We are all familiar with the numerous posts regarding how the S is tail happy, and people are amazed art how easy the back will step out. Even people with a lot of experience driving RWD cars.

I've had plenty of RWD cars (20 or so) and was proud of my ability to control the rear when it came around. (The only thing new about drifting is that now they have contests.)

I ran into problems when I bought a 300 ZX TT. It was the first car I had w/LSD. Without LSD, the inside wheel does not have much contact, and is very easy to spin, so the back end comes out at a much slower speed.

The S, and other performance cars w/LSD don't lose grip till much later, and usually all at once.

Anyway, IMO, there is a re-learning curve when going to a RWD LSD car. I think the extra grip afforded by the LSD contributes to the problems new drivers have.

 

i think one of the main reasons people 'lose their rears' is because they usually come from low-powered, FWD vehicles where you can FLOOR the throttle mid turn and not even get a tire squeak.......i had a '97 maxima (decent torque...crappy tires) and i could floor the throttle midturn....worse thing that happens is i start spinning my fronts and stop turning.....so i release the throttle and the car tucks back in........easy and no drama.
do that in a S......and well i'd be in a ditch or over a curb.

 

02 and then 04+ cars are softer to address the nasty quick break of the 00 and 01 cars.

 

I have to disagree with you about LS.D.,FO2K.
My first car had LSD,not a Torsen diff,but a straight axle LSD,(1968 Hemi Charger),sure was not on par with the S2K in the handling dept.but was easy to control nonetheless,dry pavement or snow (much more fun in snow)

 

What exactly did they change in 02 to make the tail end more calm?

 

Suspensions:spring rates,sway bar diameter,and maybe shocks valving.(not sure about shocks)

 

Not sure if that can help you guys,but,after a recent suspension mod.(GC/Koni),I had to get a new alingment.
I had it set to geo.optimum U.K.specs,and it made big differences.

(tested on a race track)not as stupid as some!)
Car feels more stable in high speed curves,rear end feels more planted,less tendency to snap oversteer.
At the limits,front end has a tendency to push a little.(understeer)
Harder to break the rear end loose(torque steer)maybe a little faster,but not as much fun.!
On Highways,car is more sensible to road imperfections,such tracks left by big trucks,etc...
I was told,that the inner part of the tires will wear faster,a little;too early to tell.
I got the specs.available,if anybody needs them.!

 

I love RWD. Never having driven it before, I am still pretty unexperienced with it and have had a few "incidents", but luckily none too serious. I agree with the tail hapiness of this car but the experience is a great one when turns, etc. are executed properly.

A TOTALLY different experience from my VR-4.

 

I'll add another vote for the UK alignment specs. I switched to them last week. Everything else is stock.

I haven't been close enough to the edge to know if it really makes a difference in the tendency to snap oversteer. My impression so far is that turn-in is a bit slower, but predictability is much better. The car goes where I want it to now instead of dancing around the lane every time I hit a bump.

Tramlining is much less of a problem now. Lane changes on rutted pavement used to be scary. Now they're barely noticeable.

 

I know the reasons I've spun my car (once) - inexperience and stupidity. That was 2 months into owning the car, and nearly 2 years later I haven't had one more mishap. I think a lot of people spin due to the same reasons, but refuse to admit it.