I was driving down a main street and turned into another main street about 5 lanes wide. I took the turn around 30 in 2nd but when i exited the turn my car begain to veer left then right and then left.... for about 4-5 times. I had no control of the car but luckilly it stayed straight and was able to gain control again. The road was slighly damp but definately not wet. It rained about 6 hours ago so there were no puddles in the street. Did I hit a bad patch of raod or was my turn speed a recipe for disaster??? I know i have safely done the same turn at the same speed before but in the middle of a sunny day. Im just really nervewracked now and the experience left me driving like a granny

What should I have done different? and what should i have done in that situation??? I did not brake or hit the accelerator or clutch, just let the car slow down by itself.

Many Thanks,
Rob

 

Rob,

You probably acted appropriately, as evidenced by the fact that you're ok and the car is too. Without being there it's difficult to say what else you could have done that may have helped. Realize that the car is very well balanced and even just a bit of wet is going to make it much slippier. Not to mention that our tires are definitely not good on damp or wet surfaces. This car is at it's best when it's completely dry, and when it's not completely dry it's a gamble to push it.

 

I've hit an oil patch on the freeway before in another car, and there isn't anything that makes one's nuts try to climb back up into their abdomen more than an unplanned fishtail at freeway speeds.

Roads are especially nasty after a rain, and how nasty depends on the length of the dry spell before the last rain. I would guess you hit an oil patch.

 

You should make sure you rear tires are OK and not worn, and if it's a cool evening, let the tires warm up a bit. Glad you're OK though

 

the two obvious things are - check the tires like some have suggested (i think the S02s are fine in the rain as long as its really wet and not fresh rain) for wear and then make sure you dont have any spring spacers still in the springs...they will cause crazy snap oversteer

 

Actually, a damp road is more slippery than a wet road, as all the oil and stuff from the road has not washed off. And like everyone stated above, make sure your tires are good and properly inflated.

 

I agree with ugotmade, while the road is damp, oils and contaminants are brought to the surface before being washed off by the rain. Glad you're ok and was able to control the car as well as you did.

 

One thing that you might have done is to let off the accelerator too quickly. It has the same effect as braking. The trick is to practice it so much that you know everything your car is going to do before it does it. You will slowly learn how to slowly back off the throttle so the gear doesn't act like a brake. After a while it will come natural and you won't even think about it as you are doing it. Like walking.

 

RoBD305. I'm glad your end result was no damage! As others have mentioned, it is very difficult to know exactly what went down because we were not there. The damp road, your tire pressure, the outside temperature, your degree of braking, your degree of throttle, your degree of steering input, how all of these interplayed with each other and when, and many more things are all factors.

However, the thing I would like to reply to is your last comment about how it has left you less confident and more nervous. I'm not a big fan of those characteristics in a car that requires a high level of driver skill to go fast. Now I realize I may sound like a broken record, but I encourage you to go do some autocross events. Allow yourself the opportunity to get the car to a point of being out of control in a safe environment with lots of experienced people around to offer advice/insights. I would feel much better if you developed your skill sets and got beyond the nervous feelings. Good luck.

 

all these spinouts are starting to scare me! perhaps an xbrace might have helped? or was it mainly tire wear? going 30mph would cause a spinout?