• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Fiesta ST Forum and Fiesta ST community dedicated to Fiesta ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Fiesta ST Forum today!


Snap Oversteer

Messages
658
Likes
789
Location
Beverly Hills
#4
I think maybe drivers interpret a more unpredictable rear end with snap oversteer.

I've spun out unpredictably at turn 10 at Laguna Seca. The one with a lot of camber. It's not snap oversteer, but the sensation is not totally unlike the rear end fishtailing on my old 240sx during autoX, that didn't have the suspension sorted out (and poor tuning with difficult throttle modulation).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Seca

I think what to strive for is predictable rotation, minimizing understeer. Probably this means a number of variables including driving experience and tuning the suspension that works best for you.
 


Messages
658
Likes
789
Location
Beverly Hills
#5
Our off throttle rotation is one most fun things about canyon driving in the FIST
canyon driving scares me with this car. On tighter tracks like streets of willow springs, it's wonderful. at the few autoX I've done, car is also a delight.

Knowing if the tail comes out, worst case scenario I knock over cones in Auto X is a lot more reassuring than sliding off the mountain.
 


Grsemky

Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
184
Likes
133
Location
Arizona
#6
canyon driving scares me with this car. On tighter tracks like streets of willow springs, it's wonderful. at the few autoX I've done, car is also a delight.

Knowing if the tail comes out, worst case scenario I knock over cones in Auto X is a lot more reassuring than sliding off the mountain.
Yeah I like spirited driving but I keep it between the mustard and mayo, I don't need to test the FISTs flight capabilities... Knowing ones limits helps, luckily I found those limits in my 20s lol
 


SteveS

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,606
Likes
1,927
Location
Osage Beach, MO, USA
#8
canyon driving scares me with this car. On tighter tracks like streets of willow springs, it's wonderful. at the few autoX I've done, car is also a delight.

Knowing if the tail comes out, worst case scenario I knock over cones in Auto X is a lot more reassuring than sliding off the mountain.
Don't turn off the traction control when you are canyon driving. The first time you think you've overcooked it and the rear end just obediently gets back in line you'll be glad you let the car do its own thing.
 


Messages
658
Likes
789
Location
Beverly Hills
#9
with traction control, I usually keep it somewhere in the middle with 'sport mode' but not fully off traction control with daily driving. track driving will go full off. When I spun out at Leguna Seca, traction control was fully off.

I am fortunate enough to live very close to Mulholland Canyon and some stretches of Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, so get to do a bit more canyon roads. Its a lot easier with they are roads you're already familiar with.
 


Messages
246
Likes
206
Location
Mesa, Arizona, USA
#10
driving Canyon Lake/Tortilla Flat with this car in the rain with improper tires might be one of the most terrifying things I have experienced... I couldn't properly chase my friend down in his '15 FiST because I drive on a cheap set of rubbers that are only good in the heat & in the dry. when it's dry & warm though, it feels great.
 


Messages
56
Likes
48
Location
Spring, TX
#11
^ Canyon Lake TX?
Makes me want to hit Lime Creek Rd in Austin next time I'm out there.
Did in the dark in a stock Saturn in college, a bit intimidating, especially pre-GPS
 


Messages
14,740
Likes
7,216
Location
Princeton, N.J.
#13
In Tucson, Mt. Lemmon can be quite challenging, but the pavement was horrid when I was last there as a student at the University Of Arizona some fifty years ago.

Still, it was fun in my 1976 Capri 2 S V-6 manual 'Black Cat' with just some pedestrian narrow Michelins on the factory steelies.

I don't know how many (if any?!?) times they have repaved it since then, nor how good a job they did with said resurfacing if they did
 


Cneu

Member
Premium Account
Messages
132
Likes
178
Location
Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
#14
Not sure what suspension setups the “snap oversteer” folks have but my car is unbelievably predictable
Yeah I'm a bit confused by what people are talking about. I've driven a handful of FiSTs and they're all very predictable. That's what I really enjoy about this car, I can take the same corner over and over with the same results. I thought that's why this car is so much fun to drive hard. It's basically a go-kart in the way it behaves and gives feedback.

Describing any of the behavior of this car as "snap oversteer" seems pretty silly. This car does what you tell it to. If you're experiencing unpredictable behavior then it's because you aren't a good enough driver to predict it. I'm not trying to say "herp derp ya gotta be a pro" but even my GF who just learned to drive stick can drive the FiST really well because it's feedback is very predictable. I can describe to her what she's going to feel and then she feels it through the car. The FiST is great for this, IMO.
 


Last edited:

Intuit

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,113
Likes
2,654
Location
South West Ohio
#15
Not sure what suspension setups the “snap oversteer” folks have but my car is unbelievably predictable
Yeah people make changes to the car then complain about problems like roll-over.
I've only experienced unpredictability (fish tailing) when failing to change the tire pressures following rotation maintenance and after following a hit and run (while parked) wreck.
The steering geometry and related electronic features can be very sensitive to changes.
 


Ford Community Posts



Top