Ok.. not sure this is the right forum or if this is off-topic. But... it does involve my inability to drive my 4C as it deserves to be driven.
When i had my Miata ND, I was ok getting the rear and just a little loose on a public road now and then... you know nothing crazy or high speed or where it would be dangerous to others (ok.. honestly its never ok to play like that on public roads and i do know that.. its not ok.. but when I do it, I really do choose carefully the time and place). My Datsuns, never bothered me to let that rear end move a bit. Even back in the day with my first Evo, the occasional brief 4 wheel drift (god that car was fun in the dirt!). Hell, even old pickup trucks I had back in the day. Nothing easier to get a little sideways in than a pickup truck! Nothing crazy, just a little slip angle here and there on a tight turn or maybe taking on a left or right turn onto one of my local backroads... whatever. just that amount the traction control lets you get away with (don't want any more than that on a public road EVER). Even used to do it in my 944 or even my mom's 5.0 mustang back in the day.
But in noticed.. in my 914's I had.. and my Cayman and now my 4C.. I don't .. I don't even push it anywhere NEAR there. It terrifies me. (not literally, but I mean, I am aware I am more cautious) Something about a mid engine... and its not that i don't understand how to drive a mid engine car. I am a solid driver... on the racetrack and off. I study, i understand the dynamics, race, I drive a LOT, have had good private instructors, blah blah blah. Have driven mid-engine cars since I was 17 years old.. and many many track days in a 914-6 and a Cayman S. Hell, I even race a mid engine car (the SRF has the engine just in front of the rear axles). and frankly I am not very good in that car! Yet.. I still have this fear of the unexpected with them. A few high speed offs in my SRF is helping get over the fear in that one, kind of.. but still not quite there. I drive my front engined race car (Datsun 510) 10/10ths.. but my SRF, think its like 8/10ths and I feel like "WHOA... this is hairy!!".. its not. But I am constantly convinced its going to bite me (then it does !! )
WHAT THE HELL IS MY PROBLEM? I think a few track days in the 4C when i get around to it will help me and the car get familiar with each other. That will help some. maybe a little skid pad work too. But I remember even with my Cayman and 914.. so so so many track days.. and I was fast and drove well.. but there was just that extra little caution I had compared to what I did in my BMW e30 or my Datsuns on the track . I never want to let the mid-engine cars get a little loose.. the front engine RWD cars. NO PROBLEM.. I will steer those with the backend as needed. But the mid-engine cars.. nope.. that is the threshold i fear crossing. Rear tires must maintain grip. (of course, on the track i sometimes would get the rear out on them.. but it always made nervous when it happened.. not comfortable at all)
So.. um.. psychoanalyze me.. what the heck do I need to do to get past this mid-engine fear. I've driven them.. pretty hard... for almost 35 years.. why am I still more scared of them than a traditional front engine / RWD car ?
I think ONE issue with my 4C and with all of them is that they are a lot more powerful... so there is a lot more speed involved or more power to just really lose control with. I mean, back in the day, my 290hp Cayman and 270hp 914 vs my 138hp at the wheels Spec E30 or 105hp Datsun 510 or 185hp Datsun 510.. that is a HUGE DIFFERENCE I guess. The slow, low hp cars were easier to throw around and feel in control. And while i feel confident throwing around the low hp car.. i mean, I will toss those cars around like a lone sock in the dryer.... something with more power sitting right behind my head scares me ?
I should get a therapist maybe... wonder if i can find a hot brunette one with olive skin and short skirt.. yeah.. therapy sounds good... hmmm..
When i had my Miata ND, I was ok getting the rear and just a little loose on a public road now and then... you know nothing crazy or high speed or where it would be dangerous to others (ok.. honestly its never ok to play like that on public roads and i do know that.. its not ok.. but when I do it, I really do choose carefully the time and place). My Datsuns, never bothered me to let that rear end move a bit. Even back in the day with my first Evo, the occasional brief 4 wheel drift (god that car was fun in the dirt!). Hell, even old pickup trucks I had back in the day. Nothing easier to get a little sideways in than a pickup truck! Nothing crazy, just a little slip angle here and there on a tight turn or maybe taking on a left or right turn onto one of my local backroads... whatever. just that amount the traction control lets you get away with (don't want any more than that on a public road EVER). Even used to do it in my 944 or even my mom's 5.0 mustang back in the day.
But in noticed.. in my 914's I had.. and my Cayman and now my 4C.. I don't .. I don't even push it anywhere NEAR there. It terrifies me. (not literally, but I mean, I am aware I am more cautious) Something about a mid engine... and its not that i don't understand how to drive a mid engine car. I am a solid driver... on the racetrack and off. I study, i understand the dynamics, race, I drive a LOT, have had good private instructors, blah blah blah. Have driven mid-engine cars since I was 17 years old.. and many many track days in a 914-6 and a Cayman S. Hell, I even race a mid engine car (the SRF has the engine just in front of the rear axles). and frankly I am not very good in that car! Yet.. I still have this fear of the unexpected with them. A few high speed offs in my SRF is helping get over the fear in that one, kind of.. but still not quite there. I drive my front engined race car (Datsun 510) 10/10ths.. but my SRF, think its like 8/10ths and I feel like "WHOA... this is hairy!!".. its not. But I am constantly convinced its going to bite me (then it does !! )
WHAT THE HELL IS MY PROBLEM? I think a few track days in the 4C when i get around to it will help me and the car get familiar with each other. That will help some. maybe a little skid pad work too. But I remember even with my Cayman and 914.. so so so many track days.. and I was fast and drove well.. but there was just that extra little caution I had compared to what I did in my BMW e30 or my Datsuns on the track . I never want to let the mid-engine cars get a little loose.. the front engine RWD cars. NO PROBLEM.. I will steer those with the backend as needed. But the mid-engine cars.. nope.. that is the threshold i fear crossing. Rear tires must maintain grip. (of course, on the track i sometimes would get the rear out on them.. but it always made nervous when it happened.. not comfortable at all)
So.. um.. psychoanalyze me.. what the heck do I need to do to get past this mid-engine fear. I've driven them.. pretty hard... for almost 35 years.. why am I still more scared of them than a traditional front engine / RWD car ?
I think ONE issue with my 4C and with all of them is that they are a lot more powerful... so there is a lot more speed involved or more power to just really lose control with. I mean, back in the day, my 290hp Cayman and 270hp 914 vs my 138hp at the wheels Spec E30 or 105hp Datsun 510 or 185hp Datsun 510.. that is a HUGE DIFFERENCE I guess. The slow, low hp cars were easier to throw around and feel in control. And while i feel confident throwing around the low hp car.. i mean, I will toss those cars around like a lone sock in the dryer.... something with more power sitting right behind my head scares me ?
I should get a therapist maybe... wonder if i can find a hot brunette one with olive skin and short skirt.. yeah.. therapy sounds good... hmmm..