I hear on TopGear and on here a lot about things like understeer and oversteer. Not to mention torque steer and other stuff like that.

What are all these things?

Oversteer - Oversteer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Understeer - Understeer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Torque steer - Torque steering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From reading those deffinitions am I right in thinking my Fabbie understeers more than oversteers?

Understeer - you turn the car into a corner, but the front of the car wants to go straight on.

Oversteer - you turn the car into a corner, but the back of the car wants to go straight on, or step out.

Torque steer - found in powerful FWD cars. Due to the different lengths in driveshafts from one side to the other (because of the position of the gearbox), the car tends to steer itself on hard acceleration.

From reading those deffinitions am I right in thinking my Fabbie understeers more than oversteers?

Yep. Heavy front I'm afraid.

From reading those deffinitions am I right in thinking my Fabbie understeers more than oversteers?

Spot on they do, as do most FWD cars to be honest, especially VAG ones with big heavy diesel engines up front,

In simple terms:

Understeer = crashing forwards i.e. front end loses grip and 'pushes wide'

Oversteer = crashing in reverse :P i.e. back end loses grip and tries to overtake the front end

Almost all modern cars are set up to understeer as it is considered safer than oversteer

So is drifting extreme oversteer?

Yep.

Torque steer - found in powerful FWD cars. Due to the different lengths in driveshafts from one side to the other (because of the position of the gearbox), the car tends to steer itself on hard acceleration.

Okay, so the same feeling as when you have diffrent amounts of air in your tyres?

Spot on they do, as do most FWD cars to be honest, especially VAG ones with big heavy diesel engines up front,

But because it's nose heavy, lifting off mid corner can also result in lift off oversteer

Chris

Almost all modern cars are set up to understeer as it is considered safer than oversteer

:iagree:

whenever i drive my mates cossie i still feel it tries to kill me everytime i go round a corner..... even in old granny mode it's tail happy!!!! i'd much rather have a front wheel drive car any day:)

:iagree:

whenever i drive my mates cossie i still feel it tries to kill me everytime i go round a corner..... even in old granny mode it's tail happy!!!! i'd much rather have a front wheel drive car any day:)

How come? Is the Cossie the only rear wheel drive car you've driven. Up-to date BMW's don't feel like that.

:iagree:

whenever i drive my mates cossie i still feel it tries to kill me everytime i go round a corner..... even in old granny mode it's tail happy!!!! i'd much rather have a front wheel drive car any day:)

You obviously cant drive then.

No apologies, no 'sorries'

come back in 20 years, when you have driven more than 3 cars.

How come? Is the Cossie the only rear wheel drive car you've driven. Up-to date BMW's don't feel like that.

modern beemers have esp abs etc etc

and yes i worked for mercedez, so ihave driven a few rear wheelers..... but the old 'rattle box' cossies are a diffeent kettle of fish... great fun tho

You obviously cant drive then.

No apologies, no 'sorries'

come back in 20 years, when you have driven more than 3 cars.

:orb_lol:

Nice one Graham

:orb_clap:

I love sliding my capri about.

But because it's nose heavy, lifting off mid corner can also result in lift off oversteer

Chris

Especially with a beefed up rear ARB

I've had fun scaring mates with a bit of lift off oversteer

I love sliding my capri about.

I learned to 'drive' in an overpowered, understeery 2.3 ( greatly tuned, better springed/shocked ) Cortina.

Horrific handling, but it taught me how to avoid crashing my first bank loan.

Grow up Tom, and buy a proper car.

Emily.......

Go to a track day with your car, with an instructor.

It may cost you a few quid, but the skills you learn will be with you for life.

Grow up Tom, and buy a proper car.

i may not be as experienced on the road or had nearly as many years on the road as many people on this forum...... but i'm not afraid to say the sometimes rear wheel drive cars scare me ****less!!!! at least i'm sensible enough to 'keep a lid' on the showboating when i'm out in a car i obviously cant control..

i may not be as experienced on the road or had nearly as many years on the road as many people on this forum...... but i'm not afraid to say the sometimes rear wheel drive cars scare me ****less!!!! at least i'm sensible enough to 'keep a lid' on the showboating when i'm out in a car i obviously cant control..

Not wishing to sound like an old man but..

Buy a cheapie rwd car, and learn its' limits, to the point of scaring yourself, on quiet private roads of course...

Progress.....

An old Granada will do, not much power, and not much cost to repair:thumbup:

If it's any consolation, one of my daughters male suitors was left white faced and trembling when I took him out in my 'old mans Skoda' the other night.

He is not much younger than you:D

could this be the next drift king???

the legend lives on!

all i'd need to buy is a string vest and bobs your uncle!!

one of my daughters male suitors was left white faced and trembling when I took him out in my 'old mans Skoda' the other night.

He is not much younger than you:D

Ha, great tip that, have daughter of 18.

Taa, Graham

What old skoda was that, I assume not your VRS but an old RWD one

I learned to 'drive' in an overpowered, understeery 2.3 ( greatly tuned, better springed/shocked ) Cortina.

Horrific handling, but it taught me how to avoid crashing my first bank loan.

Grow up Tom, and buy a proper car.

Emily.......

Go to a track day with your car, with an instructor.

It may cost you a few quid, but the skills you learn will be with you for life.

what a sanctimonious, self righteous miserable ****** you sound in that post. grumpy by name eh?

i have owned maybe 10 cars and driven another 30 different vehicles over a total of maybe 500,000 miles or so and 8 years and in my limited experience i would say that a RWD car is much more of a handful to drive than anying else on the limit.

the cars i have owned have mostly been FWD but i have also owned RWD, part time 4WD and full time 4WD, they have been a mix of 4cyl, v6, N/A and turbo and the one i am driving mostly at the moent is a 4cyl turbo full time 4WD with a rear bias and although its quite a giggle its also a bit sketchy on the limit.

so what in your eyes is a "proper car"??