I can't deny I've hydroplaned many times in the year and a half I've had the TI. You've just got to be smart about it. When it happens you can feel the steering input isn't right, so you edge of the gas to slow down, and you'll eventually drop down back to the road and get traction back. Scary the first time. Now it's a natural reaction to get back under control
Very true. That's basically how I learned, is from personal experience. First few times, it happened, I was scared. But now I consider it part of daily driving. Many people are in such a rush to get home and out of the rain, that they don't take caution in wet conditions. You've gotta take it slow, and pay attention to avoid hazardous moments.
From the e30 M3, evolved the e36. They were "Keepin it Real" when they introduced the 318ti ClubSport in '95 and the 318ti Sports from '96 to '99. After that... well nothing else really matters.
First, I stomp on the brake pedal as hard as I could.
Then I generally crank the wheel to the left towards oncoming traffic.
I know you're probably thinking thats crazy, but it's not really.
Sometimes while my foot is on the brake, I like to pull out a couple extra feet of seat belt, wrap it around my neck and recline the seat all the way back. Now that's crazy!
If the car stops skidding or slows down, I usually violently pump the brakes a few times until I resume control of the vehicle.
Once I've regained control of the vehicle and I'm back on my course of spinning into oncoming traffic, I shift into second gear and mash the accelerator.
Although I keep forgetting to do this, this trick works best if you open the driver's side door first. It works especially nice if you're listening to Blind Melon at full volume and shouting at the top of your lungs.
Jess, I like your style, and I think I'll try that next time. Except for the "Blind Melon" part. Ugh.
__________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics."
First, I stomp on the brake pedal as hard as I could.
Then I generally crank the wheel to the left towards oncoming traffic.
I know you're probably thinking thats crazy, but it's not really.
Sometimes while my foot is on the brake, I like to pull out a couple extra feet of seat belt, wrap it around my neck and recline the seat all the way back. Now that's crazy!
If the car stops skidding or slows down, I usually violently pump the brakes a few times until I resume control of the vehicle.
Once I've regained control of the vehicle and I'm back on my course of spinning into oncoming traffic, I shift into second gear and mash the accelerator.
Although I keep forgetting to do this, this trick works best if you open the driver's side door first. It works especially nice if you're listening to Blind Melon at full volume and shouting at the top of your lungs.
Since I have a right hand drive car I need to reach over and open the passenger's side door.
jess your a genius! why didnt i think of that? ill definitely do that next time i skid to make sure i dont hurt anyone and save my life.
my song would have to be i feel pretty though, because ill sure look pretty after i get out of my slide.
__________________ ^being rebuilt^
until then: daily car: 96' Blue DASC'd ti with koni coilovers slowly progressing... weekend car: 85 1/2' 944 Porsche no a/c, p/s, gutted cat, loud as hell exhaust, loud as hell sound system
Gawd... getting rickrolled would have been more enjoyable! LOL
__________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics."
It's not really a rickrolling if you know it's going to be Rick when you click it. Duh.
But, the topic was hydroplaning, right? LOL
__________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics."
well i wasn't hydroplaning but last night i was going to a friends house and we had just gotten a lot of snow here in chicago, as i was leaving my street i was going on to a busy road and did a little drift as a car was in the turning lane, i had my wheel to the left as i felt my rear end starting to kick out and managed to get traction, i think i will put some heavy junk in my trunk, no pun in tended
I'm still dealing with rear end issues after sliding around in the rain and hitting a curb back in September. I replaced the rear trailing arms but the alignment is still way out. Time to replace the rear axle carrier. So far it's cost me about $800. I'll have be spending at least another $300 to replace the carrier and bushings.
I'm hoping the body isn't twisted. I did hit the curb HARD!
Have you had it to a good alignment shop? It could be something that can be straightened.
Yes I have. The rear has toe out issues. The mounts for the trailing arm on the carrier were bent when I replaced them. I bent them back as best I could and obviously didn't get it back to the right postition.
They can't straighten anything in the back end since there are no adjustment points. They said the front end is fine.
I'm glad for the OP that he kept it on the road.
I'm not having any luck with my 318ti. It's a love/hate relationship.
Great resource for drift techniques, has multiple parts to it, and it is really interesting. Especially up here in the frozen tundra I find it is critical to understand the whole oversteer concept and working together with the car. Sometimes when there is pure ice there is no choice but to let the back come out and control it using oversteer and light throttle changes. Plus when you get better at it you can use the handbrake to steal parking spots.
But really, the Ti is an amazing car. I don't think I could go through another winter in another car.
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