Whizbang

i would drive in the rain if my tires where bald and i had no working wipers....still figuring that one out.

RotorJoe

RainX is the ****.

13Beast REW

The whole point of the thread is to give advise to those people who feel the FD is not a reasonably capable rain vehicle on how to operate the car in such condition. This would reduce the number wrecked FDs and maintain an acutal market for the companies out there that make aftermarket parts for our cars. What good is it for companies like Rotary Extreme and Racing Beat to continue to develop parts for the FD if there are only 200 FDs left in the US?

You can't stop inexperienced drivers from buying FDs so lets try to help them improve rather than bad mouth them.

Larz

I drove my FD through a snow storm when moving from Maryland to Illinois earlier this year. It can be done, but I drove much easier than on a bright, sunny day. Being light does make a difference. I much prefer driving my mom's huge minivan in the snow. Much easier to control.

quicksilver_rx7

Sorry about that Ramy. I don't really know any young people with these cars. I was basing it off of the average (which apparently is changing). I would say that the majority of FD owners know what tires are on their cars and the capabilities of those tires. Most kids today know more about the technical side of automobiles (including tires) than a lot of adults. It's not that they are unaware, it's more-so a case of "ain't got no money", which is an obvious reason to not even own one of these cars, and if they do especially don't drive in the rain.

Joe

Meiogirl

iTrader: (2)

just skimming through this thread and i noticed that no one has mentioned that any rear wheel drive vehicle thats heavier in the front and lighter in the rear is going to be tough to handle on wet surfaces, not just the FD. my mother's 280zx was terrible in the rain, my old 1500 Sierra pickup was terrible in the rain. so you own a rear wheel drive vehicle, you deal with it and you move on. nothing special here.

chagar

Just another old fart speaking, I lost mine in a heavy rain couple of years ago coming home from grocery store and was doing 360's in a five lane road. Did not punch but lost it quickly. I was just along for the ride at that time. Be careful.

13Beast REW

I know what you're getting although the FD is actually 50/50 (well damn close depending on which trim level u have). I did hint toward that a little, not specific to weight distrobution but more targeted toword power to weight ratios and boosted cars. Good point tho.

quicksilver_rx7

Post #37

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Don...defend when right, accept when wrong

That's one way to put it. But you also are missing the FACT that there are things completely out of your control. Do you expect ppl to stop completely at night? Cuz I can tell you this...MANY times when driving at night in the rain, coupled w/ the glare, I cannot see the lane markers 100% all of the time, esp. if the lane markers don't have the reflectors in them. A lot of it comes to driving skill, and recognizing the road, focusing on what you can see (about a foot of yellow line on the side) etc. Anyone who says they can see everything all the time in rain probably has never seen more than a drizzle. And from the facts Dave mentioned, it's crystal clear that rain will put you at a considerable disadvantage so that even if you did nothing wrong yourself, the weather conditions can take over and cause an accident completely out of your control.

Damon, c'mon man...have you seen the Jap videos of them racing in the rain? It's hardly racing at all. They're crawling along. And STILL, you see massive pileups and ppl just randomly spinning etc. I don't think they're dumb (other than that they're racing in the rain LOL) and they're VERY experienced. Yet they still lose control either a) because of conditions out of their control, b) poor judgement (humans DO make mistakes), and/or c) a combination of A & B.

The bottom line is, why would you encourage putting yourself in a situation where there is NO room for human error whatsoever (which we all are prone to), AND having to fight circumstances beyond our control? That's not smart Damon.

C'mon Kayin...put some thought into these statements No one said it erases all traction. But if you wanna get REAL technical, if you measured the force required to pull a non-rotating tire across a dry surface vs. a wet surface, in any direction, you'll find the force is less on the wet surface, since friction is decreased (the water acts like a lubricant). And I'm sure you know friction + inertia are the two main forces opposing the force applied to move the object (I may be missing some other forces...but physics isn't my strong spot)

That's all I'm saying. It's a poor choice, so don't promote it.

Right on.

Wanna rethink that over? Contrary to what Damon said, you can't assume they're all dumb. Many of them could have been driving for years, but the weather dealt them circumstances beyond their control. Not all accidents are caused by man.

I disagree w/ this completely. Like Dave said, your priorities would be mixed up if you bought an FD as a daily driver, without substantial income on tap. Having a $500 '86 Accord (like I did) or a $1500 FB ALONG WITH owning an FD will save you TONS. 1) The daily driver will consume less gas, 2) you'll get a multi-car discount which will drop each premium by half, 3) the costs of maintaining an FD easily top the cost of BUYING several daily drivers, 4) you will have the luxury of paying for things over time since you don't have to address expensive FD problems immediately, 5) you will lose less money if you crash the car, because how much you put in will be much less. On all accounts, helping make an FD a daily driver, including in the rain, is trying to move along a bad solution.

I think your pure intentions (which I believe they are ) would be better directed at starting a "Why you should not by an FD" thread, along with a 'Why the FD is a horrible daily driver" and a "Learn to drive your FD, the right way" thread, directed at teaching ppl to drive in the DRY conditions first. You gotta crawl before you walk, and you're teaching ppl to run w/o verifying they can crawl. Make sense? Like Damon said, ppl will ASSUME they're awesome drivers.

Heck, I'm pretty confident I can hold my own against the vast majority of FD owners. Really. But you know what? Today, I was making a U-turn, got on it too fast, tail spun out. I overcorrected (stupid mistake #2), and she swung around until I got control of her again. All of a sudden I was like damn...you should really cool it Ramy. You're really not such hot stuff, esp when it comes to those fast U-turns LOL. Point is, we all overestimate our capabilities. And to hand us the key to advanced techniques when basics haven't been mastered... well...like I said, I think it's reckless.

Don't encourage something just because you feel it's inevitable. That defeatist attitude is really bad in my humble opinion. Rather, try and fix the cause, then adapt to the symptom

Yes it is. But you're demonstrating a prime example of WHY it's so dangerous to drive in the rain - you underestimate and in fact simply don't take into account ALL of the variables - you only see what YOU control, but don't keep in mind the plethora of factors that you do NOT have any control of. Dave outlined some of them, so I won't go into that again.

Joe, don't apologize to me LOL. I know exactly what you meant. But unfortunately, the "can I afford an FD" guys are taking over. Most ADULTS have problems affording an FD. Imagine what these kids are doing to cut costs. Check out how many poorly designed/engineered products ppl buy from Ebay, just to save a buck here or there. The #1 and first lesson I learned on my FD was do it once, do it right. I cut a corner, and had to go back and pay not only to do it AGAIN, but to repair the damage. Again, do it once, do it right, or don't do it at all. But kids don't understand that these days.

The one good thing we have going for us is the horrible reliablity of the FD LOL. It steers a lot of ppl away who can't afford 'em from buying 'em haha...

And unfortunately, in Damon's eyes, you'd be "dumb" simply b/c you lost control. But I'd wager that you have more driving experience total than several of us combined.

~Ramy

RedR1

iTrader: (5)

I didn't mean for it to seem as a direction point of me saying you were scared to drive the car if ya took it that way, but the statment was more or less a generalization to everyone. We own these cars for their potential, and try to extract that, not for their potential, and that's all.

I'm sure you drive your car for all it's worth, as do I and many other people on here, but to not want to drive the car because of the risks involved in rainy weather is totally different. I agree with ya 100% on the other drivers on the road quote, no issues there . I totally grasp the big picture, because if the road were all mine, i'd be happy and not posting, or working, haha. That's how I view things, because in the end, it's not always about me. However, as you said that I would, you are at risk in any weather What's to say joe schmoe just downed 5 bottles of Vodka, some Gin, and did $600.00 of blow (and is driving, not dead, lol). If he swerves into your lane (which he will), and you try to react, but you have less than 5% tread, then you'd be screwed regardless as well. If you add rain to the factor, then that's just another variable. Bad weather or good weather, the risk is there no matter how you slice it, so might as well enjoy it right?

I know we don't purposely put the car in dangers way (that would just be another odd thing i won't go on a tangent about), it's the other way around. Danger always seems to find the ones not looking for it most of the time However no matter how much care we put, there is always something that is out of our control that will make things go awry. That, is why I just view it as something i can't control, so won't worry about. Everything else that I can tho, I do.

That, and for the most part, when it's pouring, I usually take the road lest traveled if it's rush hour (back roads, long way, etc), as the risk if there, but i'm still going to drive, cept i'm reducing the risks to myself as much as possible.

I wouldn't really say i'm downplaying the dangers of driving in the rain. It's when people drive in the rain with substandard parts that i'm downplaying. There is a hazard in driving in the rain, but no less than driving in the sun if you have great tires and a good amount o'common sense (ok, well not 1/1 for driving in the sun, but you get my idea). Sorta like my manager, he drives a Lotus Esprit to work everyday. There are risks, but he, just like I, drive for the sheer joy we get from our respective cars.

13Beast REW

Yes sir! Only thing is... I don't exactly feel I'm wrong here. To be honest I don't even necessarily disagree with you. Its my thinkin that you may just be a bit more of an extremist than me when it comes to this particular issue.

I'll definately give you that. Humans are indeed error prone.

Not saying these people are dumb. I'm saying that many FDs are disappearing off the roads. It seems to me that aside from poeple forking their FDs over to junk yards due to engine failure, next most common cause of FDs biting the dust is them being wrecked due to mishaps in the rain regardless of wether the cause is the driver or situational.

Again I agree... priorities are indeed wrong and alot of first time buyers are severely undereducated. I myself was one of these undereducated people around the time when I purchased my FD. I learned over time as many other people will do.

The age of the average FD owner is dropping significantly and even aside from that speed contests on public streets is alive moreso now than ever. This is partially in response to movies like the Fast and the Furious, games like Midnight Club and Need For Speed, and general lower level of maturity of yound people these days. Because of this, insurance is a much more significant added cost than may come to your mind without putting thought into it.

Its not uncommon these days to come across an FD owner with more than 3 speeding tickets on record with all above 15 mph over the speed limit coupled with 1 or more accidents. As one more step add in an age under 25 and you're already looking at insurance premiums for full coverage topping $300 monthly. Try to skimp down to mere liability coverage and you still around $170-200. So make that an FD and random 4-cylinder vehicle, in an optimal situation you're still looking at around $350 monthy just for insurance. Then add $200-300 in gas and $150+ car note ($350+$200+$150=$700) monthly. Until after college or a few years in the work force, most people under 25 won't be working full time or if they are, they'd be luck to even be making $10/hour. After taxes $10/hour is still under $700 right there and entertainment, food, clothing, etc has to come in somewhere. There are alot of FD drivers bringing home less than $25,000 annually.

Eh... maybe you're right. That may be a better place to put my energy aside from the fact the I love my FD as a daily driver and have my other vehicles as backup vehicles for when the FD is on jack stands due to failure or improvements.

I tend to make more use of the FDs power than necessary but I rarely if ever press my limits while on public roads (Well in the spirit of being brutally honest I'll say atleast on occupied public roads). Personally I don't presume to drive at better then 8/10ths in any but a controlled environment or unless I pull up next to a vehicle that I know I stand no chance against such as a Porsche GT2 or another such true exotic. You'd be hard pressed to catch me in a speed contest with a more common vehicle.


Hmm... You've said that before. Maybe I'm missing something... How am I encouraging people driving in the rain? Not challenging, just asking for clarification.

You make very good and very agreeable arguments but I must say I can't find enough reason for me to feel more confident in my safety driving my Isuzu Rodeo in the next storm rather than my FD. I feel equally safe in either but I prefer the comfort, feel, look and performance of my FD on a daily basis than anything else. Even if I do buy the Mazda6 I'm currently looking at, it'd still see only a fraction of the miles the FD does provided the FD is on the road a reasonable amount of time.

Don

Shinobi-X

I hear you- I was just taking a light jab. I'm saying though, that physics and other vehicle dynamics also apply to the tires, and most road going vehicles are built with the idea that they will be seeing rainy conditions. In most cases, I drive VERY defensively with my FD, and unless I intend to treat it like a sports car, it behaves like almost any other car I've driven- again, I don't spin tires at lights, screech tires in turns, or boost much, etc. and for the most part, passengers out of the know, can't tell its a RWD vehicle. With its relatively wider tires (than both the RSX and Corolla) the FD has a wider contact patch than most compact cars, which means with proper tread, it has greater resistance to loss of traction off the bat- this holds true for wet or dry pavement. The FD isn't much if at all lighter than either of the two other vehicles, and with my slower (throttle controlled) driving practices, it operates just as predictable in the rain. The greater issue I've had was the lighting, but I've since upgraded my lights so they're no longer an issue (or at least are comparable to the other cars now). To be honest, I wouldn't feel any different in the FD as I would either of the two cars I had mentioned before. As far as I'm concerned, I still feel the FAR greater threat is other drivers, running underinflated tires with poor tread who feel rain shouldn't stop them from getting to wherever they have to go quicker- especially those in AWD vehicles who feel their cars can't break traction.

Just saying, an FD somewhere somehow WILL see rain, no matter what anyone says thinks or believes- Mazda designed the car to be rain-capable, so its better to at least recognize this, rather than dismiss it. Without a doubt the safest solution would be to not drive period, but thats not realistic. I've seen enough people get stupid with the FD in the dry presenting more risk than a reserved FD owner in the rain would.

Since its on topic, figured you'd find interest in the link below:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=3

^^ The test in those photos were done at 60mph...thats 20-30mph+/- in excess of what most should normally be doing in the rain at the posted limit.

DamonB

I'll never ride with such a driver then. As the driver of the vehicle YOU are in control, not the vehicle. If you are incapable of driving in a manner that DOES leave room for human error (yours and other's), no matter the conditions, then you're a poor and unsafe driver IMO. Again, this has nothing to do with ability to go around a racetrack fast, it merely takes a little maturity and sense.

I mentioned excuses earlier. It's never the driver's fault. It's always the rain, or the car, or the darkness... You know what the conditions are because you're looking at them. Drive accordingly. What's not smart is not realizing you can control the situation because you're in charge. The FD is not some beast that will bite you for no reason just because you're there. Use some foresight and some sense and you'll have no trouble.

13Beast REW

Pay these man!

Great article Kayin!

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Exactly. I just don't think the place or circumstance to harness that potential is in the rain. So when it's wet outside, let her sit. When it's dry, let 'er rip.

Remember the part I said about relative risk? Kayin knows what I'm talking about around here. When it rains, it's like the water's washing away at people's brains as well. Ppl do the dumbest things. And God Forbid it snows lol...that's a story all in itself. So the risk is relative, and of course, like you said, it's greater in the rain. I just feel it's considerably greater, to the point I'd leave the RX-7 home if I had a choice between it and any of the other cars I can drive. I think that displays the best judgement.

Well, it's what you don't worry ie overlook that can jump and bite you in the a$$. The things you've covered...well....you've covered 'em. The things you overlook, you're leaving yourself wide open to. There are one too many variables (beyond just driving) when it comes to driving in the rain. Again, not smart IMO.

LOL...Extremist hehe. Don't you know? In the lounge, I'm known the super ultra neo conservative crazy extremist I'm the guy who thinks the "kill 'em all" or "just nuke 'em" mentality is a greater tragedy than any other we've ever faced. So yea, my views may be a wee bit off from "mainstream"

I was referring to Damon's words, not yours.

So was I hehe.

Hey, Midnight Club had the AWESOMEST trailer, and NFS Underground is a pretty tight game hehe. I wish I had more time for video games (you shoulda seen me in my Tekken days! )

The real slim shady is standing up! lol. I fit all of those minus the accidents part. I don't get stopsign tickets or running a red. I get 92 in a 55 typa tickets LOL

My view is when you offer someone tips on how to do something advanced, I think that's dangerous when they may not know the basics well. Driving FD in rain = advanced, driving FD PERIOD = basics lol. Lets worry about integration after we master multiplication.

I'd def. feel safter w/ the huge steel cage an SUV offers...as long as it's not too high (rollover). Larger cars tend to save your life better than tin foil FDs And when FD's crash, the usually do crumple like tin foil, leaving you w/ no car. That's a high price to pay. I'd rather wreck my daily driver Plus, I'm sure weight plays a role...

You better watch the uppercut I'mma land on you when you swing by my crib the next time

Of course. I've gotten caught in horrible downpours before, and I used my best judgement (all of 'em except once lol) but this thread rubbed me the wrong way "how to drive...IN THE RAIN" almost like it's encouraging you to drive it in the rain if you had the choice between it and another car. You feel me? Yes, I'm sure Mazda figured it may just happen to rain every now and then lol...but c'mon...when you see how quickly boost builds on the FD, and how jerky the car is (which is actually one of the reasons it took 2nd place in one of the magazine shootout competitions in '92), and how peaky the power is...I don't think they intended it to perform well in rain at all. Just to "pass"

Yea I read that a while back. Thanks though.

Come on....you gotta be kidding me. Drive accordingly, huh? Damon, that's the whole point. VISIBILITY IS GREATY REDUCED IN THE RAIN. How, pray tell, can you adjust for what you can't see? All you can do is slow down, and only so much. If you drive too slow, you risk getting slammed into by the idiot behind you who can't judge distances b/c of the water reflecting light off his windshield...then he'll slam on his brakes, locking 'em up, not helping to slow him down at all. And even if you don't get hit, there are speed limits on certain roads. Many times, anywhere NEAR the speed limit (which is still the flow of traffic in the rain, I don't understand how), you're travelling so fast, there no possible way for you to see everything or prepare for it adequately. If you're driving on your own, sure, knock yourself out. But tell me how on a road w/ other drivers, which has a 45 mph speed limit, and traffic's moving at that pace, you're gonna anticipate, react, and miss a puddle of water when you have reduced visibility, water on the windshield reflecting light, water on the road reflecting light, water in the air from the cars in front of you, darkness, a car already not the best for decreased traction situations, AND you're moving at about 65 feet per SECOND? The ONLY safe way would literally be to be driving so incredibly slow as to be able to analyze everything AND react in time. It takes an average of 2 seconds to see, process, and react (apply the brake) to a red light in PERFECT conditions. And you're telling me that with reduced visibility AND traction, you're gonna react in time for what you CAN'T see, when you've already passed 120+ feet before you can humanly react?

You can only control what YOU are in control of. You can't control the irregularities in the road, the bumps and potholes concealed in darkness, the standing water from unlevel pavement, anything that may change in front of you (animal darts out, car swerves, light suddenly changes etc), not to mention any other scenarios that will be even harder to counteract given your reduced traction ability.

The foresight you speak of is to realize that reduced traction = bad = not suited for driving, unless necessary. You're taking out your PRIZED POSSESSION into a dangerous situation and saying you're in charge? FYI, Damon, control is an illusion. It's an illusion we build ourselves to make us confident, based on the times when things go as planned. Many times they don't, for reasons beyond our control, but it sounds to me like you're not willing to realize that you aren't in fact in control of everything - and THAT, to me, is the most dangerous thing.

~Ramy

PS: You (Damon, esp.) still haven't commented re:
- Ppl thinking they're better drivers than they really are, and then giving them advanced skills training/advice
- That I think the vast majority wouldn't be able to drive for only a few minutes w/o building any boost in perfect conditions
- That it's a FACT that you have reduced visibility and traction in the rain, so how choosing a light, jerky, difficult to control sportscar in such conditions is using better judgement

DamonB

I have mentioned no "advanced skills" as being necessary to drive safely on the street and I have always insisted them not to be required in street driving. The only "advanced skill" necessary to drive safely on the street is to possess a certain minimum level of intellect and maturity. People who think they have better car control then they actually have tend to wreck cars. They don't wreck the car due to the fact they aren't Michael Schumacher, they wreck the car because they are stupid and insist on driving the car to a limit they can't control. Getting from Point A to Point B on the street safely, even in the rain, does not require race driving skills. Any idiot has a good idea where the limit is; people instinctively realize they must drive differently on ice for instance and they instinctively realize to a large extent how to drive differently. Rain is no different. If they don't realize that rain requires a little more attention on their part they are stupid.

Boost is meaningless. Whether the engine is under boost or not under boost it's how you modulate the gas pedal that determines how much power comes out of the drive wheels. We discussed the gas pedal earlier. The driver is in control of the gas pedal and thus the characterisitcs of the acceleration of the car. If someone insists the turbochargers are in control of the car they are stupid IMO.

I've never disagreed with that? You're so busy trying to argue with me you're no longer reasoning clearly.

The FD is light. FD's are not jerky; stupid drivers are. Drivers cause cars to act they way the do, cars don't do it by themselves. FD's are not difficult to control except for stupid drivers who over drive a car. It's not the driver's lack of car control talent that causes accidents, it's the fact that they allow the car and themselves to get into a situation from which they do not have the ability to recover. Good drivers do their best to avoid such situations, bad ones always have a reason of why it wasn't their fault.

Driving safely on the road in the rain doesn't take talent, it only takes a minimum level of smarts. Admittedly there will always be drivers short on smarts who cannot understand any level of responsibility.

Shinobi-X

You wouldn't want me to drag a few guys who "disagree" with your rain driving statements over to your location for a little knuckle game would you?

Hmmm, I shift around 2k rpm and keep my right foot light, both in the interest of saving gas and also to keep sound levels at minimum (under normal driving). Translating this method to rain driving is almost natural and with my attention to the tires, works. To each his own though, and keep the driving safe.

13Beast REW

Simple. Increased following distances but rather than judge by distance judge by time. You know it take the average person about 2 seconds to react to a given adverse situation. So naturally, on average anyway, people usually allow a 2-4 sec buffer between them and the vehicle in front of them unless getting ready to pass them. The distance this buffer creates is largely dependant on speed. In stop and go traffic its about 5 feet, at 80mph its about 40 feet (i'm guesstimating here but you should get the picture). When it rains increase your following distance to say 4-6 seconds. You don't have to count each vehicle or anything like that, once you start paying attention and you've done it maybe twice it starts becomming second nature.

Another thing is not just looking at the vehicle in front of you but the vehicle infront of that one as well. Ultimately, you may be 4-6 seconds behind the vehicle directly in front of you but you should be looking 12-20 seconds ahead of you. This is how you reduce outside risks, risks you don't directly control. Looking ahead that distance will give you the time to see the car dodging the pot hole that you otherwise can't see until the last possible second. If the car infront of you starts to spin, you'll have the time necessary to react, begin applying your brakes in a straight line until you can be sure there's no one around you and can start turning to avoid collision or atleast lessen its impact.

Also lights don't change suddenly. They go from green to yellow and then to red. If you can't come to a safe stop when a light changes to yellow then you were going too fast in the first place. The timers that determine how long a light will remain yellow before turning read are largely calculated based on the given speed limit of the street where that traffic light is positioned to afford the driver enough time to come down from that speed without having to slam on their brakes. The FD has exceptional stopping ability, even in the rain. Even at 20mph over the posted speed limit in an FD, it shouldn't require even threshold braking (an F1 braking tactic that most people can't do anyway).

As far as vehicles behind you, a GOOD driver will be aware of all the vehicles in the 8 sectors that make up the immediate vacinity. Front left, immediate front, front right, immediate right, rear right, immediate rear, rear left, and immediate left. It takes a split second to scan around your car to know where people are. And a GREAT driver will even be aware of whats in his blind spots. Its not expected to know these thing ALL the time but it should become second nature to check. It should be expected although it really isnt for a driver to know these thing before doing something like changing lanes.

There are several ways to reduce your risks even in the rain. These are really just basic driving principles and if they aren't they should be. And the key thing about them... you should do it any vehicle, not just the FD.
[/QUOTE]

satoacs

[/QUOTE]
sounds like a drivers ed class

13Beast REW

Doesn't it though? Shouldn't take all of that either but if its not apparent then it should be made apparent.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I think you're wrong about that. The FD is indeed VERY jerky. Go try this...do about 40mph, then SLOWLY reduce throttle input. Esp. if you're in 2nd gear, the car will JERK - has nothing to do w/ bogging - it'll straight up JERK at a certain point. And I suppose that the drivers from that magazine (R&T, C&D, MT...one of 'em, can't remember) are stupid drivers as well?

13Beast REW, I don't disagree w/ what you're saying. But believe it or not, that's a lot to ask of most FD drivers - esp. since we're agreed most are young and thus inexperienced. That's ALL im saying. Not saying it CAN'T be done. Just saying it shouldn't, given the circumstances (car, driver, and other). satoacs comment even mentioned how packed that little tidbit you mentioned is w/ info. In fact, you have to be looking ahead AND watching what's immediately in front of you at the same time. Just cuz another car didn't hit a puddle doesn't mean it's not there So since I'm too busy arguing w/ Damon (lol) I'm gonna still assert that it takes a good bit of experience to drive safetly in the rain, and the FD does NOT aid in doing so in a safe manner. You see it stopping very quickly and in short distances as being safe. I think it makes you accident prone, because ppl behind you won't anticipate you stopping so quickly, and through your rear bumper they'll go (in addition to the other reasons I mentioned why I think the FD isn't such a hot choice for incliment weather).

DamonB

Then I'm right. Most of them ARE stupid and should therefore stay parked in the garage any time there is threat of precipitation.

That is not the fault of the car. They will be young and inexperienced no matter what car they are in. Fact is all beginning drivers have more accidents, not just the ones in fast cars.

Yeah; I feel that's a requirement in driving any vehicle. Otherwise just turn on the cruise control and close your eyes.


If looking where you are going and thinking about how present driving conditions may insist on different action from the driver, stick to what you know

RE-Amemiya

As long as you start off slow you're be fine. I won't say how fast i've gone in the rain...but let's say it wasn't legal. And for those of you out there like that...yes, i know it was probably dangerous and stupid.

RotorJoe

I had one just like that, but I painted it blue and called it Joe's