Twitchy Porsches

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

Ah yes, the old fishtailing Porsche problem. More a result of incompetent 
driving than anything else, but the Porsche 911 series requires above 
average ability to drive well under testing conditions. I don't understand 
what the fuss is about myself, vile little cars with vicious handling and 
an uncomfortable ride. Clattery and expensive to boot. Still, they make a 
fast race pig do Porsche.

A Porsche 911 will hydroplane if you blink in very wet conditions. Very 
little weight on the front, lots of push from the rear and twitchy steering 
making it hard to correct all contribute.

I've gotta dispute the idea that anyone can hydroplane for more than an 
instant in a front wheel drive vehicle. See, the front wheels drive the car 
so if a front wheel starts to hydroplane the engine will start it spinning 
very quickly which will a: slow the car and b: kick the water out from 
under the tire. In all my driving I have not hydroplaned a fwd car ever, 
even through deep standing water the drive wheels spin immediately and kick 
the water out from under the tire. I suppose if you had a trick LSD you 
might get one wheel to hydroplane briefly.

Hydroplaning requires that the front wheels lift onto the film of water on 
the road, losing all traction and eventually stop turning all together. No 
steering and precious little braking are available. The rear wheels 
continue to push the car forward and in the old days of bias ply tires and 
recirculating ball steering a driver could be unaware of the problem until 
action was required. A fwd vehicle informs the driver the instant one front 
tire tries to hydroplane by the runaway revs.

Cheers

Michael


Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
91 Alfa 164L

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