I suck at driving, period.

[lateral-g]

I am so frustrated, i went out tonite to a wet parking lot to try to get used to my car, as this is the first RWD car i have really owned and driven everyday. I could not get the weight to transfer right at all, and it understeered like a dirty whore. This may have something to do with poor tires, and being wet, but it was really frustrating. My handbrake also barely works, it only locks up the driver side tire on left hand turns. Any advice on that? I guess i just need more practice and a better handbrake. But does anyone have any advice or tips for sliding my car? I can also now see why people would buy Tein HE's over Flex's lol But i am happy with my flex's because of how shitty the roads are around here. Oh well, i just need more practice.

[Buddyworm]

First I'd suggest tightening up that e-brake. And get used to the tail coming around. And clutch kick like crazy too, toss the kick in with a feint. **Edit: Just remember that the revs have to climb to a certain speed so they break the tires loose real well, otherwise they'll just stick again and you get horrendous understeer. Once you can handle the lower speeds you'll have the confidence to dive into corners at speeds where weight transfer techniques like braking drift becomes much more effective. I'm no good at weight transfer either...yet. But I tried my first braking drift today as a matter of fact (in the wet as well). It turned into more of a power over but it made it that much easier.

Just remember, all the pros kick it and e-brake it.
B-Wurm

[180sxdorift2]

Originally Posted by lateral-g

I am so frustrated, i went out tonite to a wet parking lot to try to get used to my car, as this is the first RWD car i have really owned and driven everyday. I could not get the weight to transfer right at all, and it understeered like a dirty whore. This may have something to do with poor tires, and being wet, but it was really frustrating. My handbrake also barely works, it only locks up the driver side tire on left hand turns. Any advice on that? I guess i just need more practice and a better handbrake. But does anyone have any advice or tips for sliding my car? I can also now see why people would buy Tein HE's over Flex's lol But i am happy with my flex's because of how shitty the roads are around here. Oh well, i just need more practice.

how long have u been driving RWD?...if not long, then i suggest u start on the basics if not already doing so....such as just doin 180s and 90degree turns....(this is me assuming that your tryin to drift as a beginner)....u gotta start on the basics and then when u feel more comfortable and confident wit your ride then u start on doing doughnuts(if u have LSD) and that will also help with your car control technique....after all that then u should go to a track and practice drifting.....from experience, i think poor tires should HELP u slide your car especially in the rain, maybe u wont have as much control over the slide but it should be easier to get it to swing....also, what techniques are u using??....if your starting out, just ebrake it and make sure your brake pads have been changed other wise u wont be ebraking(obviously).....and like u said yourself, just keep practicing, thats how u get better....dont quit, keep goin with it and have confidence, dont be scared of breakin anything either cuz eventually stuffs gonna break sooner or later, thats just a small part of being a drifter....good luck

[FC3slider88]

Hey don't worry too much about it especially if you were trying to practice donuts. I still have yet to pull off a successful donut in my car in the rain yet I can drift turns. Of course I don't have an lsd though. And also some road surfaces just suck. There are roads arond where I live where I can break loose without even trying and others where I can barely do it at all.

[Nemesis]

rule #1) Don't get frustrated...you only make more mistakes

rule #2) Do doughtnuts from a dead stop

rule #3) Do doughtnuts, but going @ about 30-40 mph and then initiating the doughnut and try to hold it, don't jus do one and stop...f that...keep it going

rule #4) Try doing a doughnut but variating the size of the doughnut itself, you'll find out the more gas you give the smaller the circles...the less gas...well you get the picture...it's harder than it seems...

those are simply to get use to how your throttle and car reacts in a situation where there's no traction
(I've done all of these so i'm reccomending them to you because they've helped me greatly)

now here's the more fun part

#1) "Drift with your smile" as said by Kumakubo

#2) Since you didn't mention what kind of car you have, Attack with higher speeds (suposing your car is sotck except the suspenion parts you mentioned) Don't get scared, This helps buiuld confidence so that low speed drifts = teh weaksauce afterward...hehe

#3) practice as often as possible, i know you can't be out there every night dirfting, but when you get a chance, practice hard...try to get better...you'll only get out of a practice what you put in to it...

DRIFT ON!

[Hubert Young]

I suggest you learn to drive grip first. Weight transfer can be learned much easier that way. Gokarting helps too even the slow a$$ indoor ones.

[cfrost]

^ word to that, you'll get to know your car and how to drive better if you hit up some grip events

[DRIFTER-M]

Try to find some AutoX near you, and run in it. It will help you with your handling skills.

[Hubert Young]

Originally Posted by DRIFTER-M

Try to find some AutoX near you, and run in it. It will help you with your handling skills.

Forget autox. Autox is not worth the time or money. It happens so quick that a beginner in driving would have no time to actually digest and learn what's going on with the car. Waiting all day for 2 min of driving in 2nd gear?? Hit up a open track day so you can actually feel the car.

[lateral-g]

oh, i am not new to cars at all, this is my 3rd car with a full suspension and my other ones had brake upgrades also, but they were FWD. I understand the concept of weight transfer completey, i was just having trouble with it because it was wet, and i had no ebrake at all. I will keep working on it.
oh and my mods are:
Redtop
Blitz SS intake filter
Koyo Aluminum Radiator
Nismo Radiator Cap
HKS Hi-Power Catback Exhaust
Blitz Stainless Steel Downpipe
Megan Racing o2 Housing/Turbo Outlet
ACT Street/Strip Clutch kit
Stainless Clutch Lines
Nismo Leather Shift Knob
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Greddy 60mm boost guage
Greddy Turbo Timer
Nismo Tension Rod bushings
Peak Performance Rear SubFrame Spacers
Tein Tie-Rods/Tie-rod ends
Cusco OS Rear STB
Secchi Spin Turn Knob
Tein Type-Flex Coilovers
J30 VLSD

I am just really new to my car and need to figure it out, the LSD also wasnt locking like it normally does...IDK.

[sl4mike]

The way i learned was with my s13 bone stock before it was hit by some stupid kid and now i have my s14 but anyways i would go to a huge parking lot and do 360 trying to keep it going i noticed with the s13 it would understeer after a while but depending on your driving style. like every one els says a LSD makes a huge diffrence but if your starting off an open diff would work just fine just get the feel for your car and i would recomend doing it on dry pavement 1st before you start doing it on wet. sooner or later we all do something stupid and curbs will eventualy hit our cars ^_^. im not a super good driver my self but just keep practicing "on the track" and just talk to people. thats enough of my spuel but keep practicing and have fun. remember

DRIFTING IS A HOBBY.. NOT A TREND.

mIKE

Originally Posted by lateral-g

oh, i am not new to cars at all, this is my 3rd car with a full suspension and my other ones had brake upgrades also, but they were FWD. I understand the concept of weight transfer completey, i was just having trouble with it because it was wet, and i had no ebrake at all. I will keep working on it.
oh and my mods are:
Redtop
Blitz SS intake filter
Koyo Aluminum Radiator
Nismo Radiator Cap
HKS Hi-Power Catback Exhaust
Blitz Stainless Steel Downpipe
Megan Racing o2 Housing/Turbo Outlet
ACT Street/Strip Clutch kit
Stainless Clutch Lines
Nismo Leather Shift Knob
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Greddy 60mm boost guage
Greddy Turbo Timer
Nismo Tension Rod bushings
Peak Performance Rear SubFrame Spacers
Tein Tie-Rods/Tie-rod ends
Cusco OS Rear STB
Secchi Spin Turn Knob
Tein Type-Flex Coilovers
J30 VLSD

I am just really new to my car and need to figure it out, the LSD also wasnt locking like it normally does...IDK.

[Buddyworm]

Here's an idea. Find 4 pylons. Set them up in a circle about 2 meters in diameter. Take a run at them, ebrake and try and wrap a drift around them as many times as you can. I find I have to floor it and wind and unwind steering to keep the car sideways around the circle but depending on your engine you'll probably have to use throttle control as well.

**Edit:

Originally Posted by sl4mike

i would recomend doing it on dry pavement 1st before you start doing it on wet. sooner or later we all do something stupid and curbs will eventualy hit our cars ^_^.

Eventually? The first drift I tried when it was dry I wound up hopping a curb Got away with a bit of curb rash and a blown tire so it wasn't TOO bad.

B-Wurm

[FluffyBunnyFeet]

I know what thats like B-Worm, like they have been saying, jsut get out and TRY. PRACTICE!!!!

PRACTICE



PRACTICE

ok, i think i said it enough, my car is dead stock, and ive got it out sideways, just dont give up and have fun.

[frictionfighter]

when i first got my car the ebrake was non-operational, so when it was wet i just shiftlocked and the rearend slid out with much ease too.

[sl4mike]

the only time my e-break button / ebreak is used is when im trying to slow down or when i spin and i want to stop. idono if it works or not but it gets the chicks. ^_^

Mike

i usualy feint of clutch kick still learning breaking

[SilverGhost]

its an S13 w/ SR20DET, correct? clutch kick the sh!t out of it!! also, with a stock T25, you dont have the torque or power down low, so just get the RPMs up and keep them there. with that hard biting clutch and stuff, all you really need is feint with clutch kick. in my S13 i never ever touched the sidebrake, always just clutch in, rev up, turn in, dump clutch, and countersteer. thats all it needed, for almost any speed. also, braking drift works really good for high speed, but i dont think you are at that point yet (by high speed i mean 65+ mph). like previously mentioned, just go to a big lot and practice donuts and maybe some manji, just to get used to the back end fanning out. once youre used to that try drifting around poles and barriers and the such, but if none are available, just make your own out of cones. hope that helps, have lots of fun. you car sounds really fun to drive, and prolly has ALOT more power than mine

[marshun]

Originally Posted by sl4mike

the only time my e-break button / ebreak is used is when im trying to slow down or when i spin and i want to stop. idono if it works or not but it gets the chicks. ^_^

Mike

i usualy feint of clutch kick still learning breaking

you cant even spell "E-BRAKE". i seriously doubt it "gets the chicks".

and "braking"! dammit. youre not taking a BREAK or even eating BREAKfast.

silly *Censored**Censored**Censored* posers

[s13/350z]

I wouldnt even start trying to e-brake yet. since this is your first RWD car I would just practice low speed slides around a corner untill your ready to go faster and slide longer(assuming you can drive it well grip driving already). You wont need your "e-break" for low speed drifts. But also make sure you have the suspension tuned right. Thats very important. And in the rain with *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* tires they sometime just "roll over" instead of allowing you to slide. My old tires did it. Just control low drifts with throttle and steering. Like it was said before BASICS FIRST.

[Drift For Food]

You've had other modified cars. I'm curious how much you've pushed them. Are you comfortable at the limit of the car? Do you yet know the grip limits of the car?

If not, that's where you'll want to start. A parking lot, some back roads, wherever you can bring the car up to the traction limits safely, go out and get used to the car. The more you understand the car, the easier it will be to push it past the limit cause you'll know where it is.

Grip driving is a good place to start. Yeah, it's not drift, but you really need to learn the car first and learn the limits. Grip driving will do this. Get used to how hard you can corner the car, how well it's balanced(understeer/oversteer), and how it feels under throttle and braking, both light and heavy.

After you're comfortable at the limits, it's really easy to just push it a little further into a drift. A little more braking, a touch more steer in, a little more throttle or violent a shift under hard cornering will all get it drifting...if you're at the limit. This is the hardest part with a new car, learning the limits. It will take some time, months even, to get really comfortable and to really know the car well.


Now if you're comfortable with the car, then get down to business. Go through the techniques and really understand them. Understand how they work and what they do. If you have an open space to play in, try working on each. E-brake is only one technique. I've been drifting for a couple years, started without e-brake on a fwd car, never used it on a rwd, and still don't hardly use it with my awd Subbie. For my fwd and rwd, it was by force as they were foot type and didn't work anyways. It's useful, but it's purpose is for only certain things, generally low speed, tight work, or where you have very little side room to work with(feint).

Don't concentrate on one technique or think one technique is the solve-all solution to drifting. Each technique has its purpose and use. Each is suited for certain things. It's just a matter of you learning each, getting comfortable with each, and you learning when to use which one(s) at which time. Notice the option of plural in one. A neat thing about drifting is it's very fluid. It's not just one technique here and another there. They can be used together and work in transition from one to another. This is where drifting gets fun and personal as you gain a variety of options and can apply them in combinations that suit your style and car's behavior. I'm a feint and braking guy, works wonderfully together for me. I rarely touch the e-brake or clutch kick. I'd rather upset the car through throttle or brake modulations. That's just me.

I'm sure there's more I want to talk about, but I'll stop there for now.