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In Reply to: Re: I am considering buying this car, Advice? posted by CarlH on April 15, 2001 at 10:01:04:
More PSs - E31's have a sort of trailing arm rear suspension (it's really multi-linked, but the basic trailing geometry is there)- a favorite of BMW for some time - this suspension makes a car's dynamics similarly suited to a mid/rear engined car for some of the same reasons - e.g. BMW likes to get close to 50::50 weight distribution (no, the 8 isn't, but the suspension is tuned for the same ultimate dynamics - a bit of understeer, throttle off oversteer, throttle on neutral).
The transition from/to each of these can often be abrubt, especially for those not used to or trained to it. For example, you blast into a corner a little hot, initial understeer pokes in and you panic - lift off the gas (or worse touch the brakes) - this sets the cars rear geometry a little higher, and out comes the back end) - you're in worse of a panic and generally mashing the brakes (oh, very bad thing now) - oomph! and hopefully that (and a little dirt) is the worst of it.
Letting off a little brings the rear around okay, but then, a little reverse lock steering (that's the opposite from whence you started) and feeding in the throttle will keep the drift towards a line that should keep you on the road - as you drift out, reel the steering back til you're neutral - then plow some gas and go. Watch a world rally a bit - this is how 95% of their turns are executed (some with hand or left foot trail braking - but that's a bit more talent).
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