moff

... well, my first real journey in the S in heavy rain, spray and traffic and I have to say it performed well.

I drove from Nr Newark to Newton Le Willows (A1/M62/M60/M6) and back, quite a trek but good for fully reviewing the wet weather driving of the S.

I did have one scary moment, I was a bit lost, on a roundabout and the left tyres hit a puddle, I was stupidly not concentrating and accelerating, slightly big moment as the car skews slightly and then shifts back in line, I kept my foot on the acclerator!

On the motorways I had no problems except when the tarmac was crap, you know the sh*t cheap stuff local councils insist on laying even though theres better *SAFER* tarmac available. When there is a lot of standing water I slowed to 50-60mph depending on the exact conditions.

On most of the roads though I was able to cruise between 70-80mph, keeping a long lookout for standing water and puddles. I actually think the car is safe on good wet roads up to 100, but theres always that big WHAT IF just around the corner and wouldn't want to aquaplane at that speed

Maybe its because my car is a post 02, but I really don't feel too intimidated by the cars handling in the wet. Its all a matter of common sense. I tend to stick in 3rd gear for most roundabouts and try not to use 1st. I also change at about 4-5k rpm in the early gears (1,2,3) and don't bother with VTEC (well, most of the time )

Thanks for the tips on that I have picked up on here, they have really helped

MarkB

It sounds like they have too by the above. I know it's intimidating at first in the wet (esp. coming from an S3 with AWD and ESP) but you shouldn't go far wrong if you drive like you describe above.

Good advice for anyone else coming to the S in recent weeks, the roads can be greasy after several weeks of dry then a big rainstorm.....

san2000

I know what you mean moff.
I've had no probs, so far, in the wet. I think it must be the post '01s, suspension changes or whatever.

Still....can't take things for granted.
It's still 240 horses going through the rear wheels!

EddandSam

I have had a couple of ewwwww's in our S.........but it is a 00 model. Once hitting standing water changing lanes on the M5 in VERY heavy rain. I think if you let common sense prevail as described above you won't have any problems.

To be honest I don't think we have the only cars which have this problem. The other day I was having great fun in the dry with a Z3 M then we hit a really bad rain storm. For the next few miles we both sat in the inside lane doing 60/70ish while all the vauxhalls and Merc sprinter vans flew past us!!

Edd