Help needed ! How to drive a Chim4?

[chrisdadd]

180 degree spin!
I was at a roundabout at lunctime and moving out to exit at a slip road. The guy on the inside was in the wrong lane and let me pull out in front of him.

I hit the gas and the car back end started sliding around and before I knew it I ended up facing 180 degress the wrong way! I guess I hit the gas a little too hard with the front wheels angled. I've only had the Chim for a week...anyone wish to pass on some sensible advanced driving tips?

By the way...luckily for me no damage to anyone.

[paulu]

What boots do you have on you Chim?

also the suspension setup, that may be an issue. You will learn how to treat you car very quick, you will regret this mail by next week and won't worry again!

[MikeyT]

Carefully does it Chris, even the 4.0 can be a bit if you don't treat it with respect!

Too much right foor I think, just *feed* it in a bit more, rathe than suddenly *to the floor*.

Was the road wet/greasy?

[angusfaldo]

Most of us have done it. Mix BHP, RWD, wet roads and leaving a roundabout in the wrong combination and you'll always get a good look at the surprised folk following you.

Well done for not damaging anything!

AF

[plotloss]

3 tips to stay on the same vector during your first weeks of ownership:

1) DONT boot it in any gear lower than 3rd.
2) If its dry treat it like its wet, if its wet treat it like its ice.
3) You know the 2500rpm rule when cold, if its wet try to keep the revs below that figure all the time.

HTH

Matt.

[s2ooz]

"out at lunch" suggests your tyres were cold, they are performance tyres unlike metro tyres, and the heat will matter.

"roundabout" notoroius spots for deisel spills from trucks, it rained yesterday (here anyway) so the stuff floats to the surface, even if it looks dry, its coating the tarmac, I can get a volvo 1.4 sideways on deisel.

also heavy cambers on islands.

tip? get it moving in 1st then drop striaght to 2nd, with low revs, your safe to use more pedal, still plenty of acceleration, but less chance of slide.

dont hoof it with the steering turned even a little. this is asking for trouble

best tip? keep doing it. practice practice. dont shy away, the quicker you learn how to use the power slide to your benefit, the better. And more fun you will have!

the chim suspension is quiet soft, which makes it very easy to control under sliding conditions.

[manek]

Agree with all those comments -- but above all be very smo-o-o-oth with the right foor.

[Cutmonster]

Chrisdadd
Happened to be me within a month of ownership. I went a full 360 on the A2 at Blackheath, SE London! Only thing damaged was my ego!
I agree with the comments about diesel spills and roundabouts - in fact I went for a nice slide round a a slippy roundabout in a local dealer's Tuscan S on Saturday (sorry Clarke's of Bromsgrove)!
You might want to think about a high performance driving course - I'm down for one with Driving Developments in June as recommended thru threads on this site. See www.drivingdevelopment.co.uk
Cheers!

>> Edited by Cutmonster on Monday 15th April 20:53

[powelly]

I think most of us have come from cars where the throttle is a "switch", especially with traction control... gently does it...

And the points about the car being "cold" are true too... I find the entire package of tires, suspension and gearbox needs just that ounce more respect, especially when you are just out of bed @ 6 in the morning... quite regularly slither off the drive...

[EdT]

Just take it steadily!! These are 'real' cars - i.e. not as easy to drive until you understand them a little. Have had the below for 3 years or so & constantly improving...

Ed

[yum]

I would echo what has been said. An instructor told me that after a tight corner, only start feeding in additonal power as you start unwinding the steering wheel, and in proportion.

Have fun, safely!

R