Failure as a test driver
11-03-2012, 09:51 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Failure as a test driver
Took part in a Car&Driver/Road&Track "Editor for a Day" event at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Basically there was a chalk talk, then evaulated a static display of fully optioned 2013 Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. Then drove base models of the same on two separate "autocross" courses. I had problem driving the first course which consisted of a left/right chicane followed by a 5 cone slalom. We were supposed to get up to 30mph (full throttle per the ride along "pro" driver) and take the chicane without lifting or braking, then off throttle through a left hand bend, stop, then power through the slalom and slowing immediately after. I just could not do it. Each car had the driver, instructor and 2 passengers who rotated to the driver position. Without all that weight, I swear the car would have "stubbed its toe" through the chicane and rolled. So I was lifting at the apex cone, then powering through when they wanted me to hold the power through the chicane and experience the subsequent body roll and suspension compression. Then at the slalom I was giving it the gas after the last cone when they wanted me to brake. The instructor got pissed at me "am I not communicating here?". I just could not unlearn over 35 years of autocrossing over one run in each car. Guess I'm not cut out to be a test driver 
11-03-2012, 11:54 PM
#2
Safety Car
Took part in a Car&Driver/Road&Track "Editor for a Day" event at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Basically there was a chalk talk, then evaulated a static display of fully optioned 2013 Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. Then drove base models of the same on two separate "autocross" courses. I had problem driving the first course which consisted of a left/right chicane followed by a 5 cone slalom. We were supposed to get up to 30mph (full throttle per the ride along "pro" driver) and take the chicane without lifting or braking, then off throttle through a left hand bend, stop, then power through the slalom and slowing immediately after. I just could not do it. Each car had the driver, instructor and 2 passengers who rotated to the driver position. Without all that weight, I swear the car would have "stubbed its toe" through the chicane and rolled. So I was lifting at the apex cone, then powering through when they wanted me to hold the power through the chicane and experience the subsequent body roll and suspension compression. Then at the slalom I was giving it the gas after the last cone when they wanted me to brake. The instructor got pissed at me "am I not communicating here?". I just could not unlearn over 35 years of autocrossing over one run in each car. Guess I'm not cut out to be a test driver
11-04-2012, 09:05 PM
#5
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Course "managers" were constantly looking at the front tires. I would imagine that a front tire or two would be corded by the end of the day.
11-06-2012, 09:31 AM
#6
Drifting
I went on Sunday. It wasn't the most scientific of tests, but it was a good experience driving the different cars back to back.
It was worth the 3 hours or so to go and experience the whole event.
Spoiler Alert: the Camry is still the crappiest handling of comparable sedans. Probably not a big surprise to anyone.
Dog
It was worth the 3 hours or so to go and experience the whole event.
Spoiler Alert: the Camry is still the crappiest handling of comparable sedans. Probably not a big surprise to anyone.
Dog
11-06-2012, 11:01 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
I went on Sunday. It wasn't the most scientific of tests, but it was a good experience driving the different cars back to back.
It was worth the 3 hours or so to go and experience the whole event.
Spoiler Alert: the Camry is still the crappiest handling of comparable sedans. Probably not a big surprise to anyone.
Dog
It was worth the 3 hours or so to go and experience the whole event.
Spoiler Alert: the Camry is still the crappiest handling of comparable sedans. Probably not a big surprise to anyone.
Dog
11-10-2012, 02:11 AM
#11
I have done lots of test drives, but one similar to this that I did for Cadillac at Auto Club speedway was such a bad experience I won't do it again. The bondurant instructor was kindly put an ***. Perhaps I am to used to my Mercedes, but the Caddy's were disapointing, except in a straight line. The highlight of the day was the tire lesson from a retired Michellen engineer. That was worth the time, but the rest wasn't fun, and like napa... I couldn't unlearn my autocross experience. When I got the offer for the Nissan test, I decided to pass, I am glad I did.
11-10-2012, 02:40 PM
#12
It almost seems more like a pr/marketing thing than test driving...
Were they videotaping it???
A car can only do so much. If you know what your doing, you can feel the car out and make decisions based on that (which Im guessing you are fully capable of) - Id have asked the "pro" to show me how he does it and watch him fail
Were they videotaping it???
A car can only do so much. If you know what your doing, you can feel the car out and make decisions based on that (which Im guessing you are fully capable of) - Id have asked the "pro" to show me how he does it and watch him fail
11-12-2012, 10:04 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2010
Location: Tacoma, Wa/Surprise, Az
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After reading Car/Driver and Road/Track off and on over the years, both magazines really don't like Detroit built products and many of the cars they feature are easily in the 6 figure range.