Word of Caution

djsizzy

uh oh...just sold the civic and now this is my DD. Guess ill just have to be extra careful.

nicknick

the Zeds are not losing control. It is the dickheads who drive them who put others at risk due to stupidity. There is a time and place for everything.

NYBladeZ

I used to always have my fun cars as my DD's and it has always resulted in bad luck accidents, not to say that wouldn't have happened even if I drove it less. Still I waited a long time for a new fun car and I love the Z I'll try to keep her in one piece to the best of my ability and enjoy it as well. Trade off with driving the camry everyday...it has no fun factor.

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2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold
2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

iceman21_23

first and foremost you are doing this on public streets, leave it on the track. i had to reread and look at the picture to see if this was on the track or on the street, since you are using lingo more derivative of track usage. i understand we love our cars and we love to go fast, just practice track moves on the track is all i ask of everyone.

kannibul

The above is a really lame post...I'm sure you don't drive your Z as if you're 90 and can't see past the hood...

Fact is, it's very easy to bust the rear end loose on this car, trying or not. The colder the temps, the easier it is.

G37Sam

With the right tires and VDC on, it's pretty difficult actually.

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kannibul

Actually...even with VDC on, if you stomp the gas while going around 30-40, it'll bust loose and kick the car sideways a bit before VDC kicks in and slaps you back in place. If conditions were right, I could see how VDC's delay would not help the situation enough to avoid an accident.

For example, getting squirrely and hitting a curb...

Pharmacist

yeah but why would any sane and rational person "stomp" on the gas in the middle of a turn? ANY car even a corolla can lose traction and crash with something like that. the point is that losing traction and crashing is hard to do in the z and definitely no easier than on most family cars and suvs, except if the driver is deliberately trying to spin the car or is just plain stupid.

iceman21_23

no i dont drive it as if i was 90 but i also don't do stupid stuff like taking corners far to fast or try and drift around corners either. cars are meant to be enjoyed no doubt, but to act like an idiot and not only your self in danger but others as well is plain moronic.

anyways to the op I'm glad that your stepping up and realizing that this was an operator error and knowing what you did wrong can only better help you in your future driving experiences

kannibul

OK, so, how do you know what the limits of a car are, without having crossed them?

It's the same thing with a bike, over and over in the safety course (if you take it), you are told not to ride beyond your ability.

Yet, if you don't know you or your vehicle's ability, well, you sometimes get lucky and nothing gets hurt, or something does get hurt...

In my case (with my bike), I ended up riding 80 miles home with a broken wrist (3-pieces), and my wife had a very bruised knee...and my bike, $5600 in damage...bike cost $9500 new!

My fault in that incident - I was riding with a group of people and wasn't comfortable with where I was in the group (in the middle of the pack), and was on an unfamiliar route...misjudged a turn and was on the outside edge, felt like I couldn't get more into the corner due to others around me, so off I went.


With my Z, sure I do stupid crap. Stupid can be fun...really fun. However, I try not to do it where I or my vehicle or other vehicles will get hurt. I've come close enough to know "OK I won't do that again" - in the above example, the OP didn't get that second chance.

I'm sure the OP doesn't think of himself as speed-racer or soemone off of Fast and Furious. He may have used "track terms" but by using them, it was descriptive enough to where I, someone who hasn't gone to a track, would know just about what he's referring to. I have the same problem - too heavy of a foot coming out of corners.

Is that wrong to say it that way or should he have said, I lost control and crashed....then everyone would be asking how...

ricky bobby

i've owned 2 hayabusas and 1 ZX11. Screw it no one got hurt lesson learned. I say get back in that Z or another Z and go through that corner again and own it!

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If you ain't first, you're last!

NYBladeZ

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2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold
2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

Pharmacist

actually even with vdc off, i can only get the back loose if i really tried hard to do it. why does everyone act as if the z is such a hard car to drive and is so dangerous? with the appropriate tires installed, even with vdc off, the z is such a safe and easy car to drive! its high levels of mechanical grip, powerful brakes, zero lift aerodynamic package, stiff sport suspension, solid steering feel, low ride, and the road feedback transmitted to the driver all combine to make the z much safer to drive than big SUVs and family sedans that handle like the titanic. even in adverse weather conditions like rain or snow.

i've only lost grip and spun out twice in the wet in the last 5 months, and that was in empty intersections when i deliberately tried to drift the turn but overdid the throttle.

almost all cases of 370z losing traction and crashing are the result of idiot drivers making stupid mistakes, something which can cause any car to crash. the op admitted he was trying to pull off a michael schumacher in the rain when he self-admittedly ran out of talent and crashed. the other guy with the crashed nismo said his mom spun out after she "popped the clutch", something which any amateur knows should never be done without rev-matching the engine and transmission first.

puckshaw

Glad the OP was ok after the wreck. Sorry about the car

I've got less than 1000 miles on my Z so far and I'm gradually finding the limits when it's safe to do so. I never use VDC even in the rain and haven't had any problems so far. I've gotten a little sideways but the car is very controllable as long as you're not mashing the gas with the wheel turned. Definitely be careful with the throttle in cold/wet conditions. In the dry, I have to try to make the back end step out.

Sounds like you're being very mature about the situation and have no doubt learned a valuable lesson. Be careful out there guys

imag

Man, some of the people on this thread...

The OP posted his experience, was honest about it, and half the people immediately act like he didn't know how to drive.

Going to HPDE events does make you a better driver, but it doesn't make you less likely to crash. That's one of the reasons insurance companies haven't supported them well. Good drivers often just reach further into their limits.

And I know - we should all keep it to the track. But if you don't like to occasionally go out canyon carving, why did you buy the car? A track car and a volvo would make more sense.

Thanks, OP, for posting this. It is a good reminder that even experienced drivers can lose it, especially on cold tires in this car. I was in the cold rain the other day and I had almost no traction at all.

Anyway, as you were...

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Stillen CBE, Stillen track cooler, Stillen Gen3 Intakes, B&M short shift kit