How To Properly Drive a WRX?
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How To Properly Drive a WRX?
After searching through this board and following a few somewhat good links, I still haven't found what I'm looking for. I'm looking for information on how to best drive a WRX Wagon and Sedan.
How does one best drive a WRX in the twisties or on a track day?
Mucho trail braking? Minimal trail braking? Or is a point and shoot approach better? Full gas into a corner with front wheel pulling? Do they like late or early apexing? Gas before or after the apex? How much gas? Do they still go fast when sliding? Which typically slides first, the front or rear? Do you catch oversteer by hitting the gas, backing off, or holding it steady and counter-steering, etc? What things will cause a WRX to lose control besides the obvious. Any nice tricks or tips? Little things like that.
-Wicked
How does one best drive a WRX in the twisties or on a track day?
Mucho trail braking? Minimal trail braking? Or is a point and shoot approach better? Full gas into a corner with front wheel pulling? Do they like late or early apexing? Gas before or after the apex? How much gas? Do they still go fast when sliding? Which typically slides first, the front or rear? Do you catch oversteer by hitting the gas, backing off, or holding it steady and counter-steering, etc? What things will cause a WRX to lose control besides the obvious. Any nice tricks or tips? Little things like that.
-Wicked
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uh, well, I'll try to help.
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
If you're driving fast in a controlled manner, which is to say you feel the cars limits coming on and can handle it you can lift a bit. I usually push the car till it gets to the point of understeer and lift lightly to try and rotate the car to point it out of the corner, then I gas it again.
That's all I have
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
If you're driving fast in a controlled manner, which is to say you feel the cars limits coming on and can handle it you can lift a bit. I usually push the car till it gets to the point of understeer and lift lightly to try and rotate the car to point it out of the corner, then I gas it again.
That's all I have
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Thank you Sonic,
I don't have my WRX yet, and I'd like to have as well of a understanding of the handling traits beforehand. You're helping bunches.
How about braking behavior and oversteer vs understeer while on the brakes? I haven't been able to find any weight distribution information yet. I'm assuming it's front-heavy even in the Wagon version? Any idea what the percentages are?
-Wicked
I don't have my WRX yet, and I'd like to have as well of a understanding of the handling traits beforehand. You're helping bunches.
How about braking behavior and oversteer vs understeer while on the brakes? I haven't been able to find any weight distribution information yet. I'm assuming it's front-heavy even in the Wagon version? Any idea what the percentages are?
-Wicked
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well, you should always brake BEFORE entering the corner, then begin to make your turn. Braking while the front wheels are turned is a big no-no, and lifting mid corner (while driving fast) and then hitting the brake in addition will likely introduce you to the shoulder on the far side of the turn.
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Originally posted by sonicsuby
uh, well, I'll try to help.
1. The front will generally slide first.
uh, well, I'll try to help.
1. The front will generally slide first.
Originally posted by sonicsuby
well, you should always brake BEFORE entering the corner, then begin to make your turn.
well, you should always brake BEFORE entering the corner, then begin to make your turn.
By trail braking into the corner, I don't mean braking 100% into the corner, but 100% in the approach and easing off to only 25-40% braking when rolling into the corner and aiming for the apex.
Or is the WRX so well-balanced like the Miata that I'd end up over-steering if I did that? I just don't know how to drive an AWD car, having never owned one before. Thanks again Sonic.
-Wicked
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I used to own a Miata with the sport suspension and let me tell you, the WRX is no Miata! I'm still trying to figure how to drive the WRX differently from the Miata. Definitely understeers and definitely feels front heavy. I'm not sure how to take advantage of the AWD and stock differentials in a track environment. Maybe you can post these questions in the roadracing forum where Gary Sheehan frequents.
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CharT,
We're in the exact same boat, you and I. Going from a Miata to a WRX Wagon. Seemed so different when I test drove it, in a bad way. But the way everybody raves about it's handling, the problem has got to be with me not driving it correctly. That's what I'm trying to figure out here.
-Wicked
We're in the exact same boat, you and I. Going from a Miata to a WRX Wagon. Seemed so different when I test drove it, in a bad way. But the way everybody raves about it's handling, the problem has got to be with me not driving it correctly. That's what I'm trying to figure out here.
-Wicked
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Originally posted by WickedSpeed
Since this sounds like a under-steering car, trail braking into a corner should make for quicker lap times since it'll transfer more weight forward and help keep the front wheels from sliding or washing out.
By trail braking into the corner, I don't mean braking 100% into the corner, but 100% in the approach and easing off to only 25-40% braking when rolling into the corner and aiming for the apex.
Or is the WRX so well-balanced like the Miata that I'd end up over-steering if I did that? I just don't know how to drive an AWD car, having never owned one before. Thanks again Sonic.
-Wicked
Since this sounds like a under-steering car, trail braking into a corner should make for quicker lap times since it'll transfer more weight forward and help keep the front wheels from sliding or washing out.
By trail braking into the corner, I don't mean braking 100% into the corner, but 100% in the approach and easing off to only 25-40% braking when rolling into the corner and aiming for the apex.
Or is the WRX so well-balanced like the Miata that I'd end up over-steering if I did that? I just don't know how to drive an AWD car, having never owned one before. Thanks again Sonic.
-Wicked
I prefer to coax the throttle in to pointing the car just because that's easy for me, but usually I only get a chance to really do this on on ramps 
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I'm certainly not an auto-x expert, but I went from a light RWD car (BMW 325i) to my WRX and experienced the same problem making the transition.
Braking and loading up the front wheels isn't actually as important as properly exiting the turn. With the WRX I find myself braking much earlier and aiming slightly inside the apex of the turn, then STOMPING the gas as my front wheels pass the apex. You can feel the power transfer to the rear wheels, and they "kick" you from behind right out of the turn. Since your front wheels are pulling as well as steering, you want even weight distribution accross both of them -- thus why you turn and brake earlier, so the car is not rolling towards the outside corner when you get back on the gas.
I haven't driven the wagon, so I can't speak for that, but I noticed that the WRX sedan really seems to benefit from early braking and early gas; the reputation for understeer most likely comes from those who brake late and then try to power from the outside edge of the turn.
I assume you have upgraded your wheels and tires? That should be your first step! Then start the learning process over again; 17" wheels and sticky tires dramatically change the handling of the car (for the better of course).
Braking and loading up the front wheels isn't actually as important as properly exiting the turn. With the WRX I find myself braking much earlier and aiming slightly inside the apex of the turn, then STOMPING the gas as my front wheels pass the apex. You can feel the power transfer to the rear wheels, and they "kick" you from behind right out of the turn. Since your front wheels are pulling as well as steering, you want even weight distribution accross both of them -- thus why you turn and brake earlier, so the car is not rolling towards the outside corner when you get back on the gas.
I haven't driven the wagon, so I can't speak for that, but I noticed that the WRX sedan really seems to benefit from early braking and early gas; the reputation for understeer most likely comes from those who brake late and then try to power from the outside edge of the turn.
I assume you have upgraded your wheels and tires? That should be your first step! Then start the learning process over again; 17" wheels and sticky tires dramatically change the handling of the car (for the better of course).
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Originally posted by sonicsuby
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
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Sonic,
No twisties where you live? Oh, the shame!
Meilers, thank you for that write-up, very helpful. I haven't brought my wagon yet, am still shopping and looking for the right one. If it doesn't already come with decent wheels/tires, that will be my first upgrade - some light 12-14 lbs 17 inchers and decent rubber along with a rear pillar strut bar.
VrWRX, OK, I won't ask.
-Wicked
No twisties where you live? Oh, the shame!
Meilers, thank you for that write-up, very helpful. I haven't brought my wagon yet, am still shopping and looking for the right one. If it doesn't already come with decent wheels/tires, that will be my first upgrade - some light 12-14 lbs 17 inchers and decent rubber along with a rear pillar strut bar.
VrWRX, OK, I won't ask.
-Wicked
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Originally posted by WickedSpeed
Sonic,
No twisties where you live? Oh, the shame!
Sonic,
No twisties where you live? Oh, the shame!
Originally posted by sonicsuby
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
1. The front will generally slide first. If you're going in to a corner hot and the car starts to come around DON'T LIFT OFF THE GAS!!!! Keep that **** planted or you will likely wreck.
lol I was taking this fairly long 2 lane right curve (very smooth curve) with no traffic at about 110 mph and I thought I should slow down. I was on the inside lane at the time. I let off the gas and boom, I start understeering badly and drifted over to the left lane. Had I just kept my foot on the gas and stayed at 110, or kept on the gas but reduce the speed to 100, I would've stayed in my lane the entire time.
