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From: pauldan@hou2e.UUCP (P.SAUNDERS)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: How to turn a Saab?
Message-ID: <599@hou2e.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Jun-85 09:35:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: hou2e.599
Posted: Tue Jun  4 09:35:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 02:07:36 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 26

>>How do you perform comparable tasks with an understeering, front-wheel
>>drive car, such as the Saab?  What's the best technique for taking the
>>car around various types of turns?
>
>As a general rule, with the caveat that all rules have exceptions, with a
>FWD car letting up a bit on the gas when you are in trouble will get you
>out of trouble.  I guess that is why beginning drivers find them
>user-friendly.

Hmmm.  I'm not sure about *your* fwd car, but with mine, the general rule
is to accelerate your way out of trouble.  There have been many times when
I've used full right foot to pull my way through a turn.  FWD cars are
especially fun in the rain (or snow?); when going around a curve, if you
start to slide, hit the gas and steer into the curve.  A problem with
this:  once you begin to slide and decide to accelerate through the curve
to stop the slide, you are committed to accelerating through the curve.
You are using the engine's power to hold your car in it's line, and if
it's a long curve, you can run out of power or reach the "point of
no return" (the speed at which if you go any faster, the car will break loose
from the curve; but you *must* accelerate to stay in the curve; so no matter
what, you crash and get hurt).  However, on normal public roads, it's pretty
difficult to approach these limits.  On a race track it's easy to, and this
is a major reason why there are no fwd race cars even though they are 
theoretically faster through a turn.

Dan Masi