[TD in DC]

Originally Posted by BobNovas

I take terminal to mean, "but in the end". In other words, although the car initially turns in with vigor (i.e., no understeer), in the "terminal" phase of the turn, the car understeers - it has terminal understeer. So you get a nice turn in, but at any speed that generates lateral G, the fronts stop steering and you head more or less straight.

I'm confused as to why that would happen - maybe the suspension bounces the load off the front tires and they slide?

That's an interesting interpretation. If you are correct, and you could be, then it is still bad writing. If it "quickly devolves" into understeer, then the word "terminal" as you interpret it is redundant. If terminal means "extremely or hopelessly severe" as I interpret it, then arguably "mind-numbing" is redundant.

I don't understand the reason why it would do that either, which bodes ill for my coming season since I will be dealing for the first time with adjustable shocks

My old suspension did exactly the opposite. Mild understeer at corner entry that might or might not devolve very quickly into massive oversteer.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by TD in DC

that might or might not devolve very quickly into massive oversteer.

What characteristic other than a stray bowl of pudding or rubber band would *cause* such an event. Was the shop ever able to explain it? It almost sounds like you stressed something to the point where it would actually shift in the fittings and pop back at lower speeds.

I know more modern cars have a mode where the turning "tightens up" at higher speeds. Sounds like yours did the opposite.

[Jase007]

I took ...

"...but quickly devolves into terminal, mind-aching understeer"

as used in GRM re: the '07 Rabbit FWD review ...

to simply mean that at a given point during the turn [post turn-in] ... no matter what you do the front washes out [understeers], hence, "terminal case of understeer" as I have seen it used [in-correctly?] in similar articles describing FWD / street cars.

Nice to see E30 Spec on cover.

The article(s) on personal driving coaches was well done as well.

This list of ten common driving errors:

1. Not enough mental practice
2. No scanning
3. Not looking far enough ahead
4. Scaring or surprising the brain
5. Leaving unfinished business
6. Carrying to much speed into a turn
7. Overdriving
8. Lack of motivation
9. Out of zone performance
10. Not recognizing fatique

... is pretty good.

One of my favorite rags .... read it cover to cover when mailman drops it off.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Jase007

One of my favorite rags .... read it cover to cover when mailman drops it off.

I usually take in in small bites but do look at the whole thing. I keep it in my bag while I'm commuting, but the time I remember to take it out, the next issue shows up.

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Jase007

One of my favorite rags .... read it cover to cover when mailman drops it off.

I need to get this. I just canceled my Excellence subscription since I was tired about reading about how some stock broker just couldn't live with only having 580hp in his Ruf Turbo, so sent it to some yahoo locally and now it has the 900hp he truly needs to drive the car from his mansion to the Country Club on Sunday to golf.

911 & Porsche World seems really good too, but at $8 an issue is a tad steep.

[Noah]

Originally Posted by Jase007

I took ...

"...but quickly devolves into terminal, mind-aching understeer"

as used in GRM re: the '07 Rabbit FWD review ...

to simply mean that at a given point during the turn [post turn-in] ... no matter what you do the front washes out [understeers], hence, "terminal case of understeer" as I have seen it used [in-correctly?] in similar articles describing FWD / street cars.

This was my interpretation as well.

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

I need to get this. I just canceled my Excellence subscription since I was tired about reading about how some stock broker just couldn't live with only having 580hp in his Ruf Turbo,

I thought GC's car was naturally aspirated originally.