Going sideways in an F430

you crazy guy you lol

 

It usually takes something like this for people to realise what they're driving. I've thrown my 550 sideways quite a few times until I overcooked it and realised I'm not as good as I thought I was. Congrats on the lesson, I'm sure you'll use it well.


Onno

 

160 kph @ 2500rpm ... mmmm , that's 544 kph at redline ... and you were only in fifth !!!
Wow

 

Even in 6th, 160kph should be close to 4200rpm (assuming a max speed of #320 kph at redline). Downshifting to 5 probably put you above 5000rpm with a lot of torque at full throttle, able to break the tires on the wet.
Should not be too funny behind the wheel ...
The manetino is your friend ... when set in the adequate position

 

Good you got out of this situation safe and alife I don't know if yours is a F1 but that's one of the reasons I prefer my manual gear F430 because when downshifting in such conditions, you can at least blib the throttle high enough to get the right rpm match once the lower gear is engaged. This avoids any micro-blockings of the rear wheels. May I advice you to take some ice/snow driving lessons. That's how I learned many years ago how to trigger the "micro-blocking" of the rear wheels when downshifting and on ice, the effect is immediate . The best way to learn is on ice because you don't need to go fast to get the effect of mistakes as little as they are. And you don't need a powerfull car for that, just any rear-wheel driving car Take care.
Stef

 

On a wet road, the 430 is, in the wrong hands, very dangerous. The reason the little dial on the right of the steering wheel has that indicator to set the traction control for wet roads is that the car needs it.

I strongly suggest you take a class in performance driving before you end up killing either yourself or yourself and your passenger. These cars are not to be driven by people who just have enough money to buy them. They require talent to drive quickly, along with knowledge.

Don't mean to trash you, but again, these cars aren't as docile as a Honda, and require some knowledge to drive.

Art

 

On wet roads, traction varies so much from side to side that the E-Diff cannot keep up with it at really high torque settings. Once you pulled the seat cushion out of your sphincter, you learned a valuable lesson. Even worse in some cars with considerably more torque than an F430, poorer weight distribution, and no E-Diff.

Driving in low traction conditions requires being smooth, and sudden downshifts to the torque peak are not smooth.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Highly agreed!

 

If you did the same thing in a 360 you probably would have been off the road in an uncontrollable spin and dealing with whatever was next.....

 

F430addict,

Did your CEL light ever turn off?

 

You bought a Ferrari which is drivers car and not a sedan like a bmw. I learned to respect cars when I was 16 in my 928s, from there on I have never lost control of a car without expecting it first. The 360/430 cars will bite your head off if you provoke them. Be careful on the wet, in the dry they are far far safer.

 

You bought a beast that gives no warning before it snaps. It's not progressive--- it just lets loose. You find those points at the track, not on the street.

Mike

 

Its almost like he wasn't there.
How surreal

 

Definitely. Better to learn the limits in an environment where the penalty is being stuck in a sand trap than plowing into a concrete barrier or worse.

That said, I bet the thrill was awesome. That kind of rush is one of the best parts of life, in my opinion.

 

Be thankful....everyone has to learn their limits by going past them....this one didn't cost you anything.

One thing I'll say, with the 430 and 360....when that does happen, STAY IN IT.....let the computers do the traction work, but if you get sideways and lift especially in a mid-engined car....that's when you go around.

 

Yeah, thank goodness for the electronic nanny. If this were 30 years ago and you were in a similar car, it would probably be done for. It gives you a whole new respect for the racing drivers of yesteryear.

All in all, I'm glad you and the computer made the save and you can keep enjoying your car.

 

I would of straightened it out and beat the Porker! Fishtails right, steer right, fishtails left, steer left, and get out of it. No Porker beats a Ferrari, dam it!

 

I am not sure I was curious to know if the system cleared out the code on it's own or if you need it cleared with an SD2 or SD3.