of the day I was sent to were the drift competition competitors were practicing as they thought I would be ok 
No worries, but after a very nice long drift the wedge was still carrying so much speed I ended up knocking a pole down holding a fence after slowing down as much as possible as the straight was short. This due to that they enhance the circuit by keeping it wet and that is ok for drifting, but not for braking. Strong fiberglass so: Wedge 1 - pole 0
Rob
It has a lot of grip, but when too much throttle applied, the back end will overtake you more quickly then you can blink your eyes. Happened on trackdays a few times.
Entered a course to learn to drift in the wedge, the comment of the instructors was: it is not an ideal car to drift (even they had problems to get it right in the wedge
, so it wasn't only me). In the beginning I either spinned/donutted or went around at a ridiculous speed through the corners without any sign of drifting.... At the end of the day I was sent to were the drift competition competitors were practicing as they thought I would be ok No worries, but after a very nice long drift the wedge was still carrying so much speed I ended up knocking a pole down holding a fence after slowing down as much as possible as the straight was short. This due to that they enhance the circuit by keeping it wet and that is ok for drifting, but not for braking. Strong fiberglass so: Wedge 1 - pole 0
Rob
Cheers guys.
I've driven some quick stuff before - last was a 997 Carrera 2S Porsche.
Much more powerful than a wedge, and quite a lot quicker, but also a lot more grip and probably more sorted.
This is all reinforcing what I thought - it's a car which needs treating with respect, and sounds like it requires absolute concentration when travelling fast.
If my posts in two weeks time come to you via a seance, you'll know I got it wrong!
I've driven some quick stuff before - last was a 997 Carrera 2S Porsche.
Much more powerful than a wedge, and quite a lot quicker, but also a lot more grip and probably more sorted.
This is all reinforcing what I thought - it's a car which needs treating with respect, and sounds like it requires absolute concentration when travelling fast.
If my posts in two weeks time come to you via a seance, you'll know I got it wrong!
eesbad said:
My old 350i is the only car I have ever driven that could kick the back end out sideways whilst accelerating on a dry straight piece of road!
Damn I miss that car...
Yep mine does that as well :-) God knows what the big bad 450s are like. I will find out one day.Damn I miss that car...
Mine doesn't step the rear out to bad unless you are trying but it does get really unsettled at the front by potholes and man hole covers on bends. The may be down to tyre pressures? I'm looking for the TP thread to make sure.
Hope you get it sorted for the remainder of the summer.
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