Can you drift a automatic 370z?
 

the question has been dwelling in my head for some time now and i would really like to learn how to do it, BUT reason for this thread is cuz 1. im too lazy to look around, and 2. i wanted to know from fellow Z drivers whom know what they are talking about... i caught this post on another board...

"drifting has nothing to do with the transmission, it is a matter of weight distribution & traction. when you drift the front (understeer) you're more likely to drift to the outside of the turn. when you drift the back (oversteer) you're more likely to cut to the inside (carefull with this!). when you get all tires slipping at the same rate you get neutral drift. if you pick your turn in correctly this is the fastest way through a corner, because the vehicle is already pointing straight at the corner exit. a good way to master this is to find a series of complex curves (cones in a parking lot is good), nothing high speed though. go no more than 15-20 mph and practice not changing the front-back & side-side balance. try using only the tips of your toes on the pedals, as it is more linear. if you can master this you will be able to push or kick either end of the vehicle any way you want. but remember this: if you can do it slow, you can do it fast, but if you can do it fast it doesn't mean you can do it slow."

my Z is (sigh) automatic with Paddle shifters and would love to learn to drift my Z ...any help would be greatly appreciated.... pics videos welcome.

Sure. Why not?

yes, but it feels....different...if youre used to doing it on a stick.

never drifted before and need to know or WANT to know how exactly from somone whom has experience with drifting automatics

Uhhh... Are you serious? No one is going to really be able to tell you how to drive over the internet.

Try this...Car going straight... Right hand turn coming up, Jerk wheel left, Then right and throttle while coming back right.. watch out for curb. adjust steering based on angle.

See, I told you it was hard to tell someone how to drive over the internet.
Youtube it. Watch some in car videos of what the driver was doing... No one on here can teach you to drive. :)

Oh you definitely can! Did it a few times when I went autocrossing recently. Didn't help my times, but it was fun and I saved myself from spinning out :p

i would like to learn how, as i think it would better my driving and get to know the car better (just a personal thing) but noone around here has a Z my age, the only other i know of is a twin Turboed 370z... i want to get defensive with my driving, really learn what this car is all about, the feel, how it drives exc.... other than Excelerating, and braking.

How old are you? We have weekly meets alternating in Columbia, MD and Fairfax, VA with a bunch of Z owners of all ages. Autocrossing would be a great way for you do to what you want, you should look into it. I went for the first time like 2 weeks ago and loved it. You can have an experienced instructor sit in the car with you to help tell you what you're doing wrong and how to drive better.

im 22, live in Colora, MD.. i hear about these meets and all that but the distance for me is a lil much for someone who is limited on funds.

my Car is automatic with the paddle shifters, and i havent heard of anyone drifting an automatic/manuel Car before, which kinda is a bummer but i would like to see if it can be done.... IF someone would be willing to take that time
;)

I'm 21 and have an automatic as well. Any specific reason you want to learn how to 'drift'? Do you want to actually improve your driving skills and your ability to handle the car or do you just want to slide around turns for fun?

I think it would be worth it to come out to a meet at least once, just to see how it is. We have a couple people that drive from MD to VA and VA to MD every week for them. You might get addicted too :roflpuke2:

both reasons, i definately want to improve my driving skills with this car, know it inside and out on a more in depth level, understand the car, while having some fun as well

Then you definitely want to try autocrossing. Don't know which ones would be closer to you though.

I just remember seeing pics of a Z drifting in the mud and I'm fixated on the thought of rallying my Z. :stirthepot:

looking it up now,...the one at Ripken Stadium .. might work, if i can drift my Automatic Z, and learn how the car responds...dang...

You Can Drift an 7AT

What you need to Drift in a 370:

1. Lots of tires

2. A large empty flat paved area.


Enjoy.

oo wow! =) love it! drifting betters a drivers ability to be on the defensive just in case something goes wrong or your prepared for any scenario... not to mention gets you more in tune with your car..:tiphat:

Consider looking around for a HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) course at a local track. You will learn about your car and how to drive it at speed. Graduating HPDE is the first step around here to get a "sport driver license" issued by our local racing school. You need one of them to go solo on track days on school-sponsored track days.

Regardless of any solo requirements (a lot of groups only require an informal check out drive), HPDE training is a great way to learn your car and learn how to drive at speed.

Not really, you go faster having grip, not creating a drift

Ohhh I hope this ends well, I don't want to see another totaled Z.

In days of yore, we simply called this "power sliding" :D

You can drift/powerslide anything, although how you initiate it and how easy it will be to control will vary depending on the vehicle.

If you end up going backward in a manual, you stab the clutch and save the engine.

The auto...?

push the stick into neutral i guess? You don't have to be on the brake to go into neutral in the auto.

Do you not understand how an auto works?


Absolute worst case, you damage the torque converter....

I think it is entirely possible to do. I would suggest doing it on a track or in a wide open lot . While it will improve your skill at controlling the car in a slide, drifting/powersliding is in no way a defensive driving technique and i hope you don't plan on doing this on public roads.

This is always a problem when you drive in Manual mode and forget you pushed it over into Auto, you go to "shift" but go into Neutral... :facepalm: :rofl2:

:icon17:

Or you forget you're in Manual mode and rev the engine to 6K RPM :roflpuke2:

I bought an Auto too (not sure if i regret it completely or not) but Im planning on participating in some AutoCross events here in Vegas...I'll be sure to post up on here with my thoughts on it.

wait till it snows then you can learn to "drift" at slow speeds.

that's what she said...