Drove an 06 today that was a 6spd base. nothing special, but i just wanted to take one out for a spin. I have only been in a Z one other time and that was when i test drove an 03 but it was a very short drive.

I turned onto an empty street and once I had a nice straight away, I shifted into second and stepped on it and the car just screamed. One thing I noticed was the back end of the car seemed to fishtail a bit as i was stepping on the gas (had it rev'ed pretty high but didn't redline it). the road wasn't really wet, but it may have had some residual winter sand on it.

Going in a straight line, what would cause the car to fishtail like that? No LSD?
No traction? The nature of it being a RWD, or a combination of all the above? (this was my first time driving a RWD).

 

base models don't have traction control, or a limited slip diff which would be why it kicks to the side

 

Just the crappy, awful summer tires. They aren't meant to be driven on in weather below 50, let alone 20-degrees. They turn into plastic, basically. So I guess lack of traction is your answer. I can flog my Z around non-stop in the winter with my WinterSports - and never have any issues. Not that I do.

 

 

You are too fast and furious for me.

 

RWD is a little different but you'll quickly get use to it.

 

 

welcome to the exciting world of RWD my friend

if you dont like fishtailing at open trottle get urself a 90hp FWD civic

 

You kidding me? I loved it! going from a scion tc to this is night and day.


Many people who have driven RWD cars for years probably think "oh crap, another newb in a sports car"...but yes, i am a newb in a sports car.

it impressed the hell out of me.

 

 

Thats why most Z owners in MA have a daily Driver. I can't even pull out of my drive way in this crap without lighting them up..So since you have a Daily driver (TC) you need to get yourself into a Z

 

Completly agree in MA is so hard I live on the top of a very steep hill I could not even imagine tryibng to go dwon it with the snow and ice..
I would probally slid into someone..

 

How bout them Pats?

 

scions are faster in the snow

 

Time to dump the Scion

 

"One thing I noticed was the back end of the car seemed to fishtail a bit as i was stepping on the gas (had it rev'ed pretty high but didn't redline it). the road wasn't really wet, but it may have had some residual winter sand on it."

I got my Z this past December and I have experienced the same issue with hard acceleration even on good stretches of road. This is my first RWD car and I was also curious as to whether this is a trait of all RWD cars. I'm also running the stock summer tires.

 

winter + summer tires is the reason, nothing else, cold asfalt and cold rubber doesnt give much traction

 

As a fellow Scion owner (a tC), I can say that they REALLY suck when it comes to throttle response, road feel, steering response, suspension and handling....and pretty much most else. Every winter (second one so far) I dread moving to my wife's tC as a daily driver when my Z gets stored. Oh well...

 

Yes. At least, the ones with more power than traction....

Here's my PSA for those that are new to the Z;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK_6Ei5j9YY

 

i have had lots of decent rwd cars and and yea its teh summer tires, just under normal driving conditions it steps out pretty often