Quote:
Originally Posted by OfficeLinebacker
I get the reasoning behind choosing understeer vs. oversteer, but my personal preference is oversteer.
For me understeer means I just keep going straight into whatever I was trying to avoid. Sure there's a slight chance that traction will return, but for me that only happens when I realize that having max. press. on the brake isn't working, I let up, and the car suddenly turns at the last second.
When I spin out, true I have less control, but at least I am not pointing exactly in the direction I am trying to avoid.
Sort of like the broken clock is right every 12 hours thing. In my experience, when I am going a panic manouvre, the direction I am first pointing in is generally the least desirable option. Even if a spin out means essentially a random outcome as far as direction, that's still preferable to the understeer option.
That, and doing panic manouvres on my own in deserted parking lots and whatnot, I find the option that is most comfortable to me.
The most important thing to me is predictability and practice. If the panic manouvre is the first time you've ever taken your vehicle's handling to the limit, then you're best off bending over and kissing your ass goodbye. If you've done it before in surroundings where the worst outcome of loss of control is some lost rubber and lots of squealing noises, your chances of coming out of it OK are exponentially better, regardless of where the worn tires are.
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Right on!! Exactly! There is yet another advantage to an over-steering
car ( trucks don't live in this world) most drivers aren't even aware of...and this is steering. It is a piece of cake ( usually...) to steer an over-steering car with the throttle! Try this with an under-steering car...and nothing happens.
NASCAR drivers refer to "tight" and "loose" - this is the same thing. "Tight" is over-steer, "loose" is under-steer. Question: NASCAR drivers seem to favor "loose"...do we ex-kart racers know something they don't? LOL! I much prefer to be able to steer than to just slide into trouble....