Handling dynamics - C4S

All, [preface] So tonight I felt like a drive, and took the car to my own little "test area" - its an industrial park, with wide fresh pavement, two lanes with a grass divider - and more importantly - no people and no traffic. Just a little after-hours nirvana. Well as I was approaching the entry to my "course" I noticed there was no longer a stop sign at the beginning of a 30 degree left hand turn with a huge run-off (should things get sour). [just want to share] So I downshifted to 2nd (PSM on), at about 4K - slowed at the entry, then turned in for the apex now under throttle. The car immediately went into a nice progressive drift with the tires now howling - but overall not a lot of drama. The car needed very little opposite lock and the rear was coming around nicely... when everything went kind of crazy... All of a sudden there was blinking lights on the dash (PSM I assume), and the front started to have WAY more traction which pulled me immediately in the direction of my opposite lock (kind of unexpected) - requiring an immediate steering correction pointing back to the exit. I didn't really understand the dynamics, so I just backed way off the gas and got the car straight. [the point] Overall, the experience was fun, but very different than what I am used to ... I guess what surprised me was the sudden and unexpected "feeling" of the awd putting more power to the front... I plan on Auto-X and a DE soon. Any C4S specific tips would be greatly appreciated!

Its pretty simply, point and throttle. No counter steering required.

The transfer of power to the front is usually not "sudden and unexpected". Transfer of more power to the front is more progressive than sudden. More likely, there were differences in the road grip between where you were during the drift and where the sudden correction occurred. Or, this was more of PSM hauling out the anchor to reel you in. Too many unexpected and unknown factors on the street and un-prepped parking lot. Much wiser to just wait until you get to autocross or DE. I won a season of auto-X as a novice and got my first set of R-compounds as the prize. Auto-X is a good way to get an idea about the limits and handling dynamics of the car. Having said that, I find that the C4S is not a very good auto-X car. A lot of the subtleties that make the C4S superior are lost on the short autocross track. Or maybe I'm just not that good of an advanced auto-crosser. The C4S is more at home in the big track, the DE. Long legs, wide track, AWD, power, superb brakes.....all can be put to advantage. Slow-in, fast out is one tip for the early phases of learning the C4S. Slow in will allow you to start on the gas, start transferring power to the front before the apex. By the time you get to the apex, there is more power and the front tires are pulling your nose around the apex and you can get to WOT earlier than our RWD brethren. Your exit speed and top speed at the end of the straight will be higher. Great for passing. Don't know where you're at in seat time at the track, but you will find the C4S one superb track car. Keep it on the track, though.

Palting, thanks for the reply! As you infer, I hope to learn more about the car at the AutoX having at least 10 events or so under my belt (in my previous S2000). In my typical daily driving style I would NEVER attempt to attack a corner as aggressively as I describe above, but today the total emptiness of my surroundings and the fresh pavement just got me jazzed up. An isolated event, believe me. Nevertheless, the car is so unbelievable to pilot that despite not quite knowing the handling character , I could not wait to post about the sheer excitment of the drive.

FWIW - various schools of thought on PSM on or off for spirited driving. As you're still learning the dynamics of your car, PSM on is the way to go IMO. Once you have a better feel for it, PSM off will prevent what you described, as it sounds like PSM took action. Also, we teach: brake - shift - turn - gas, in that order. Sounds like you downshifted then braked. Better to slow the car with brakes than engine in a performance driving situation.