Hey 
I just bought my first RWD, pick it up on Saturday.
Been driving a couple of years, and thought it was time to buy a car I really like…
What do I need to know about the 5?
I’ve been annoying all my friends with my enthusiam and impatiance…
Welcome to the site.
What do you need to know? Well, you know enough to have bought one, so I’m not too sure.
Wheel Alignment/suspension geometry will be the first bit of advice given (hmm, by me it would seem) because it can totally transform the handling
Rear wheel drive can obviously be a bit ‘interesting’ with January’s cold damp roads, but as long as you are sensible will not be an issue, and within a couple of weeks you will be used to what you can ask the car to do (but you will probably have had at least a bit of a twitch at the rear by then).
99% of misbehavior at the rear can be controlled very easily - general advice is to lift off a bit, and of course steer in to the skid, although, as ever, advice varies a bit.
From experience, any sort of low speed stuff, such as pulling away from junctions, you are better keeping the power on (but not too much), and just steering where you want to go, or else the back can violently re-grip, which at low speeds can 1) look rediculous, and 2) potentially be safer, but could always knock you in the other direction.
Try to find an empty bit of tarmac where you can have a bit of a play on the first damp day, just to get used to it (though don’t go placing rubber on somebody elses tarmac/park/carpark), or even better, get a trackday arranged.
But, crucially, enjoy it - that’s why you bought it!
Welcome, and enjoy the car
Cheers
Ben
G’day mate, Welcome to the Forum
Hi, [:D]
Welcome, you’ve done the best thing by joining the forum. take the time to read old post’s on various subjects, any answer’s you need but can’t find JUST ASK.
Don’t forget to join the club. Enjoy… Enjoy
Zippy [:#]
I second this!
Enjoy the car…sorry If I am being dim here but what MK did you get?
Any pics?
Just read your signature DOH! [:#]
Hey everyone.
Thanks for the welcomes and tips! I’m so looking forward to picking it up tomorrow! :)
Got a few petrolhead friends who have been giving me a few tips I’d not considered (issues with ground clearance etc) and one of them is going to let me have a play in his capri tomorrow just to get a feel for the RWD difference.
Good times. :)
Oh, could someone elborate a little on this ‘Wheel Alignment/suspension geometry’ is this something I should be playing with? should it be a garage setup job? is it just the fact of the cars construction?
Cheers
Hi Yacob,
A wheel alignment/geometry check on your car realigns the wheels in such a way that handling is improved and tyre wear is reduced. Each time you drive your car over a bump or through a pothole this has an effect of knocking the factory set geometry out of line slightly, and as this re-occurs time and again then the handling characteristics of the vehicle are gradually affected in an adverse manner.
A full four wheel geometry alignment service uses a very expensive machine along the lines of this to re-align the suspension geometry of the car to specified parameters to improve handling and you will almost certainly notice a discernible improvement in grip, road holding, cornering etc… once you have had this done to your car.
It’s probably one of the best £100 you will spend on your car, it really does make a difference, just look at the signatures on some of the forum members’ posts, they proudly state their ‘WIM alignment’ for all to see
Cheers
Ben
Hi Yacob. As you’re in St Albans why not come along to the next North Thames club meeting on 28th January and show off your pride and joy. We have some knowledgeable people you can talk to. You can find all the details of where we meet and what we get up to here
Hi mate,
Hope you enjoy the 5.
I cant agree more with the other about the geometry. This isnt just about tracking.
Unfortunately the factory tolerance is very broad and allows a bit of play. This is made worse by every pot hole etc over time. Its just as importent for new oners which dont seem to be supplied within tolereance either.
As you live fairly close to WIM it would be a crime to not discover what a great car you have.
The difference can be night and day and a lot safer.
Cheers
Jonathan
Hey everyone.
Thanks for the info. Really useful, and interesting. I will have a look at Geom stuff.
My apols for not thanking you all sooner - this weeks been a blur of work and driving about every free moment! (and pretty much every time I take it out at some point in the journey saying out loud ‘Wow… how much fun is this car!’. Happy days.
The purists amongst you will be please to hear I drove about 150 mile topless over to the coast last Sunday - well, the sun was shining and it seemed a crime not too… it was a wee bit nippy by the time I got there! Good times.
Thanks again for comments.
Jay