I want to start off by saying thanks to you all who takes time and read this.
Basically, I'm planning to buy an s2k within the month or so. I've never driven a RWD vehicle before. Just wondering if any of you experienced drivers can give me some advice on how to drive a RWD(Safety Wise). Cause I understand that while fast turns on a RWD vehicle, it's a kinda different front a FWD.

Again, thanks for you're help.

 

Well I'm not new to RWD but I dont own an S2k, I too am thinking about picking one up. Here's the deal with RWD, you have to monitor throttle/clutch release more closely in rain/snow/ice. The reason is the drive wheels are at the back of the car, so spinning the rear wheels on RWD vehicles causes the car to slide out wide from the back. With front wheel drive spinning the wheels in a corner causes the front to push out wide. Understeer (when the front pushes) is a lot easier for a novice driver to control you simply back out or completely off the throttle and the nose will tuck gently back inline and on a few cars you'll get whats called trailing throttle oversteer (oversteer is when the back slides or moves out wide in the turn). What tends to get people in trouble with RWD is over corrections. In otherwords the rear end starts sliding wide so you turn into the slide (example: if you're making a right turn and you spin the rear tires, the rear of the car is going to swing wide left so you turn the steering wheel too the left to "catch" the rear end). Turning into the slide is the appropriate way to catch the car, however, turning into it too much then releasing the gas or suddenly having the tires grip results in snap steer (there are other words for it) to the left. Which can throw you off the road, or into oncoming traffic etc. Now specifically to the S2k, all I know is they tend to oversteer easier than most cars. But I too would like to know more specifics about the handling of the cars so maybe some members can help us get down to specifics of how the car handles in certain situations.

 

Very hard to explain,you have to FEEL it,in the car.
Christmas is coming,so my best suggestion,is to ask Santa,for a gift certificate,good for one "Track day".

 

You'll learn that it's very fun, hahaha...

I won't have an S for a couple more months, but my previous RWD experience was with a turbo Supra I owned for 3 years and a turbo RX-7 I had for 2 years prior to that..

Just respect it, don't be stupid right away and try to show off. Most people never have any problems, but I don't know your driving habits. Get a feel for the car in all conditions before you try to push it.

 

Take it easy around corners. Be aware of the things that can cause your rear tire to loose traction. If you spin out and are ok, be thankful that it happened to remind you that this car does not make you invincible and get back out there and keep driving. I've been thankful many times, this car is so much fun, and also can catch you off gaurd, so take it easy at first. Take driving a RWD one step at a time, learn the dynamics and learn to pick yourself up from a spin out. Seat time and experience will be the best for you.

 

And dont try to push it in rain, snow or ice. Thats the quickest way to get your butt kicked. I spun my old Z28 on the expressway in oklahoma city being stupid a few nights after I got it.

 

The same thing can be said about a powerful FWD. That's the quickest way to get your "face" kicked. If you overpower your front drive wheels on a slippery road, your front end will follow the crown of the road or the tangent of a curve. This will either put you into the path of oncoming traffic or parked cars.
You can't be "stupid" in any high powered car (or any car for that matter). RWD has it's own characteristics. It's no more "dangerous" than FWD. Don't forget what the world was like before the 70's, when 99% of the N. American continent drive in cars that were RWD. It wasn't till then that Chrysler Corp. brought the FWD car into the mass market. It was then that generations of car drivers became RWD ignorant.

 

Once you get used to RWD, you'll never go back to FWD. You'll see why all the successful upscale cars (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and of course the s2k) are RWD. You'll see why Chrysler is returning to RWD. You'll understand why part of GM's current problems are due to lack of availability of a RWD platform upon which to base new models. Control is better with RWD, once you know how to use it.

Early FWD cars were low powered, but torque-steered nonetheless. Over time, the makers made this problem less noticeable, except in comparatively powerful FWD models (Nissan Maxima). But when slick streets reduce tire friction, torque steer can rear its ugly head, and the car can thus head off on its own in unexpected directions, which ain't good! A well-balanced RWD car like the s2k may be a little lacking in acceleration traction on slick streets compared to FWD, but at least it's behavior is predicable and easy to control once you get the hang of it ---- and realize that with ANY car, slick streets call for conservative driving.

Thanks,
Richard

 

^ I agree with Richard about loving RWD, but I don't agree that's why GM's in trouble. Look at the Japanese cars and realize that FWD is still very popular out there.

That said, ldai, just TAKE IT EASY for a while. It just takes some time to get used to, and you don't have to worry about safety. Well, let me restate that -- you should ALWAYS worry about safe driving, but what I mean is that you won't be worried about what the car will do; it will go where you point it, just like FWD, as long as you go easy.

Now, as time goes by, consider a track day or autocross to really learn from folks who know how to drive. For that matter, if you can swing it, folks recommend performance driving schools.

Another really fun thing is to find a wide open parking lot and practice maneuvers in the snow -- if that's available to you. That's a great way to learn handling characteristics at slow speeds. Whatever you do, make sure you've got a lot of runout to try things without hitting a car or a pole.

Best wishes.

 

Chazmo:

Please note that I said that lack of an available RWD platform was PART (and only a part) of GM's problems. I fully agree that there are a whole slate of additional reasons for the problems.

Thanks,
Richard