Ok... been playing a little with the (lack of) traction control and U turns.

What is the basic technique for doing a "perfect" U turn 180 without the fish tailing? Unless the fish tailing is wanted, of course.

Point is, I've not played with my cars like this and I simply don't know how to control it 'precisely'. I'm still in that lack of control phase, without loosing it... entirely. Lol.

Also, with an automatic coupe (not srt), how do you smoke the rear tires from a stand still without turning sharp? Is there a way to play with the brake? I would know how to do it with a manual, but not an automatic.

 

E.M. If I understand you correctly, you want to do a "180" by turning the front wheels as far as they will go, and then "smoke" the rear tires while the whole car "pivots" around until it is facing the opposite direction.
Before that would be possible, I think you would have to pull the fuse on the traction control, since it never really is turned off.
Plus (being an automatic) you may have to "power brake it" to break the tires loose too.

 

Thanks.
But not entirely true on the traction control. All you have to do is turn off the power traction switch. Nothing to pull or modify. The rear tires will break traction with the switch engaged. Unfortunately, you do have to make a sharp turn to have them break traction...

I'm wanting to do a controlled pivot to minimize my fishtailing. I'm assuming I'm just going to have to practice.

As for the power brake, how do you do this?

 

E.M. I see that you're new around here. You may want to do a "search" on the traction control. Alot has been written about it.
What I meant about "power braking it" was applying your foot to the brake while you give it enough gas to make the tires break loose.
Sometimes known as "brake torqueing".
As for controlling the car, or keeping it from "fish tailing", as long as the front wheels are turned sharply to the left, then the car will only "slide" to the right, and not fish tail. And of course, only slide to left when the front tires are turned to the right.
As long as the traction control has "any" power flowing thru it's circuits, a fish tail scenario is nearly impossible. Turning "off" the traction control, does not eliminate it's pressence.

 

Damn, haven't done an e-brake turn since i was in high school... :-)

Well, here's an instructional video for ya... never tried it with a car with traction control but it'll probably make it easier if you do it in a big parking lot and water down an area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKgQ2B5TGc

 

Oh boy ! Gee why didn't we think of that ? You're a freakin' genius.

 

Or in the racing world we also call this "trail braking". It's quite a handy maneuver through turns. But as you can imagine, it is nearly impossible in this car because the damned TC cuts the power to the engine.

Our "newbie" needs to do his research about the TC and probably many other things pertaining to this car.

 

Lol. blllppp! All I know is that when I turn off the traction control via the idiot button, I can fishtail at will.

Thanks for all the helpful info from those who have provided it. Especially that video. Again... Blllppp!

This is the first 'real' sports car I've owned. Time to have some fun... through adult(ish) tinted glasses.
Great and Thanks. This is what I was looking for.
Which I have been doing, bit by bit. Questions are also part of 'research', btw.

Oh yea... Blllpppt! to you too.