RED MX5

It doesn't take a god to drift an AE86.

For drifting you need to be able to get enough thrust at the tires contact patches to keep the back tires spinning. You can break stiction in a variety of ways, so all you need is enough thrust to keep the tires spinning. Since you are using some of the available grip for cornering, there is less grip available for thrust. Additionally, thrust is a function of torque, gearing, and tire diameter, so in the lower gears, even an AE86 or an S2000 has more than enough (torque and thrust) to keep the back tires spinning. A car with low torque output is only at a disadvantage in the higher gears. In first and second gear, engine speeds above 6k and road speeds below (roughly) 60 MPH, once the back tires are sliding, there is more than enough thrust (torque times overall gearing divided by tire diameter) to keep the tires spinning until you straighten out or hit the rev limiter. Third gear powerslides and drifts require more skill. Anyone who can drift an S2000 at speeds over 100 MPH (fourth, fifth, or sixth gear speeds) is some kind of a drift god. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I'd have to see it to believe it.

SCCA solo drifting rarely involves speeds over 60 MPH, so torque is not an issue for the S2000. The biggest problem is the limited steering lock, compounded by the fact that the EPS gets confused when the tires are spinning, spoiling the steering feel. Keeping the car within the 10-15 degree yaw limits is what makes drifting the S2000 difficult.

Pro drifting is another matter. Speeds often exceed 100 MPH, and an S2000 needs some serious turbo boost to develop enough power to drift at the higher speeds. Pro drifters also increase the amount of steering, lock to lock, and generally remove the EPS. Plus of course they make the suspension rock hard, so the car will slide at the slightest provication.

I have lots of fun drifting my car during autocrosses (where speeds are also almost always below 60 MPH), and you do have to have good throttle control, but implying that it is god-like is a GROSS overstatement. It's something anyone who isn't a complete spaz can learn to do. LOL, if it takes god like throttle control to drift an S2000 then there are two kinds of S2000 owners. Those that are gods, and those that are spazzes.

crazylarry85

^ Id like to consider myself a GOD

lol

__redruM

Since this image came up earlier and I've always been a little curious.

Was the water used to help break the tires loose? Or was it not a factor?

RED MX5

[QUOTE=__redruM,Jan 25 2008, 01:23 PM]

Since this image came up earlier and I've always been a little curious.

Was the water used to help break the tires loose?

pdexta

I find it to be considerably easier to get the rear of the S2000 to break loose compared to my Miata. Having 4 times the HP probably has something to do with that though. I was amazed the first time I slid the Miata around in the rain a little. It's definitely way easier to control. The Miata seems a lot more neutral to me while the S2000 (at least the early ones) were a lot more oversteer prone.

deepee

kick the clutch. i used to do it on every u-turn. it's not hard at all but get used to the reaction of the car in an empty parking lot before doing it on the streets

RED MX5

crazylarry85

[QUOTE=scottrunsxc,Jan 25 2008, 02:03 PM] I find it to be considerably easier to get the rear of the S2000 to break loose compared to my Miata.

JS2k.com

I pray RED MX5 will never leave this forum. He's amazingly tolerant and helpful even with immature pleasures like powersliding through a turn. I'm guilty of this sometimes too.

Emil St-Hilaire

very easy..