APC Pedal Covers

[mtlswift]

My puppies are 9s... I can *just* reach the gas with the side of the foot and ball of the foot on the brake with no covers, but it just isn't comfortable for the way I heel-toe. I can actually "heel" with my heel with the gas pedal cover, whereas the stock is way too short.

[exodus]

I don't think anyone actually "heels" with their heel.

[subachad]

+1 for pedal covers. I bought some cheap $20 fake CF ones which definately work way better for my driving style. I heel toe with every down shift, despite what people say about tranny and clutch wear. I'm old enough to be stubborn and not change my ways so don't try. As for the performance difference, they are not rice, they are a necessity if you want to get the most out of the aveo. Also, it's nice to be able to hit the brake and gas with your toes then you can just roll your foot rather than use your heel. It's a little more advanced than heeling but with some practice you can get it. I use both during track days without even having to think about it.

For those wondering why it's important, well when your rev match the engine it helps you brake so not only do you have the brakes working, but the engine as well. As an added bonus the increased vacuum allows your brake master cylinder to work even harder which also gives you better braking. Once you come out of the turn, you are already in the sweet spot of the engine.

Dennis, before you say it's BS do some research. For your type of driving and luxury car needs, well, stick to an AT and just use the brakes.

[mtlswift]

exodus said:

I don't think anyone actually "heels" with their heel.

I do... watch the vid I posted. I heel/toe just like that (not as smooth and quick as that guy, though...)

[subachad]

I wish I had some feet video of me doing a smokey 180 J turn in my Subaru or a 360. I had someone video the turn and it looks pretty cool on video.

To do a 180 J turn and come out spinning, here are the steps (this doesn't work in the Aveo BTW)
go about 45ish in 2nd gear
cut the wheel left
once the weight is mid shift pull ebrake
while ebrake is pulled push in clutch and put car in first
let down ebrake handle while simultaneously flooring the accellerator and let out clutch
at this point the car is still mid slide which makes spinning all four tires easier
use the steering wheel to straighten the car while the tires continue to spin into 2nd gear


to do a 360 is similar
increase speed to about 50-70 if on dry pavement
cut wheel to left
mid wieght shift pull ebrake and push in clutch
when you are just about to go backwards, let the ebrak down and turn right
this spins the front of the car around
as the car is finishing it's spin place in whatever gear fits the speed, most likely it will be 2nd
power out of the spin to help straighten the car

[exodus]

That's a U-turn... a proper J-turn is spinning the car around starting in reverse. Ask any brit.

Floor it in reverse (good bye reverse gear), at about 4,500rpms cut the wheel hard. Jam it into first (goodbye synchros) and floor it again (goodbye axles). Ebrake (like subachad said, when the weight is shifting, but hasn't totally shifted yet) can help get weight off the front wheels and get the front end to break free and get the car to kind of pivot on the rear wheels.

Note: you don't have to clutch out when you pull the ebrake on a FF car. Keeping on the throttle as long as possible will help break the tires free, obviously.

I wouldn't recommend anyone actually do this in a car they care anything about.

[subachad]

Maybe you are right on the J turn, but that doesn't work in an AWD car. You reverse and cut the wheel the front doesn't swing like a FWD car with the tires spinning. As for pulling the brake mid turn, if you did that it would widen your radius. My U-Turns are done at 40ish and the car never would stop moving. I could do it on a tight 2 lane road, I could also do it from a 4 lane road with a center lane by starting the tire spin earlier which would widen the radius and get me accross the center turning lane and into the middle of the left lane in the opposite direction.

It is possible to pull this off without a lot of drivetrain wear, but only on a slick surface like when it's raining. In fact, I have done it in the Aveo a few times, but I worry about the build quality. If my Subaru broke I would just fix it with a stronger part. Besides, I had the aveo to drive when my Subaru was put out.

[exodus]

As for pulling the brake mid turn, if you did that it would widen your radius.

With my cheapass tires, I actually end up pivoting on the rear tires. You really have to gun it, though. Makes it next to impossible to jam it into first. Second isn't as difficult... but then you get zero acceleration.

It's amazing to me the kind of stuff you can pull off in 4wd cars.

As much as I hate to say it, I may be on the market for an impreza L awd soon. I always told myself that I would never be one of the 900 scoobies at rally/rallyX. It's really hard to pass up the interchangability, though. Impreza L awds are dirt cheap, and you can basically just drop STi parts from the same generation in there.

Though my true goal would be a biodiesel powered mk4 Golf TDI. I really want to get another car out there to promote this stuff... and have a little fun while doing it