Stability

[Mr Lahey]

Let me start by saying I learned to drive on RWD cars with no abs or traction control in a place that gets plenty of snow in the wintertime. So I'm quite familiar with RWD. Nonetheless, I see lots of talk about this car in particular being unstable and difficult to gather up when the rear end steps out.

I've always saved a sliding RWD car by throttling down and countersteering (if necessary, a little slide just seems to need throttle down and physics takes care of the rest) as soon as I feel it starting to slide. Other than that, rolling into the throttle, rather than mashing it seems to be the best bet for staying out of trouble in the first place. Most of the videos I see look like guys keep their foot in it even after they're well out of shape.

So what's the deal? Either there is something radically different to this car's handling, or drivers are unable to handle RWD.

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[krisk]

Let me start by saying I learned to drive on RWD cars with no abs or traction control in a place that gets plenty of snow in the wintertime. So I'm quite familiar with RWD. Nonetheless, I see lots of talk about this car in particular being unstable and difficult to gather up when the rear end steps out.

I've always saved a sliding RWD car by throttling down and countersteering (if necessary, a little slide just seems to need throttle down and physics takes care of the rest) as soon as I feel it starting to slide. Other than that, rolling into the throttle, rather than mashing it seems to be the best bet for staying out of trouble in the first place. Most of the videos I see look like guys keep their foot in it even after they're well out of shape.

So what's the deal? Either there is something radically different to this car's handling, or drivers are unable to handle RWD.

I think it’s mainly the social media phenomenon. You get a few videos of stupid people doing stupid things and all of the sudden the car has a problem. I personally don’t hear “lots of talk of this car in particular being unstable”. The Mustang sold at twice the rate of the Camaro, so with absolutely no other factors involved, you would expect to see twice as many Mustang crashes as you do Camaro. That alone gives the perception the Mustang has an issue, when in actuality they would be the exact same rate. Might the Mustang be a little quicker to lose the rear end? Maybe or maybe not, but I really think it’s more perception than anything else.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

@Mr Lahey nailed it!

 

[GhastlyTT]

The S650? Where's all the talk about poor stability happening? In my opinion it's quite tame with ASC on and very predictable with ASC off.

 

[Mustang1987]

Anything that has anything to do with stability, is pretty much the same from the s550.

 

[smurfslayer]

rolling into the throttle, rather than mashing it seems to be the best bet for staying out of trouble in the first place. Most of the videos I see look like guys keep their foot in it even after they're well out of shape.

So what's the deal? Either there is something radically different to this car's handling, or drivers are unable to handle RWD.

Coming to the ’24 with my last Mustang being a ’97 and a Fox body before that, the current Mustang is hand over fist better at maintaining control, even under heavy throttle with __just__ the better suspension. With the ’24 you have much, much more aggressive electronic nannies to hopefully save you from yourself. This of course has brought out the inner knucklehead in many venues looking for youtube glory.

I’ve definitely had the t/c & s/c intervention on me a few times and I’ve been impressed.
But of course, if you turn off the stability control or maybe inarticulately try to learn to drift, things may go poorly.

 

[Mr Lahey]

I first discovered commenters talking about this in those youtube compilations of Mustangs being wrecked. Seems like the majority of the wrecks result from an overcorrection after the initial slide.

Seems to me that what's happening is:

1.the driver starts to slide
2.countersteers while keeping his foot in it
3. Car keeps sliding, driver steers harder
4. Car keeps sliding, driver finally backs out of it
5. Rear hooks up with wheel turned hard
6. Sliding in opposite direction
7. Crunch

Just trying to understand; don't want to go in one of those youtube compilations!

 

[steveo1960]

Yep.
There are 2 rules.

1. Don't panic. Let off the gas and quickly analyze the situation
2. Do NOT make any aggressive or sudden maneuvers. Let off the gas and gently move the steering wheel to counter the slide. Alternatively, depending, hands off the steering wheel and let physics take over . It does depend upon the particular situation.

Staying on the gas pedal or even worse hitting the brake is a sure way to make a bad situation even worse.

When my 3 kids started driving I took them into a large parking lot full of snow/ice and turned them loose.
They learned quickly even in FWD cars.

One other technique I did use was to find an empty road or huge parking lot, go off hours of course, put a cone in one spot and have my kids accelerate to 60 mph or whatever was safe and then have them hit the brakes at the point where they feel they can stop before hitting the cone.

That's an eye opener because it shows just how long it takes to stop 4000lbs of car and discourages tailgating.

As a side note again, my insurance only went up like $25/year between the 03 GT and my 24 because of all the safety features on the car.
Same coverage.

 

[Mr Lahey]

When my 3 kids started driving I took them into a large parking lot full of snow/ice and turned them loose.

My dad taught me the same way. Mid to late 70's Nova. I did my learners permit in that car.

 

[509Mike]

Rolling into the throttle instead of mashing it is sound advice especially if you’re not pointed straight when you gas it! RWD cars kick sideways and FWD cars with some power can torque steer! When the brain and the right foot have a disconnect bad things happen!

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