Guys I guess this has been discussed many times before, so apologies for asking, but need some advice/input. I took my 348 out today for a blast, and at 100mph, took the foot off quicky (whilst i was on a long fast bend) and the car moved into the turn - ie i was on a long right hander, and the car turned right for me, albeit very briefly. I wasn't braking, and it wasn't a sharp movement, but it just seemed strange compared to the norm. Is this normal? Guess i'm starting to get to know how to drive it, so still an amateur!
It's probably not good to remove your foot from the gas quickly in a long bend at 100mph. It's probably normal due to weight transfer in the car at that speed, and depending on the curvature of the road. Jim
Early 348? This sounds like throttle-off oversteer, where lifting in a turn causes the rear to come around on you. Later model 348s had a wider rear track to minimize this effect -- Spider wheels or spacers on your stock ones will help. See http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31628 and http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11957 and http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36922
A car without power steering seems to roam around the road a little bit, especially when there are grooves in the road. Just be careful and don't let this scare you!
Thanks chaps - this is why this forum is so good! Reassuring input. Just in the process of starting to discover the car..
Trust me... the two most important words you must remember when driving a 348 in the twisties (at almost any speed) are: DON'T LIFT -Daniel
Steve I went to the garage with my 12 year old! Northen by-pass Shell garage, usual stuff Sunday papers - fill her up. only a 20 mins drive as i had to get back quick...joined at the garage by 2 caterhams & a TVR, something about Sundays you in Glos Thursday/Friday?
Julian, I'll be about late pm on Friday, say 2ish. Will be on my way back from London. I did get out today for about 10mins. My electrician said he would only charge me £30 for some work if I took him out in the 348. Seemed like a good deal to me!
Guys, if i had one word to decribe cornering a 348 it would be unforgiving, if you enter the turn properly the car will exit like its on rails, if your a little off going in, the rear end wants to do that little dance, like everyone else says, when it starts to dance keep the throttle on and it corrects itself, dont give it more gas, but keep it steady, yes, the spacers helped, didnt cure the problem but big improvement havent lost it yet, came close a couple times
tommo348, I've found the best way to enter a sweeping corner in my 348 is to accelerate through the corner (not hard acceleration, just constant). If you misjudge the corner and find part way through that you've got a bit too much speed YOU HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE CORNER! If you start to slide, drive through the slide (remember, not hard acceleration, just constant acceleration). I've tracked my car a few times and have spun twice a high speed. Both times I reached my limit in lateral g force and rather than drive through the slide I backed off. Result, instantaneous sideways, unrecoverable. No damage as the tracks had lots of runoff area but I now setup for sweeping corners by entering a little slower than I exit to ensure that I do not over extend myself before the exit of the corners. A wise vetern of 348's told me this regarding spacers: they will simply extent the limit past which you will be in the same situation, you'll just be going faster when it happens! Enjoy!
Thanks for the input - it seems my new year's resolution will be to get down a track and get some coaching on driving the car. But its good to know that i wasn't imagining it. Steve - Friday's sounds good as long as there's no snow! (still got some xmas shopping to do)
This is good advice boys and girls. The Porsche boys know this approach: SLOW in and FAST out as their prayer before bed ! Most rear, mid and fron engine cars suffer (if that's the word) from a tendency to oversteer when weight transfers forward by lifting in a turn. Its a very useful trait when you know how to control it and some of the Challenge drivers have really mastered it when they have neither the money or the time to set their cars up so that they dont have to use it. The only times I have bee off track in 2o years of club racing is when I lifted in a turn. Much better to drive, even if you find yourselg going off road, keep your foot on it and drive. He who hesitateth is lost!
Agree with what's been said here. SLOW in FAST out, but don't floor it - trailling throttle is ideal I squeezed a little too hard to find understeer cutting in doing about 90 on a long sweeping bend - it was a bit greasy on the road A little more turn in corrected it but that immediate panic effect is to lift off. A definite no no. All part of the learning experience. A too must go on a track an learn more but remember we drive a raw car. No fancy gizmos to correct lack of skill.
As others have stated, you suffered from trailing-throttle oversteer. With the foot pressed down on the gas and the car accelerating, the weight of the car shifts backwards. The moment you lifted, the weight shifted forwards, and as a result you lost some of the rear wheels' grip. Because you were in a right-hand turn, the rear swung out a bit to the left as the grippier front, turning right for the corner, overcame the rear and steered the car further to the right than you intended. In other words, you increased the rear's slip angle.
my other cars a boxster, so i guess i'm always comparing the 2 and therefore pick up the slightest difference
As has also been discussed the cold winter weather doesn't help the tires much either. I almost spun my 308 the other day just turning a corner at about 25mph. Got into the throttle a bit much just as I hit a wet patch and the back end came right out. The part that was great was, as I let off the throttle it whipped right back into shape. Scared the heck out of me but was kind of fun at the same time.
One other thing I could add to this is that from my very limited experience driving my 348 compared to say, a 911, the 348 corners much flatter - almost no body roll. And running decent (soft/sticky) tires, they don't yell much before letting go. Those two things add up to a lot of confidence up to, but not exceeding the limit. Once you hit the limit, i.e. the car's propensity to slide, you hit it, and the car wants to just let go. Make sense? Keep your foot in it, and don't mess around where you've got curbs and ditches off the sides of the road.
