176 replies to this topic

[Stampy 21]

They are no fun in the wet
I just don't get this 'don't drive it in the wet' nonsense. I also think there is a fair amount of scare-mongering on here, which is a shame because I think these cars are a lot safer (when respected) than is often made out. Just my opinion

in the wet driven properly ........here and they was oil as well
had mine 8 years and i will say if you drive the car not being 100% confident you will end up losing it
bridgstone always on bad weather plus minimum 5mm on them
sorry tom to see your misfortune but few's car limits or track teach you so much on the car .............

looks like when we had that kent meet fab when i was in the westfield drifting around the lanes

[slindborg]

Vauxhall gave new owners a day of training at Palmersport

and myself i had two with palmersport paid by vauxhall when i bought the vx as i was a case plus had to do another no being contempt
i did learn so much on the car btw




here is a tip lol

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds.

1. While sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift
Your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air
With your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it!

You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the

Day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

FFs I just looked a right twat doing that in the office

but for once the frog is right

[Chris C]

Too many drivers think they can jump into a VX220 and drive it like they did their Nova.

I drove my VX down snow and ice covered country lanes last year...

With Bridgestones on...


Behind a lorry...


Boy do I feel lucky to be alive

[Zoobeef]

I've not read the whole thread but heres my 2p on diesel spills for those that havn't seen one on the road and think they dont exist. Where i work we have 16 lorries. On more than 10 occasions now i have seen them spilling diesel out the fuel tank when turning corners. All but one were because of poorly fitted filler caps. Luckely all the ones i saw and got corrected were in the vehicle park so thankfully didnt get out onto a public road. But there are ones that do. While out riding my bike i once hit a ring of diesel round a roundabout, got away with just putting my foot down and not dropping the bike and the Mrs. Brown trowser moment though. Also a close friend of mine hit some diesel coming off the A1. He spun and hit a lamppost. The police and ambulance turned up and the police were sceptical about the 'diesel' spill untill another car came of the A1, hit the same patch, spun, and hit the paramedic and the friends car. Thats when they went to close the slip road. Now im not saying everyones claim is correct but it does happen so we cant beast everyone at the mention of the stuff

[JohnTurbo]

Skyline would spin up in 4th in the wet...at 75mph! VX has SOOOO much more grip its untrue. Took the car for a rag round the backroads (damp) on sunday, and was staggered at the difference. Sure its not gonna be as safe as a 1.0 polo...but surely nodoby would expect that!

[southpaw]

i've only ever hit the limiter in mine once

they have limiters I'm going to have to check mine as I've never even got it to 6k

[old codger]

In the wet as load of people have already said, you have to be ultra careful of your throttle input. Be ultra careful on braking and accelerating. driver training days can be a big help, as you can lose control in a relatively safe enviroment. Maybe best leave it in garage if weather is really bad. At least until you feel more confident in the wet.

[fiveoclock]

Vauxhall gave new owners a day of training at Palmersport

and myself i had two with palmersport paid by vauxhall when i bought the vx as i was a case plus had to do another no being contempt
i did learn so much on the car btw




here is a tip lol

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds.

1. While sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift
Your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air
With your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it!

You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the

Day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

FFs I just looked a right twat doing that in the office

but for once the frog is right

Depends how you drawer your number 6, draw it clockwise ie. start where you would finish

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Vauxhall gave new owners a day of training at Palmersport

and myself i had two with palmersport paid by vauxhall when i bought the vx as i was a case plus had to do another no being contempt
i did learn so much on the car btw




here is a tip lol

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds.

1. While sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift
Your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air
With your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it!

You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the

Day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

FFs I just looked a right twat doing that in the office

but for once the frog is right

Depends how you drawer your number 6, draw it clockwise ie. start where you would finish

christ sake who draw number clock wise

i have been told musn't drive my car when its wet
i have been told musn't go over 5500 rpm
i have been told we have to draws or number clock wise


........... i decided from next years the only gears i will use will be the reverse

[rsg]

christ sake who draw number clock wise

i have been told musn't drive my car when its wet
i have been told musn't go over 5500 rpm
i have been told we have to draws or number clock wise


........... i decided from next years the only gears i will use will be the reverse

You can go out in the wet the Fab, as you'll be front wheel drive

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

You can go out in the wet the Fab, as you'll be front wheel drive

nice one

[LazyDonkey]

Maybe best leave it in garage if weather is really bad.

[jonnyboy]

In the wet as load of people have already said, you have to be ultra careful of your throttle input. Be ultra careful on braking and accelerating. driver training days can be a big help, as you can lose control in a relatively safe enviroment. Maybe best leave it in garage if weather is really bad. At least until you feel more confident in the wet.

Ultra careful might ruffle some feathers on here lol

Its more just being aware of things like weight distribution and the effect it has on your grip as well as knowing how to modulate your throttle accordingly. As someone else mentioned in this thread I think a lot of people come from the hot hatch sector where its increasingly getting to the stage where the engineering is so good that you can literally point and squirt a FWD ESP equipped car anywhere and it wont kill you.

Ultimately it all about knowing yours and the cars limits, diving according to both those and the conditions. You cant really account for surface spillages but basically respect the VX and everything will probably be fine....maybe.

[theotherjonnymac]

Is that really the case??

If its more than half the value they'll write it off??? Its a '53' plate with 49k on the clock and guessing its worth approx £10,000. I was thinking it was more like 80% of the value for them to write it off??

Has anyone got any ideas?? Or has anyone got any first hand experience?


Thanks

Very sorry to hear about your news. Mine was written off for about half the value. I am not sure exactly what criteria is used. If it is written off then discuss with your insurance company about the valuation. Our cars are worth less in the Winter than the Summer so make sure they are fair with their offer.

[zaff]

many owners have gone on to take driver training with Andy Walsh, Ben Elliott etc again, for a reason.

Which reminds me. We must fix up another Ben Elliot day next year.

Do anyone know or can recommend a trainer that is in the North. Walshy and Ben Eliot are a bit too far south.
I have had some training at Elvington with driverskills but would like more one to one especially in the wet.

[ianrm]

A new front clam is £1400

[Anarchy]

Only ever used this car site but presumably other performance car sites have very similar topics. I have hit deisel its a bit like hitting ice, only generally you are alert for ice due to the weather.

[TOMVX220]

Hi all, thanks for those of you who have offered support and suggestions, it really is very much appreciated indeed, the sort that really makes car forums worthwhile! Those of you who haven't , thanks for the doubt!! Just an update, the garage my car was initially taken to ( Just Car Clinics ) phoned me this morning to say ( as I expected ) that they wern't experienced with fibre-glass repairs and the car would need to be taken elswhere. It was upto me to find a suitable garage, so I chose a refinishers near me where I had the front and rear clam repsrayed 2 months ago. I will find out tomorrow what the verdict will be, fingers crossed!! Otherwise its going to be a sad, lonely Christmas Tom

[Mangham54]

In many ways Tom that could be good news... Hopefully having spent some money with them may help you sway them into not talking it up to a write-off with your insurer. Also they may be willing to take a little side bonus to keep it below the insurers threshold. Whatever the outcome, at least with Gap you should end up only loosing what you have invested in it since purchased. If I was to have mine written-off right now, especially with some of the silly prices being advertised and accepted I would lose possibly £2k on what I paid for it. If I can be of any help you only have to ask.

[jules_s]

Kind of demonstrates the point. Wet track, carts on slicks etc still nowhere near the total loss of traction you get from oil.

I went on a police skidpan they use for training and was amazed they even bother using it as it was totally unrealistic. You wouldn't be able to walk on it. Even in very wet and slippy conditions you get some feedback and breakaway (especially in the Vx) on oil it just goes and that's it. Hence my belief that it's just luck if you do catch it within the 20 feet you've usually got before you hit the opposite kerb/tree/car etc.

I've done numerous skid pans on corporate jolly days.

On all of them they had me driving from fresh/dry tarmac at all manner of angles onto the skidpan to teach you how a car 'can' react when hitting ice/diesel on a road.

I can't see the point of letting you loose on a skidpan/ice rink when you start on the slippery surface in the first place...although i could see some advantages never the less.

Lazy,

I see your point about track/driver days, but to me thats finding the (car/driver) limits on cornering etc on track....if walshy/elliott shove some diesel down on the surface you are driving on then i stand corrected.....I don't recall ever hearing they do, which is my bugbear when everybody calls 'carlimits' when a car gets stacked.

Oh, and ROTFLMAO? did I just travel back in time to 1999?