I'm Scared! (a reverence for this car...)

[mbowen89]

So, I'm getting ready to trade my V6 in for a 1LE.

I just watched this video:


I'm officially slightly "scared" that going to the V8, I'm going to hurt my car or someone else after watching that video. Or is that just a compilation of especially the street cars doing really stupid stuff, and driving somewhat aggresively but not stupid won't result in those kind of things? Did those Corvettes turn off traction control and just go crazy or what?

I know that as long as you don't do stupid crap, especially on the street, you should be fine. That means no showing off and not trying to push the car, especially on the street.

Most of the street crashes in that video were from people accelerating and lose control. It would be pretty hard for my V6 to do that, but I'm worried that my inexperience with a V8 and manual, and ESPECIALLY with the stock GY tires in anything but hot weather, will result in me spinning out into a wall or something.

This video has also made me more squeamish about trying HPDE stuff. I know there's an instructor and you learn from the beginning, but I'm afraid I would start to feel comfortable and pushing it more around curves and stuff and end up losing control and slamming into walls or worse another car etc.

Just thought I'd share my thoughts/feelings after watching that video and knowing I could possibly be driving my first V8 and learning how to really drive with a stick at the same time. Even in my V6 I guess, I really do trust and rely on TC and Stabilitrak to compensate for my inexperience/ignorance/stupidity, and it does a good job.

I've read though that with the V8 you can do stuff faster than the traction control can even kick in?? Especially with these 1LE tires?

PS: I'm not really scared sick like a little girl, I just feel like I know I need to have a solid appreciation for power and how easy it is to lose control over it. I can't wait to get in my own 1LE and see how much it makes my 1LT feel like a go-cart!!

[Bizaro]

Number one rule of owning a 1le: Don't own a 1le

[Spartan01]

Be careful, take your time to learn stick, and you should be OK.

You may want to borrow an older beater manual car to really learn stick.
They tend to have a looser more forgiving clutch and shift, than a new V8 Camaro.

Be especially careful in the cold.

The TC kicks in very quickly, its just that in the V8 you accelerate faster so you get into the danger zone far more quickly.

Don't be an A$$ and race it for a while, you will be golden. You are already used to driving a rear wheel drive car.

[The_Blur]

Take your time, and know your limits. You'll adapt.

[Spartan01]

Also, A LOT of those cars a Rear/Mid engine, which means the handling dynamics are very different from a front engine vehicle. Basically, you have to maintain your speed or accelerate through a turn or the car starts to drift sideways with a rear or mid engine.
Also, many people are clowns and outdrive the limits of the tires or car's suspension, or they just run out of talent midway.

You should be fine

[Spartan01]

Also, never underestimate the other guy's stupidity.

[mbowen89]

How crazy are the GY that come stock? If it drops to 60deg, are they an entirely different feel even just driving around and hitting hard on the on ramp than if it was 70-80deg?

[Hylton]

You just need to get some testicular fortitude and then you'll be fine.

[ZiG]

My first Fbody was a 1987 2.8l v6 135 hp. I regretted not getting a v8 almost immediately. But looking back I'm really glad I started with that one, because I probably would have killed myself with the v8 trans am I bought a year later. Stupid 17y/o kid. Gotta respect the car and know its limits. And don't push those limits off the track.

[Spartan01]

Originally Posted by mbowen89

How crazy are the GY that come stock? If it drops to 60deg, are they an entirely different feel even just driving around and hitting hard on the on ramp than if it was 70-80deg?

Good Year's do not come stock, they are Pirelli P-Zero's.
They are awesome, as long as they are on dry pavement, the ambient temperature is above 45 degrees and they are warmed up.

I drove almost all of last winter on stocks, it was not that bad, as these cars are so responsive you can feel it start to slip before it gets too crazy, but I have been driving stick for over 20 years.

Basically they just broke loose quicker and easier, and the car would go sideways much faster.

leave the nannies on all the time until you really have a feel for it.

[Bizaro]

Originally Posted by Spartan01

Good Year's do not come stock, they are Pirelli P-Zero's.
They are awesome, as long as they are on dry pavement, the ambient temperature is above 45 degrees and they are warmed up.

I drove almost all of last winter on stocks, it was not that bad, as these cars are so responsive you can feel it start to slip before it gets too crazy, but I have been driving stick for over 20 years.



Basically they just broke loose quicker and easier, and the car would go sideways much faster.

leave the nannies on all the time until you really have a feel for it.

You're wrong goodyears DO come stock get your facts straight

[mbowen89]

How bad are the goodyears if its a 70deg day and raining?

I feel like managing the tires is the biggest part of making sure I can drive without sliding around.

I'd love to do some HPDE later this summer after I get experience daily driving it and learn the ropes of driving on a track.

Since I am in Indiana, I know I need at least a set of all seasons. I'm almost thinking that I should just put a pair of all seasons on for all driving, and for track use only, put the stock goodyears on, even if I am only on the track a few times (all hypothetical, don't know if I will/can do HPDE!)

[Bizaro]

Originally Posted by mbowen89

How bad are the goodyears if its a 70deg day and raining?

Not bad don't go crazy and you will be fine I've driven as low as 45 degrees with rain and I managed

[Spartan01]

My bad, when did they change from P Zero's?