This AM there must have been something in the road. Every morning I take the same path to work and everything morning at one highly banked corner that's marked 40 mph I enjoy taking it at around 55-60. It's not nearly as fast as I would hit it with my BMWs but it's one of the few times the MCS really feels like it's worth its cost.

Today I hit the corner, braking late, transferring some weight to the front wheels and as I hit the apex the damned car went into a 4 wheel drift. No DSC light blinking either. The car simply began to slide, not understeering really as I continued the turn, rotating the backend some...it felt almost like I had hit ice (in San Diego in June?!).

Tires? Nope, just checked the air in them on Friday and they were perfect. And the fronts actually have more grip than the rears after the last rotation.

I have no idea how it happened or why. In all my track time with my BMWs I never experienced this exact sensation (certainly not by accident) and even growing up purposely putting RWD cars into oversteer this was an odd sensation.

Anyone else ever accidentally drift their Cooper before?

 

Not me, but I spun a MR2 once on a road that was recently tarred and chipped. Maybe something on the road, like sand?

 

Your car is possessed.

 

tokyo drift!!

 

It happened to my once.

Raining and taking a right hander, had to lift off the gas to avoid the dumb *** that's entering my lane. That's when the car slide sideways. I assumed the yellow painted lines were the cause of it.

 

Its basic weight transfer. heavy frontwheel drive engine and all that vs nothing in the back so the car will move around on you.
Happens to me all the time.
welcome to a short wheelbase.

 

late braking or letting off the throttle mid turn will typically bring the *** around with the MINI due to FWD and short wheelbase

 

Was the Grass recently cut? Some debri including cut grass.. Dust, Dirt kicked up from another car that has taken the turn earlier can cause this as well.

Since your discription shows that you have driven this corner most likely hundreds of time in the same manner. It doesnt take to much to push it past the edge and start the drift.

 

Four wheel drifting the MINI certainly happens, all depends on how sharp the corner is and how fast you are going. Only thing that can help is slowing down or having stickier tires. I have runflats, and routinely squeal them into circles, not really even going all that fast. Drifting in the circle happens once the car is pushed a little harder... best not to be seen by any local constabulatory when doing this!

 

why are you transferring weight to the front of the car at the apex? Turn in should be well before the apex. As you add in power, weight should be transferred to the rear, removing some of load on the front tires so they can better work on forward and lateral grip at the same time.

 

There could be dust/dirt/crap on the road in this instance which upset the car. I've not 'accidentally' done any shenanigans in my car yet... it's all been planned

 

its a public road with uncontrolled conditions it could have been any number of things that caused the issue (although a 4 wheel drift isn't really an issue as much as it is a blast).

PS- Hi from a newb.

 

I have experienced the same thing when I was in San Diego - Oceanside area on the sharp ramp that goes to Vista off of the "5". It was in a regular rental and had front wheel drive, I realized as I was moving sideways that someone (a truck) had leaked a good amount of oil onto parts of the road surface and was being spread around by the other "sliders". It resulted in the people behind going off of the road, since I was able to finally find a "dry spot". Man those California roads really get slick with even the slightest moisture (Fog, drizzle, mist)!

 

you're complaining?

yea it's happened, unfortunately never on purpose. i can oversteer on purpose, but i've never gotten the for wheel drift on purpose. it often happens when i try to oversteer. good stuff though!!

 

I didn't say that. I wrote that I had already shifted the weight and then as I was hitting the apex. Sorry for not being clearer.

 

Still baffled by it but such is life...

 

MrMagoo,

I know that turn well, it is well banked but especially sharp, 270 deg I believe. If there was oil on it you could have been seriously out of control. I started that turn once at 65 mph after almost missing the offramp due to being unattentive. An experience so close to flipping out I'll never forget it. That one turn alone paid for the high price of my BFG Comp T/As. Tires were so soft they only lasted 25K, but they stuck like glue on my old Celica.

 

That has only happened to me after turning off dsc for some fun

 

"And the fronts actually have more grip than the rears after the last rotation."

This could be part of your issue.
If there is significant difference in friction between fronts and rear, your rears broke free and were trying to come around the fronts.
What caused the fronts to brake loose is simply that the coefficient of friction was exceeded, for any number of possible reasons, many of which have nothing to do with you.

It's fun to do..... On purpose.

 

INDEED!

 

LOL, way to resurrect a 2 year old thread!

 

I spun out in the MINI about 2 weeks ago. There is lift over steer so you might have been into a little hard, maybe.As long as you didn't wreck your all good.

 

Yipes Porthos! If hypothetically I spun on the street I'd have to sit myself down.

I've spun plenty of times at speeds as high as 60 mph in competition, and it's tricky to catch the car. Short wheelbase, grip comes and goes, timing matters, and that's all without even having to think about a hard object, person, or other vehicle.

A spin to me would be like dropping my bike, which I've done a few times in Australia and on the track. It's a bad decision, loss of control, and potentially serious consequences.

Sh*t happens, but even I don't drive anywhere near the limits on the street. There's no runoff, and what was around the most familiar bend last night might look different this morning.

"As long as you didn't wreck your all good." - no sir, I'd have to disagree with that.

Sorry to preach mate, just one sinner to a stranger is all.

Merry Christmas.

 

In a HURRY might I add....


(not that I've experienced anything like that... just what I've been told)


Mark

 

Glad this thread popped up. Great discussion. My rule of thumb in my MCS is that you can generally double the yellow speed signs on turns. We've got a great one here getting onto I5 North in Wilsonville just south of Portland. Rated for 25 and the car does great at 50.

I did upgrade my rear sway bar with a MINI Madness 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar and have it on the most aggressive setting. I know exactly that place where you drift and the DCS doesn't kick in. It's a beautiful thing since all the wheels are still going the same speed the DCS doesn't see a problem.

I'm eager to try the same curve on my Countryman that should be here in the next week or two. I'm wondering what All4 will do on curves like that.