100mph in the rain on the m1
05-26-2007 | 08:26 AM
#82
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From: West Coast
It's a lot worse than my Elise on any piece of road with regular standing water. The Elise doesn't twitch at 100, and the S used fish tail at 70.
One of the drivers I was speaking of was an experienced rally driver, and it threw him and his wife off at 70 in standing water. In his own words he "was a passenger" throughout.
One of the drivers I was speaking of was an experienced rally driver, and it threw him and his wife off at 70 in standing water. In his own words he "was a passenger" throughout.
05-26-2007 | 08:26 AM
#83
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From: Rickmansworth
Originally Posted by m1bjr,May 26 2007, 08:19 AM
A solid wedge of water builds up in front of the tyres to the point where the tyre rises onto it. Hit the bathwater hard with the palm of your hand and see it doesn't give.
The rears follow roughly in line with the front, and in their wake, so they are far less likely to suffer the same amount of water and keep traction longer.
So, now you have a floating front and a driven rear. Add to the fact that there my be some road camber, varying depths of water, the steering effect of the rear diff, and you are most likely not going to stay in a straight line under power (or off it).
Hitting a large pool of water does all the above AND suddenly slows the car.
I'm sure you know what happens then as the rear also goes lighter
Absolutely the only thing to do is nothing but gently reduce power. If coasting its hard to tell if you have grip or not. You will feel the car go vague, like on ice. Make no steering inputs, nothing, until you feel you have traction again. You do have to be ready to steer out of the slide if you are now sideways and have traction again. If you try and steer an aquaplaning car it does nothing, like on ice.
Except that when grip is restored and your wheels happen to be facing the wrong way then you'll suddenly take off in that direction. At speed you wont catch it.
The rears follow roughly in line with the front, and in their wake, so they are far less likely to suffer the same amount of water and keep traction longer.
So, now you have a floating front and a driven rear. Add to the fact that there my be some road camber, varying depths of water, the steering effect of the rear diff, and you are most likely not going to stay in a straight line under power (or off it).
Hitting a large pool of water does all the above AND suddenly slows the car.
I'm sure you know what happens then as the rear also goes lighter
Absolutely the only thing to do is nothing but gently reduce power. If coasting its hard to tell if you have grip or not. You will feel the car go vague, like on ice. Make no steering inputs, nothing, until you feel you have traction again. You do have to be ready to steer out of the slide if you are now sideways and have traction again. If you try and steer an aquaplaning car it does nothing, like on ice.
Except that when grip is restored and your wheels happen to be facing the wrong way then you'll suddenly take off in that direction. At speed you wont catch it.
05-26-2007 | 08:30 AM
#84
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lincolnshire Wolds
The original post was by a dickhead waving his cock and inviting praise and admiration for his amazing feat of driving at 100mph in the wet.
This was an obvious reaction to the many alarming posts on here about the S spinning off into the boondocks at the very threat of rain.
I stick to my point of view that the S is not a widow maker in the wet with the proviso that a modicum of common sense is required. If you aquaplane off then you are either driving beyond your ability or too fast,which amounts to the same thing.
The S is not an unsafe car,but unfortunately attracts some drivers who think that they are driving gods and need to prove it at every opportunity.
Standing by for driving god flaming.
This was an obvious reaction to the many alarming posts on here about the S spinning off into the boondocks at the very threat of rain.
I stick to my point of view that the S is not a widow maker in the wet with the proviso that a modicum of common sense is required. If you aquaplane off then you are either driving beyond your ability or too fast,which amounts to the same thing.
The S is not an unsafe car,but unfortunately attracts some drivers who think that they are driving gods and need to prove it at every opportunity.
Standing by for driving god flaming.
05-26-2007 | 08:42 AM
#85
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From: West Coast
Originally Posted by Heinz '57,May 26 2007, 05:30 PM
If you aquaplane off then you are either driving beyond your ability or too fast,which amounts to the same thing.
05-26-2007 | 08:45 AM
#86
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From: Lincolnshire Wolds
Originally Posted by Bada Bing!,May 26 2007, 04:42 PM
70mph should not be too fast though.
05-26-2007 | 08:49 AM
#87
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From: West Coast
It's arguable of course, but I don't see anyone else slamming on the anchors when they see a puddle on the motorway. There is common sense required and if a road is drenched then it's daft to think you can carry on at 100mph.
But as I stated above, I know one road very well where the S was all over the place at 70, and the Elise (and every other car that I've seen or driven in) doesn't bat an eyelid at much higher speeds.
There are loads of people on here who agree. I don't think they are all amatuers or dickheads either.
But as I stated above, I know one road very well where the S was all over the place at 70, and the Elise (and every other car that I've seen or driven in) doesn't bat an eyelid at much higher speeds.
There are loads of people on here who agree. I don't think they are all amatuers or dickheads either.
05-26-2007 | 08:50 AM
#88
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From: Survivalist enclave
Originally Posted by Bada Bing!,May 26 2007, 04:42 PM
70mph should not be too fast though.
cars will aquaplane at vastly lower speeds
you've seen the pics of my m3 which aquaplaned at <70mph
of course, if you have girly tyres on your car, it will help
05-26-2007 | 08:56 AM
#89
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Originally Posted by Bada Bing!,May 26 2007, 05:26 PM
It's a lot worse than my Elise on any piece of road with regular standing water. The Elise doesn't twitch at 100, and the S used fish tail at 70..
I remember one poor guy who picked up his Elise from the factory in Norfolk on a wet day, and wrote it off on the roundabout leaving the factory grounds. 
A lighter car should be worse, and mid engined means it'll spin quicker and easier. So I wonder what it is about the Elise that makes it better? Or is it all tyres? (Or perhaps it's RWS
).
