Understeering around...
Discussion
Just had the R understeering all over the place... Not really pushed the limits yet so thought, as the roads were quiet, I'd give it a shot... Got to say, a more neutral set up would be better as the front lets the massive grip of the rear down a little... Still great fun though spinning the rears out of a tight corner :) Problem is that the power pushes the nose out of shape because the grips just not there... Maybe bigger fronts in the future? Doesn't bother me for every day use though...
It is easy and VERY satisfing. The car will oversteer under throttle. Contary to your instinct, when she understeers put your foot down and start the oversteer, bring the rear round and counteract the understeer. Just1 has seen me do it on a few roundabouts and he and I are VERY impressed with the incredible speed you can keep in the bends.
Understeer.... bull, balance the babe on the throttle and you will realise what the car is for!
Understeer.... bull, balance the babe on the throttle and you will realise what the car is for!
It's tricky to really play about on the public roads - not too many roundabouts where I am but will be taking a trip to Snetterton at some point where the risk of smacking a tractor is vastly reduced if I get it wrong... You're right though, my instinct was to power off when I felt the car want to continue straight!
In the S1 understeer is like the car laughing at you and telling you that you are crap and not worthy to be behind the wheel. You need more power to the rear to balance the car out. Just tuck your balls in your ass, pin it and you'll probably come out smelling of roses. Not much experience in S2s but what Gooby said does make sense.
When I first got the elise a mate of mine was visiting from overseas - he races cars at top level and was a test driver for opel in South Africa(vauxhall here) - I took him for a spin and the he took the wheel. After about 20 min of getting the hang of things, he let rip - 4 wheel slides, tail out etc. Clearly there is little the car cannot do! I absolutely sh*t myself! The only thing I remember about the later part of the run (we were in Scotland in Argyll) was the appearance of my hairy little r*ng as I tried to kiss my a** goodby!
I should have remembered him doing the same thing to another friend who was a salesman for opel and got the induction by fear on the first day on the job. Made me realise how far I had to go with driving skills. I won't even mention what he did in my M3 a couple of years ago.
In the futile quest of better driving I have booked a 1st lotus day in 2 weeks to better exploit the car.
I should have remembered him doing the same thing to another friend who was a salesman for opel and got the induction by fear on the first day on the job. Made me realise how far I had to go with driving skills. I won't even mention what he did in my M3 a couple of years ago.
In the futile quest of better driving I have booked a 1st lotus day in 2 weeks to better exploit the car.
Chaps,
I have just been on the lotus experience day up at Hethel. Not a hint of understeer going full throttle on the track - as long as the car is kept in a fairly low gear, the power will sort out the balance.
Just wait 'til the instructors take you out though - this car has some serious potential, the guys rarely lift off at all on the circuit - standard 111R.
I managed a 1/4 of the wet circle sideways - he he.
go do it...on the track of course, not a good idea on the road.
>> Edited by flatfour on Monday 19th September 19:31
I have just been on the lotus experience day up at Hethel. Not a hint of understeer going full throttle on the track - as long as the car is kept in a fairly low gear, the power will sort out the balance.
Just wait 'til the instructors take you out though - this car has some serious potential, the guys rarely lift off at all on the circuit - standard 111R.
I managed a 1/4 of the wet circle sideways - he he.
go do it...on the track of course, not a good idea on the road.
>> Edited by flatfour on Monday 19th September 19:31
Track day + training has got to be on the cards because you just cannot learn to drive the car on public roads - especially in Norfolk where it's so damn flat and the risk of meeting something head on is pretty high!
Thanks for the comments as it's good to know it's my lack of knowledge rather than a general understeer due to the lower width fronts...
Thanks for the comments as it's good to know it's my lack of knowledge rather than a general understeer due to the lower width fronts...
gooby said:
It is easy and VERY satisfing. The car will oversteer under throttle. Contary to your instinct, when she understeers put your foot down and start the oversteer, bring the rear round and counteract the understeer. Just1 has seen me do it on a few roundabouts and he and I are VERY impressed with the incredible speed you can keep in the bends.
Understeer.... bull, balance the babe on the throttle and you will realise what the car is for!
I feel exactly like this since yesterday. While creating a road book for friends, I realise that understeer has more to do with the way you approach the bend that the car itself. If you believe you will go faster by breaking very late, the weight on the front wheels will be quite high. I realise this as I was breaking a little bit earlier and more harder to then push (and balance)the throttle at apex and floor it when feeling some understeer. It was a pleisure.
I do believe you still need to know the car well to do this. Because you need the confidence that the tail won't fly by.
Ben
For gods sake don't try tail out shite on the roads if you don't know what you're doing, especially at this time of year.
Far better to spend the money you'd eventually have to spend on repairing the thing when you lost it bigtime, on Walshy days where you can chuck it around all day with no fear of t
tting it or anyone else.
Far better to spend the money you'd eventually have to spend on repairing the thing when you lost it bigtime, on Walshy days where you can chuck it around all day with no fear of t
tting it or anyone else.
Morning all,
I'd be very careful here, I speak with personal experience of losing the R trying to put the back end out, it costs a lot more than a Car limits day when thing's go wrong that's for sure. The S1 didn't seem to under steer as much as the S2 but this has been discussed before so I won't go down that road.
Boggy
I'd be very careful here, I speak with personal experience of losing the R trying to put the back end out, it costs a lot more than a Car limits day when thing's go wrong that's for sure. The S1 didn't seem to under steer as much as the S2 but this has been discussed before so I won't go down that road.
Boggy
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