yesterday was one of the first warm, sunny days in the SF Bay Area after a brutally long wet winter so I decided to take my S out on one of my favorite twisty, narrow, undulating canyon roads and put it through its paces. you know, the kind that were made for S2k owners.

I decided to do this road in the opposite direction than I usually do, but I pretty much know this road like the back of my hand. I also recently installed an x-brace and with the weather recently, I haven't had a chance to really toss my S around like I can in the summer months.

well right off I can really sense how the x-brace tightens up the feel of the chassis. I'd say I have slightly more oversteer as my turn ins are noticably sharper without the body-flex to counteract it. the car is very responsive now. fairly new S-02s all around helps too.

so anyway, I'm coming from the opposite direction carving through these curves at a fairly rapid clip when I get on a right-hand turn that-- from the opposite direction-- starts off as a fairly tight slight, uphill left turn and then straightens out nicely for some good throttle application. well, from this direction, being in the right lane and going quite fast, the turn is sharper and goes from sharp to holy shit! sharp and downhill! I kept a steady foot on the throttle and pulled that wheel over to the right while my left shoulder is pressed against the door...

and my S just carved that f*cker and clung to the road with only the slightest wheel chirp. like riding on rails is EXACTLY the perfect metaphor. our cars are BADASS! damn I love my car.

(thank god from the little bit of track time and research I've done, that I long ago learned to fight the instinct to lift off the throttle in that situation, or worse yet, step on the brakes . anyone on that road in the same situation who would've "chickened out" (lift throttle and/or steps on brakes) would've unweighted their rear wheels and gone for a not too pleasant spin right off the side and down a lovely ravine. here's another for putting in a few hours of instructor-led training on a track.)

 

Nice I love mine too. Especially after my spring and magnaflow muffler install.

 

It's good you found out how great the car is. Keep it off the streets though cuz you might take your own life and even worse the lives of other people.

 

^ no worries man, I'm 99.9% of the time in control and aware of my surroundings (this turn being the .1% that caught me off guard). the road is quite deserted and I was keeping it in my lane. up until that point I'd say I was driving at maybe 90% of my limits, and that surprise turn put me at 100%.

but your point is well taken. always important to keep a mind out for a bicyclist or vehicle around the next turn. after this experience, I certainly won't be approaching that blind curve with as much speed as I did. I'm just happy to report that our cars are more than capable of handling that kind of situation (so long as the nut behind the wheel is capable of same).

 

reminds me of driving the dragon. so incredible. i pushed my car harder than i ever have, and as incredibly as it did, i haven't even begun to tap the car's potential.

 

Meaning that you're our of control for one minute out of every thousand minutes you drive. If your estimate is valid and you drive an average of half an hour per day, you should lose control for about a minute every two weeks. I enjoy driving as much as you, but could never justify endangering others for the sake of a one minute thrill. Eventually your weekly one minute thrill will put you in the same space as some unsuspecting pedestrian who has walked up the same hill a thousand of times.

 

Great story been there a dozen times be carefull your odds are begining to stack up against you.I know this morning i kissed a guard rail and lost my rear bumper other than that my car is ok.I wasn't speeding and it had just started to drissle guess that small amount of water,a little throttle and left over oil on the road just cost me a grand or so.I'm just happy i didn't hurt anyone or myself.

 

You sound like a god damn pussy. Pull your panties off son.

 

Obviously some people don't necessarily agree with the way you drove with this corner, etc.

But I guess to each their own. No need to preach to the choir. We've all heard it before, and know the risks. If we choose to drive spiretedly, then we drive spiritedly. If you choose to baby the car then that's your choice. No need for people to try to force or convince the other side of their opinion.

For those that have said their point on his driving leave it at that.

I enjoy some spirited driving on a nice day. I'm not driving 10/10, but not babying it either. The limit is within the driver not the car.

 

safety issues aside it sounds like a sick rip in the S, I'm jealous!!!