Hire car

[douglasgdmw]

Long story but the Clio RS has been in the garage for 3 weeks now waiting on a part (steering rack) to seemingly fix a grating noise when changing up @ high revs. Don't ask me why they thinks it's the rack as I am as perplexed as everyone else.

Anyway Sandra was originally given a Chevrolet Spark, which has thankfully been replaced by a "Soccermum" alternative - Vauxhall Zafira.

Reason for the post is that Sandra's wondering if it's possible to drift a Zafira? What technique would you have to use?

George

[Ferg]

Magic...

Seriously though, I see you're in west lothian. The corner in livingston heading down from deerpark, turning off the dual carriageway to go to into livingston centre where it goes back under the road by the river has previous allowed me to get several front wheel cars to drift within the speed limit. A mixture of camber changes, regular diseasel spillage and cover from trees seems to help. It may have been changed as it's been many years since I was there, but it used to be great fun on a daily commute.

[douglasgdmw]

Ferg,

Will let Sandra know

Technique wise though :
Full throttle till understeer set in
Sharply back off
Catch the back end slide
Keep applying power @ balance rear

Sounds simple or is the handbrake technique easier (if it doesn't have those stupid new beepy handbrake sensors)

George

[alicrozier]

Carry enough speed and left foot brake (while still on throttle).


Top work.

[j2 lot]

Sounds simple or is the handbrake technique easier (if it doesn't have those stupid new beepy handbrake sensors)

Electronic handbrakes are being introduced more and more. The handbrake turn will be a dying art

[izibecoz]

I had a Zafira VXR - which after a few "tweaks" pushed out 340BHP was quicker than a scooby and the kids loved it... drifting was not somehting it liked, understear city and torque steer a plenty though

[douglasgdmw]

I had a Zafira VXR - which after a few "tweaks" pushed out 340BHP was quicker than a scooby and the kids loved it... drifting was not somehting it liked, understear city and torque steer a plenty though

Doubt Sandra's been given a VXR version, seemingly a 1.6. Impressive figure though, bet your kids grew up with great neck muscles

George

[smee]

Drifted a Meriva once. Scary biscuits. Road had been sprayed and chipped so was like a gravel stage but the usual barrage of signs were not present. Gravel began mid corner on an off camber left hander down hill leading into a sweeping right hander. Had a good laugh after I caught it

[douglasgdmw]

Sounds scary/fun at the same time

Must admit that I wish there was a nice open car park where you could practice stuff like this. Every car park I know has kerbs unfortunately.

Spoken to Sandra (away on business again) and if you see a Zafira (zero kids) in Edinburgh being driven to red line, squelling tyres then make sure you give her a wave

George

[rossybee]

Most modern Vauxhalls have the wee poofy lekky handbrake (aka parking brake) which are horrible to use and release automatically if you drive off without releasing.

So in the case of a hire car (as is most of the time in my case) becomes standard practise

Also, regular exposure to various modern mainstream cars illustrates how truly horrid many motors are...

Fords are generally the exception to the rule, or SEAT Leon, or KIA C'eed off the top of my heid

[douglasgdmw]

Must admit I enjoy "hire car thrashing".

For 6 months I used to go down to our offices in Cambridge and had a hire car. Stansted rental return road had a lovely "tattoo" of my hand-brake turns as it was the quickest way to make the car park without compromising return speed.

George

[rossybee]

I'm about 3 or 4 times a month, but only from Dundee to Dyce and back again and I always stick to the speed limit on the A90