R.I.P. S2000

 

lol im blaming that on the concussion!

 

Guys please dont argue or over analyze..... That was not my intention of starting this thread. I have autocrossed for eight years. I am fully aware of what it takes to control a car. This is my point. No matter how much experience you have or how good you think you are, it can always jump up and bite you in the ass. I have met some of you at meets and have gained many friendships. I just want everyone to be careful.

 

Believe what you want to believe.

But you're talking about something different.

In my post I said "touching" the throttle. As in even cruising in gear.
Yes, at a SET speed.

Driving in neutral with the drivetrain disengaged is what I was talking about.

You won't spin 90 degrees if all wheels are spinning freely.

Having the vehicle in gear is NOT spinning freely.

So to reiterate:
1. I agree with you. By "touching the throttle" I meant: Touching the throttle in any way shape or form, including HOLDING your foot steady... which actually turns into acceleration if the rears slip. This can lead to spin out in RWD vehicles. That's what I said as well.

2. I don't agree that it would happen very easily at all if you were in neutral. In your 27 years of driving, has it EVER happened to you when the car was not in gear (and not right after abruptly clutching)? But regardless, that point is moot. The traction control does one better than neutral and is in no way like cruising in gear.

3. Traction control would absolutely prevent that. The rears can't run around the fronts if their shoelaces are tied. But you don't have to believe me.


Think of this: If you're holding your foot steady on the accelerator "cruising" and the rears hit low traction... you are actually accelerating. You'd have to look ahead, accurately gauge the slipperiness of the road surface, and lift your foot at the exact time the rears lose traction to maintain "cruising."

If you're pushing against a wall with constant force while walking... and part of the wall is slippery... you'll slip. You didn't change your pressure on the wall, but what was adequate before was immediately too much.

Same thing with the scenarios you described: You're giving a constant input on the pedal when "cruising" at a set speed, but when you hit low traction, that same weight on the accelerator will cause the engine (and tires) to rev freely.

If you've ever missed a gear, you know what I'm talking about. Rrrrrroooooowwwwrrrrr. Just a moderate throttle input races the engine towards redline because there's little resistance.

The traction control backs off the throttle for you before you can say, "wha?"

 

I had something similar happen not long after I got my S2000. Hit some unexpected sand mid turn, tail slid out, then as I corrected the back tires got off the sandy part of the road and the car jerked back around quicker than I could react, and started a spin in the other direction. I'll bet it was even worse with water.

Maybe VSA or the RLTC might have helped. Hard to be sure.

Every time I look at your signature photo it makes me sad. Such a beautiful car.

How are you getting along at this point?

 

I know. But that's why this is such a valuable opportunity to pound this concept into disbelievers.

This is the first thread that hasn't been overrun by people saying: "Don't drive like an idiot in the wet and you'll be fine."

People know YOU can drive and it's the first time people are realizing that they might benefit from a backup nanny.

Yes, if you had new Aquatreads, this wouldn't have happened. But that is not the point.

The point is that you're a good driver and were driving reasonably in reasonable conditions with reasonable equipment.

But the variability of road conditions is too difficult for a human to react quickly enough 100% of the time.

And "being careful" won't prevent this from happening. Unless you drive 15mph under the speed limit any time there is a remote chance of precipitation.

Like you said, 3.5 years went by without a problem. The people who have 1 year of S2000 driving and saying "I never had a problem" are again missing the point.

Glad you're okay, and I'll stop whoring your thread.

 

^lol its ok man. It just scared the shit outta me and I dont want anyone on here to have this happen to them. I value your imput on this I just didnt want my original intention to go overlooked.

 

Im doin ok, just tryin to get this shoulder healed up so I can get back to bangin gears. I dont do automatics haha!

 

Wow, well I'm glad that that tree didn't hit you. Sorry to see this happen to you. I hope you recover soon and if you can get back into another S2 when your ready. Just take your time and recover! Don't rush it, trust me I know

 

[QUOTE=millertown15,Nov 26 2007, 01:20 AM]Im doin ok,