The recomendation to get involved in driver education is a sound one something really wrong has to happen for a 928 to oversteer in that manner. Generally speaking they are extemely well balanced and forgiving.

 

Steve:

Soon after I got my 89 I went off-road with my kids in the car. It was minor - turning onto an on-ramp in the rain, the car spun out as if on glass and went over a curb and into some mud. More embarrassing than anything else. I didn't realize how badly the tires that were on the car behaved in the rain. When I visited Phil Tong a week later to get some tires he was selling, he laughed when he saw the ones that the PO had put on the car. They were some old Yokos that were notoriously bad. So, I'd like to blame the tires, but that's not the way my kids see it.

 

Yeah, You'd have been hard-pressed to find anything at all wrong with that car(before today anyway). I don't remember whether that car had LSD or not, but if it does that's likely a contributing factor. Cars with LSD(and that much power) have to be driven with great care in wet conditions. They will swap ends in a heartbeat compared to an open diff car if you're not careful.

 

If you never stumble, maybe you're not trying hard enough. Ever hear that one? Or put another way, the better guys have the cuts and scratches. When I was a skater, if I didn't fall very often, I wasn't trying hard enough and wasn't finding my limits. Same thing when I was a skier. Got banged up now and then with some close calls. But I knew how far I could push, and I have the scars to remind me. FWIW.

And for power oversteer, I experience it often enough in my '86.5 auto. But I can't think of a better "unassisted" chassis in which to have it happen; the 928 is so forgiving. A lot more than a 911. In my 928 I just lift for a second and the rear tucks back in. Try that in a 911 and you'll get a thrill/scare.

 

After replacing the rim, keep an ear out for a growling or grinding noise from the rear end. My ex did the same kind of thing to the '86 I used to have and the wheel bearing turned out to be damaged (much to Jim Bailey's disbelief! ) as well.

 

Mark K had a wheel bearing damaged by an on-track hit, but IIRC he got a couple more seasons out of it!

 

Dave,
Yes it has the 40%LSD. The street wasn't even wet right a the point I slid. I had passed through a wet street a block before the turn (couldn't avoid it )

I understand there is a learning curve associated with every new thing in life, some are steep and some are flat. This incident will be one lesson on the way to full understanding of the characteristics of this car. I'm sure the tires do have some fault as I recall a slip on a wet road a couple weeks ago. No spin out just the momentary loss of traction, again at relatively low speed (40mph). So, maybe new tires soon.

Thanks to all for the kind support,

Steve B

 

Older tires can get harder and slicker as time goes on. Check your tires, and consider a DE course as Keith suggests. They are a lot of fun.

 

FWIW, I used to drive my 928 in the winter and found it remarkably easy to catch (hopeless to drive because it was so tail happy in the snow, but easy to catch none the less).

The same goes for the little track driving I have done - I never understood the comments I got from 996 owners (one claimed he'd had a 928 once, but found it to be the scariest car he'd ever driven - now he drives a 996TT. Probably never turns PSM off )

I, of course, don't have LSD, but find it odd that that would make the car unstable at those speed - can that really be true?. I thought LSD was a desireable option for winter/wet driving.

In any case, I'd have the car (tires, suspension etc.) checked out by someone in the know.

 

Some play time on a vacant parking lot is a good tip: a light covering of snow will allow exploration of the front and rear limits at very modest speeds .... snow! ... what am I thinking .. you're in CA. OK - try rain if you can get it. However, even when wet, it still takes a lot to break either end free. The front will stick until your eyeballs start sliding sideways, as will the rear: at that time, the rear will step out with throttle ....violent yanks on the steering ... overinflated rears ... all the things Keith said ... It is easier to move the rear out with a 5-sp (vs auto), and LSDs will kick sideways with heavy throttle at low turning speeds ... which may have been the issue in this case.
It is the impressive stability and 'stickum' that attracted me to these cars: a little spin with minor impact -- a nice cheap lesson: Play a little bit in a safe location, and your confidence in these magnificant machines will soar. Enjoy the GT!

 

More lock= better traction and lap times + sudden power oversteer.

With an open diff, revs go up and soon after the car starts losing part of rear end lateral grip. With a locked diff, revs go up AS the car loses all of the rear end lateral grip. You have to react much faster to control a power slide with a heavy locking diff.

Usually rain setups uses less diff locking to make driver's life easier.

To me it's harder to power slide in 1st or 2nd than in 3rd. (controlling it, I mean).

Pressures were ok?

 

I have a feeling you were playing with the throttle a little bit in the corner perhaps?

The AutoX or DE experience is fantastic. With the autocross, you will experience the low (or lower) speed handling characteristics of the car. I did several AutoX's before doing my first DE. I made it a point of working up past the limits of the car on the AutoX so that I would be able to feel the car at the limits and understand when it would break loose. That's not something that you want to do on a high speed DE. The DE experience will really give you a new appreciation for this car. The limits are very high and the vehicle is quite forgiving for driver error. As stated, you will typically understeer at the limit and even if you lift off, you will usually straighten out as opposed to swapping ends like the VW Beetle based design older 911s. You can steer the GT with the throttle if you are in the power band (get the backend out) so you have to be careful there. You do have to be almost perfectly straight coming into the braking zone, however. The back wants to come around under hard braking if you are not dead straight. Your lesson learned sounds like it will not be an expensive one, so don't fret. Chalk it up in the experience column.

 

1. Its good to hear your OK
2. Cars are material possesions - period. So dont be hard on yourself.
3. **** Happens
4. Find a club and run a DE/DO or even a AX course. (if you still feel - unworthy)

IMO - Pushing the car into a out of control situation (controlled environment) will GREATLY help you in everday driving. Just ensure your vehicle is up to shark standards.

Peace - Chin Up

 

Don't feel too bad. Like Bill, I spun my black guy with one of my little girls in the passenger seat. December, 8am, 2 miles from home, cold tires, leave a stop light making a 90 degree left, on the gas at the apex.... oops!! 180 spin. I look over at her and she's grinning... the folks making the turn with me, now stopped and looking at us, were less impressed. lol

 

Steve
Good news is they still make replacement wheels!! Should be back to its old self real quick! Even 285/30's will still slide all over when they are wet!! You might want to think about some DE's....I've been thinking about it! There is a PCA DE designed for beginners April 6th at Thunderhill (great beginner track-no big walls to hit)....a couple other guys are going....I'm still debating