I am interested in getting a Fit soon. However, I don't have experience with front-wheel drive cars. Does anyone know of a website with information on how to effectively corner a front-wheel drive car? Are there classes for this technique? I don't want to learn how to drift the car. I just want to corner effectively under control. I'm in the SF Bay area. I looked at the Skip Barber driving school. I see a Mazdaspeed3 on their web page. So, maybe there's some techniques that cover the FWD cars.

My three previous cars were a third-gen Celica GT with RWD, a first-gen Mazda Miata with RWD, and my current car is an air-cooled Porsche Carrera with RWD and rear engine. The butt is really heavy on the car, but I'm used to it now. I've also taken sport motorcycle driving classes and drove sport bikes for many years and used to be able to crank over the bike at will and drag knees, pegs, and exhaust. My instinct is to brake before the turn, find the entry, apex, and exit points, then power through the turn with the throttle. There is a big problem with the Carrera if I enter the turn without enough leeway to accelerate through the turn.

I'm really at a loss as to what to do with a frontwheel drive car. I'm really hesitant to power through the turn. Since I don't drive a frontwheel drive car, I have never had the need to learn the technique. Maybe it's time.

I found this article on the Internet that talks about some of the handling problems with FWD, but not too much on the techniques to overcome these problems. Obviously, people are driving the Fit and tearing up the track and the mountain roads.

Prohibition Times: Wreckless Driving: Front-Wheel Drive

 

I feel that the information in your link is very dated. The safe driving techniques needed for early '80s Chevy Citations, mid-'80s Chrysler K-cars and minivans, and even early '90s Ford Taurus do not apply to most of today's front wheel drive cars. Most especially the Honda Fit. This car's light curb weight, rigid frame, electric power steering, and well designed and customizable suspension takes away all of the clumsy and/or dangerous aspects of earlier Detroit-made FWD cars.

You have absolutely nothing at all to worry about in driving a Fit.

 

That link had much info that was misleading or only partially true. At least nowadays getting off the throttle in midcorner, or at the beginnning of a corner helps transfer weight to the outside front tire, usually giving less understeer. As always, the key is smoothness and working up to the limits slowly and safely.

 

Slow in, fast out!!

 

Hey, thanks for the advice. I figured that the information was dated, but I just wanted some confirmation. Maybe I'll practice in a parking lot with cones to start off with, then take a class if I feel unsure. I've had a several moments when I felt the cold chill of fear going into corners with the Carrera when I realized that I misjudged the angle and could feel the rear slipping. So far, nothing damaged. I'm not a reckless driver and don't have plans for any type of rat racing. I just enjoy the occasional hard and fast turn and especially enjoy the feeling of being in control of the vehicle and knowing, or at least thinking that I know the limits. I used to have a lot of fun with my Miata. It was the original generation one with the 1.6L engine with 116HP, pretty similar to the Fit's engine. No VTEC in the Miata though. The Fit seems to be a little heavier. The Miata was 2,200. No air con. No power windows. Only thin plastic rear window. Only manual tranny.

It will be nice to get some comforts in the Fit. I just hope I don't ding it on the median strip or fence on the side of the road.

 

Quite honestly, your best bet is to take it out and autox it few times. You'll learn real quick that there isn't really any trick to getting it to turn and that it turns pretty damn well, even stock. At the very worst, it'll just push some, but it comes on gradually, so unless you're doing stupid speeds into the corner it's pretty controllable, even with the stock tires.

 

I grow up on RWD cars, the trick i have found driving a FWD is to going into a corner as fast as you can, and brake as late as you can. When braking, steer into the corner, at this moment, all the weight will be on the front, so you rear will slide over naturally, creating an oversteer, then just counter steer as you would with a RWD. Works for me.

 

RWD = (Graceful-ness balanc-eous) Clean apex into corner, add throttle and push the car gracefully through the corner.

FWD = (Idiot-ious proof-eous) , brake like retard before corner, point steering wheel in direction you want to go and accelerate after (Sorry, I may be slightly bias)

When I was young I logged a huge amount of distance on my first car (BMW) and got comfortable with RWD. My second vehical was a turbo Isuzu w/ Lotus tuned suspension... FWD. First thing I learned is it handled great... until you reach the threshold and it starts to plow leaving you hopelessly skidding off the side of the corner.

The trick I found for FWD is to enter the hard corners slow and apply a neutral throttle and "slingshot" yourself through until you are about 70% around, then you stomp the pedal and accelerate. If you let the car decelerate in the corner (like 90% of motorists) then the car tends to lean more on your front right tire and god help you if it decided to let go because it will plow.

 

AWD = (for cheaters!)

 

lol nice