Discussion
My dad bought this mk1 focus RS a couple of years ago. Completely standard car. Last week he added the first mod - a mongoose exhaust.
I borrowed it Friday to drive up to Coningsby to see the Canadian Lancaster arrive. Unfortunately I didn't make it as this happened
Exiting a right hander I straightened up and the back end kept coming round. I went onto a grass verge backwards/sideways and was a passenger from then on.
Luckily damage has been limited to a very small crack in the bumper, part of the heat shield is lose, a curbed wheel. And the alignment was knocked out. I'm a very lucky boy.
It was obviously covered in mud after its excursion so I spent a couple of hours cleaning it yesterday.
Here's the results.
I borrowed it Friday to drive up to Coningsby to see the Canadian Lancaster arrive. Unfortunately I didn't make it as this happened
Exiting a right hander I straightened up and the back end kept coming round. I went onto a grass verge backwards/sideways and was a passenger from then on.
Luckily damage has been limited to a very small crack in the bumper, part of the heat shield is lose, a curbed wheel. And the alignment was knocked out. I'm a very lucky boy.
It was obviously covered in mud after its excursion so I spent a couple of hours cleaning it yesterday.
Here's the results.
I'd have throttled me! But, he was very understanding.
You can say I was clearly driving too fast but I'm not sure that speed was the major contributing factor.
I was exiting a bend at 40mph, it was off camber, dad had put decent tyres on the front and was running old budgets on the rear and it had just been raining, all the weight was on the offside rear wheel and it just started sliding once it went I ran out of room and talent to correct it.
I do agree that the art of good driving is to learn from mistakes and I certainly learnt from it. Despite what people assume speed wasn't the main factor here.
I'm not trying to dodge the blame - single vehicle accident the only person to blame is the driver.
You can say I was clearly driving too fast but I'm not sure that speed was the major contributing factor.
I was exiting a bend at 40mph, it was off camber, dad had put decent tyres on the front and was running old budgets on the rear and it had just been raining, all the weight was on the offside rear wheel and it just started sliding once it went I ran out of room and talent to correct it.
I do agree that the art of good driving is to learn from mistakes and I certainly learnt from it. Despite what people assume speed wasn't the main factor here.
I'm not trying to dodge the blame - single vehicle accident the only person to blame is the driver.
darren9 said:
I'd have throttled me! But, he was very understanding.
You can say I was clearly driving too fast but I'm not sure that speed was the major contributing factor.
I was exiting a bend at 40mph, it was off camber, dad had put decent tyres on the front and was running old budgets on the rear and it had just been raining, all the weight was on the offside rear wheel and it just started sliding once it went I ran out of room and talent to correct it.
I do agree that the art of good driving is to learn from mistakes and I certainly learnt from it. Despite what people assume speed wasn't the main factor here.
I'm not trying to dodge the blame - single vehicle accident the only person to blame is the driver.
exactly darren, point made, dodgy tyres on the rear, unfavourable road conditions... = slow the F down. Either way like i said, live and learn and it seems the car is ok.... I've done exactly the same accept written off a car i really loved... you get the point anyway.... lovely car, always loved them.You can say I was clearly driving too fast but I'm not sure that speed was the major contributing factor.
I was exiting a bend at 40mph, it was off camber, dad had put decent tyres on the front and was running old budgets on the rear and it had just been raining, all the weight was on the offside rear wheel and it just started sliding once it went I ran out of room and talent to correct it.
I do agree that the art of good driving is to learn from mistakes and I certainly learnt from it. Despite what people assume speed wasn't the main factor here.
I'm not trying to dodge the blame - single vehicle accident the only person to blame is the driver.
Mk1 RS is beautifully balanced and very, very neutral with good tyres all round.
However, as you've found out, putting lesser tyres on the back does make them tail happy.
I spun mine at Oulton Park because, although I had Pilot Sports all round, I had put slightly newer ones on the front. The rears still had very reasonable tread on but it was enough to shift the balance of the car significantly.
Thought initially my spin was down to carrying excess speed into Old Hall (well it was really..) but when a few days later the back tried to get away again around a roundabout at sensible speeds I knew the tyres were a factor.
Lucky to get away with minimal damage and please get your dad to sort his tyres out ASAP!!
However, as you've found out, putting lesser tyres on the back does make them tail happy.
I spun mine at Oulton Park because, although I had Pilot Sports all round, I had put slightly newer ones on the front. The rears still had very reasonable tread on but it was enough to shift the balance of the car significantly.
Thought initially my spin was down to carrying excess speed into Old Hall (well it was really..) but when a few days later the back tried to get away again around a roundabout at sensible speeds I knew the tyres were a factor.
Lucky to get away with minimal damage and please get your dad to sort his tyres out ASAP!!
Now. Where has that thread gone where a massed bunch of the PH "experts" were professing that new tyres are always better on the front so you can stop quicker. And "they never had a problem" etc etc.
Not quite in the same league as the RS but my 1.8 Zetec got sideways coming off a roundabout. Turns out brand new Toyo T1S took a little while to "scrub" in. And the fronts do it a bit faster.
Not quite in the same league as the RS but my 1.8 Zetec got sideways coming off a roundabout. Turns out brand new Toyo T1S took a little while to "scrub" in. And the fronts do it a bit faster.
I can add to the 'crap tyres bad on the back argument'....I had an RS Megane a couple of years ago with cheap tyres all round when I bought it, changed the fronts first because the garage said your better off for braking distances etc and then had a few weeks with crazy lift off over steer on wet roundabouts. Testament to the Renault's handling though it was actually quite fun and easily caught. I got them changed the month after and the difference was night and day.
Nice RS.... your dad is very brave
Nice RS.... your dad is very brave
No changes but we took the car to the Lincolnshire aviation heritage centre for their 'props and pistons' day. I managed to persuade the organisers to let us exhibit too.
It's a great day and it's for a good causes too.
The bottom picture I think is my favourite view of the car, shows the arches/bumper/wheels and brakes nicely.
I drove there and back and didn't fall off the road once, even though I went the same way as before. The rear wheels have been put on the front meaning the budget tyres were on that axle. They felt like I was driving on glass though that could be due to how tense I was being back behind the wheel of it (especially since my dad was passenger).
The day was really good but affected by the weather. There was flying displays planned but they were grounded. We were treated to 3 taxi's from the centres own Lancaster - Just Jane and a flypast from the BBMFs griffin engined Spitfire. There was a real diverse selection of cars there too.
Its worth attending - usually held on the August Bank Holiday.
It's a great day and it's for a good causes too.
The bottom picture I think is my favourite view of the car, shows the arches/bumper/wheels and brakes nicely.
I drove there and back and didn't fall off the road once, even though I went the same way as before. The rear wheels have been put on the front meaning the budget tyres were on that axle. They felt like I was driving on glass though that could be due to how tense I was being back behind the wheel of it (especially since my dad was passenger).
The day was really good but affected by the weather. There was flying displays planned but they were grounded. We were treated to 3 taxi's from the centres own Lancaster - Just Jane and a flypast from the BBMFs griffin engined Spitfire. There was a real diverse selection of cars there too.
Its worth attending - usually held on the August Bank Holiday.
Edited by darren9 on Thursday 28th August 10:38
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff