Bit of a scare yesterday...

Mr Benevolent

I was coming onto the N32 (roundabout end at Bewley's Hotel) yesterday from the little country road in wet conditions. As you have to go left onto the roundabout to get to the N32 I usually do it at full power to merge with traffic.

Big mistake. Full power exiting the roundabout onto the N32 the car suddenly snapped left. Didn't even have time to think, just controlled it by luck. Didn't hit anything or anyone, no damage but I was fairly shocked.

Any ideas what happened? My theory is the car was understeering, came to a drier patch and gained more grip. Can't remember if I lifted off just beforehand though, it's possible because I was full throttle.

Midnight_EG

With all that power, torque steer I reckon! :pac:



Sounds like understeer, it does well to catch you out eh!

cml387

At a wild guess,going too fast.

Mr Benevolent

LIGHTNING wrote: »

What car?

Corsa 1 litre.

At a wild guess,going too fast.

For the conditions, yes. Legally I was under the speed limit.

squod

Diesel or pollen as someone pointed out here before.

vectra

Roundabout...... Damp road...Full Power.... :rolleyes::rolleyes:

W.Shakes-Beer

I know that roundabout well. Too much welly I think

Stevie Dakota

Could have been worse...

whippet

normally I would say the same

'wet, roundabout, full power = not nice' .... but I have experience of that roundabout ... and twice I felt a car slide on it. Once myself in my GTI, I was going sharpish but not quick in the dry and as I exited the roundabout in the direction of the malahide road the back stepped out a slight bit and the traction control light was flashing a bit ... thought not too much about it until a couple of weeks later I was a passanger in the wife's Jazz, it was a little damp and she was driving as normal as possible and in heavy enough traffic when the back stepped out on her at the same spot.

Since then I notice they have had 'slippy road' signs, and some of that higher friction road surface

Confab

Confab wrote: »

........ My theory is the car was understeering, came to a drier patch and gained more grip. ..........

Surely you'd know if it was understeering or not though

Midnight_EG

RoverJames wrote: »

Surely you'd know if it was understeering or not though

I've often had times where I couldn't differentiate between no grip or understeer to be honest! Both on track and off though, in wet and dry!

Gophur

Full throttle coming off a roundabout?

Sometimes when you ask for trouble, you might just get some!

Mr Benevolent

LIGHTNING wrote: »

They have a solid rear axle on them dont they?

I think so.

Zubeneschamali

How are your tyres, front and rear?

Bald tyres on the back of a FWD car increase the tendency towards lift-off oversteer.

Victor Meldrew

LIGHTNING wrote: »

They have a solid rear axle on them dont they?

Had a few Opel Astras (99 - 01) and they had solid axles too, and were evil on roundabouts, used to find the series of roundabouts on the n82 in citywest a bit of a lottery, Managed a four wheel slide (no spin) at moderate speeds in damp conditions.

Any kack-handed driving would make them understeer...

Always felt the petrol opels of that era were far too light, diesels were better, but still pants. 04 Vectra was also rubbish, but it had independent suspension in the rear. In all cases tyres were good and had good thread.

It's been a revelation driving cars that actually have roadholding abilities after years driving opels..

Reloc8

Confab wrote: »

... in wet conditions...Full power exiting the roundabout...it's possible because I was full throttle.

Seriously man

I think you know what & why !

Glad you held it and no damage done

Victor Meldrew

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

Had a few Opel Astras (99 - 01) and they had solid axles too, and were evil on roundabouts...........

Did the 2003 models have a solid rear axle too do you know? Had two of them in 2003 as rentals when work sent me to England for 3 months. The road manners were exciting at times from them, predictable enough though.

stevenmu

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I've often had times where I couldn't differentiate between no grip or understeer to be honest! Both on track and off though, in wet and dry!

It's technically the same thing, it's all turning too fast for the grip level available. It's just the point at which the tyres lose traction is reduced in poor conditions.

RobAMerc

do you have 2 different thread patterns on the back by any chance ?
differing patterns on the same axle = trouble and what can be vicious snap oversteer.
otherwise a patch of diesel residue ( although unlikely to be still there given the amount of rain we've had ).

Mr Benevolent

RobAMerc wrote: »

do you have 2 different thread patterns on the back by any chance ?
differing patterns on the same axle = trouble and what can be vicious snap oversteer.
otherwise a patch of diesel residue ( although unlikely to be still there given the amount of rain we've had ).

I'll check again but they're the same on the front anyway. Seems like I was pouring too much of the Corsa's unbelievable 82nm torque onto slippy roads.

Lesson learned. I'm a slightly wiser driver now.

vectra

Ambition got the better of adhesion

Ferris

I have done much the same on that roundabout on a damp surface in a mk4 golf (solid rear axle of course). I put it down to backing off too sharply on the throttle but the snap oversteer was pretty violent. I think there is some sort of camber change going on there that doesn't help too plus the fact that coming down the hill to the roundabout might mean people are going a little too fast. I've seen a couple of accidents there because of this also.

I take it doubly handy now in the s14:p

hi_im_fil

RoverJames wrote: »

Did the 2003 models have a solid rear axle too do you know? Had two of them in 2003 as rentals when work sent me to England for 3 months. The road manners were exciting at times from them, predictable enough though.

Yup solid rear axle on the 03 models too

stealthyspeeder

I work, not far from there and two of my collegues have spun on that roundabout from lift off oversteer, no damage or injuries fortunately.

There is a definate change in grip on the N32 exit, bit of craic if its quiet and your expecting it!

slinky2000

That n32 roundabout at Bewleys is a deathtrap! I ended up backwards several times (in my m3 with no traction control :P) before they laid down the extra grippy stuff.

projectgtr

I never understood the slippy signs at this roundabout, it is well capable of the speed limit, though not recommended. TBH though you answered your own question imo exiting a roundabout in the wet and at full power id be expecting the car to be a bit slippy Like was said your fine the cars fine and no one got hurt, try to learn from it if possible.

Kinda off topic but i think by learning how your car reacts under extreme conditions really stands to you in situations like this, you should look at the mondello beginners training course its only 50 euro and you get to learn a bit about you and your car in a controlled enviroment, plus its a bit of craic, 50 euro for a bit of drivers training and a little track time in your own car, now thats a bargain imo next one is 8th July if your interested heres the office number 045860200 i should be out on this one myself

Just my 2cents

mb1725

Reminds me of my old and long forgotten first BMW E30! There was a car that needed respect on wet, slippery roundabouts!