i was driving on highway this thanksgiving weekend with my friend, seem pretty fun at first but on the way i was pretty scare with my C230, we were going 60MPH (35 speed limited post) when we make turns we slow down to 35-40, tire were screeching, i see my friend making it nice and smooth but for my car i feel it having so much pressure and cut into the oppose lane. Is it my car heavy or my tire PSI too much?? we make all the way up the mountain but it was a dissappointment so we just drive back down right away... picture of driving post soon....

 

what kind of suspension do you have? Do you have larger wheels?

 

60 MPH on Highway 9!?!?! Are you crazy?!?!?

Take it easy up there... some of those turns are way too tight for that kind of speed!

 

It's probably a combination of a few things, you 16 inch wheels are a bit unpredictable for track, or high speed, you prolly running the stock susension with stock sway bars, so yeah, you prolly could not out handle the turns like a celica.

 

Take your inexperience and your ill-equipped car to the track if you want to test the limits. My family and friends drive the same roads you do. Grow up before you hurt or kill someone.

 

Not that I drive above the posted speed limit , but it just sounds like you need to drive a little differently. Your car is heavy compaired to a celica. Reading between the lines, it sounds like you are going into the turn too fast. If you are turning while you are still braking hard, you'll just get tire noise and bad feelings thru the steering wheel. After the inital turn in, try getting on the gas easier and sooner. Your car will feel great when you get it right.

 

u need 2 brake before the corner and let the car settle on its suspension before accelerating out
tires should be at about 37f 35r

 

i never seem to have problems cornering. i have a 2004 so maybe the larger wheels and tire tread have something to do with it. but i can't believe that coupe can't out handle a celica?? of course i agree with those saying your shouldn't be speeding on mtn roads.. but i've notice if i'm coming off an offramp fast, the car pretty much sticks to the road.

 

I am in concurrence with the rest of the posts. Learn how to drive your car better. Celica's are crap. No matter what people say about the w203, it's still much better in terms of power and handling than a Celica. I don't care if it's a GT-S or whatever Toyota labels it to hype it up, it's ***. Where am I getting this from? I've driven my cousin's 2004 Celica GT-S and it's one of the crappiest cars I've ever driven. I've "raced" another one from a dig and just destroyed it (although the C230k is pretty damn slow).

Learn how to take turns better.

 

check ur psi and have ur wheels balanced

 

lol i always drag race him when we have chance and he always lose to me and he make some excuse like o i use bad fuel, car heavy(than my C230???)

 

ALL STOCK BABY!!!

 

when i make turns i do it slower not 60MPH i would end up down the mountain......

 

I would have to say the same buddy. Also, did you consider your driving skill?

 

don't expect a 2 months 17 years old boy could do a nice "Inital D" style

 

Lay off the cartoons and at least get to the go-kart track before you hurt someone.

By the time I was 15, I had already won numerous races in at least 3 different go-kart classes. At 18, I held both SCCA and IHRA racing licenses. In the 25 or so years since then, I have participated in at least 1 sanctioned racing or instructional event every year. It isn't very had nor very expensive to acquire the right skills IF you can get your lazy *** off the couch.

 

hmmm.. i used to drive there all the time over the summer! all stock also about same speed with my buddies with their rx-7's and civics.

 

this explains a lot.

 

no one mentioned this yet, but what kind of tires do you have. tires make a fat difference as well if they're sticky and grip the road.

 

Actually, Celicas, especially those with aftermarket suspension have very good handling. They even post top-notch slalom speeds (as good as some European exotics) with some good springs.

 

If cant drive like initial D maybe u can at least looked like initial D. Go get a AE86 . See if u can even keep your speed @ 35 Mph

Should find a better place to practice your " D " style.

 

stock tire, 20K miles on it, is in okay condition, i still feel the bump with my finger

 

Okay first off if you're going to be doing such driving make sure the PSI is correct in all the tires according to the specs. I think it's 28 front and 32 back, correct me if i'm wrong.
Next your car is a rear wheel drive car, while a celica is a front, you drive them completely different. The c230k has a lot of understeer, it can be to your advantage if you learn to use it correctly. Learn how to take a turn, start from the outside and cut in on the inside and learn how to down****/upshift instead of just stepping in the accelerator and break pedal.
It takes quite sometime to master driving this car correctly especially when you've had no previous experience with other cars.
We all have to admit that we drive these cars pretty hard once in a while. I'm pretty sure there are few people who could resist taking the car through some twisties . Though most of us have some experience and know the limits of these cars. Also if you do pull such things, make sure you actually know the area before attempting to do this kind of stuff. And if there is EVER other traffic in such places, you shouldn't even consider driving at such speeds because it is just too damn dangerous.

 

Wow. OK. So it sounds like everyone is on the same page. Excellent.

1. He's 17.
2. He's obviously not very skilled, not yet at least.
3. He has no idea what he's talking about and watches too much Initial D.

Recalling the past I was that kid excluding the mercedes. I drove a Subaru Wrx and 18 was years old. Perfect AWD mountain car. Since then I have learned a great deal about my car and the competition. Back to the topic.

Initial D (yes the cartoon): "It's not the car, it's how you drive it."

To this day I go by this quote. And I think I have mentioned the fact that your tires are irrelevant until you truely have understood the limits of your C230(as said above).

And as others have said throughout this thread you should sign up for some karting classes! Seeing as most go-karts are rear wheel drive the driving you do on the small tracks should do well in training your gas/braking/line-taking skills. This should also help you understand the difference between oversteer and understeer.

Also, the traction control on these cars do not help you become a better driver. It basically lets you gas the vehicle throughout the turn and cuts the fuel when the tires begin to lose traction. All of this just hinders the learning process.

So, don't buy tires until you trashed your stock tires. Use them. They're what you make your mistakes with. Just don't die. And when you purchase new tires try a set of 17" rims. They should help a bit.

A perfect rule of thumb: Doubling the posted speed limit. e.i., 25mph go 50mph....35mph go 70mph :v (yes through the turn, its possible). Brake late. Moderate the gas, then punch it. And remember the water cup from initial D? Your transitions into each turn should be smooth and not abrupt. As to not spill the water of course.

Drive fast and drive safe.

-Jon

Just another .02 thread.

 

Celica: 2425lbs
C230 Coupe: 3250lbs