What should you do if you spin and roll backwards while in drive?

[StingerOwner]

I've only driven FWD cars before my AWD Stinger, so I've never really tried getting a car sideways. Today there was some snow so I tried at low speeds in an empty parking lot with sport mode + ESC and traction control off. Speed was maybe 20-25 km/h (12-16 mph).

Sure, I got sideways but also spun around 180 degrees and rolled backwards a bit (I let go of the gas). Afterwards I started thinking rolling backwards while in drive cannot be good for the engine/drivetrain/etc. I guess in a manual it would be best to press clutch, but I cannot do that with automatic transmission. Press brake then so that wheels don't turn while sliding backwards? Or press gas to keep the wheels spinning forward while sliding backwards?

Do you agree that at such a low speed, as I mentioned, no harm was probably done?

Sorry if this question comes off strange. I've never tried any fun tricks with a car before, so I'm not aware of the precautions one should take to not damage the car when attempting "drifting".

 

[Snicklefritz]

Rolling backwards is not drifting. I've never rolled backwards in an automatic transmission car, so, I can't directly answer your question about potentially being bad for the trans or what else. I do know this, in the Stinger commercial featuring Steven Tyler - and a cameo by Emerson Fittipaldi - he ran that HCR in reverse and did a brake 180 spin, which, if I understand the method, involves locking the rear wheels while throwing the front out and around to the 180, and then either continuing on in the opposite direction or coming to a halt, like Steven did in the commercial. Jim Rockford did it all the time in the "Rockford Files" TV series. Hit the gas and back away from the bad guys in a cloud of burnout smoke, slam on the brakes and throw the steering wheel left or right, get the nose pointing the other way, and gun it. Very flashy.

 

[StingerOwner]

Rolling backwards is not drifting. I've never rolled backwards in an automatic transmission car, so, I can't directly answer your question about potentially being bad for the trans or what else. I do know this, in the Stinger commercial featuring Steven Tyler - and a cameo by Emerson Fittipaldi - he ran that HCR in reverse and did a brake 180 spin, which, if I understand the method, involves locking the rear wheels while throwing the front out and around to the 180, and then either continuing on in the opposite direction or coming to a halt, like Steven did in the commercial. Jim Rockford did it all the time in the "Rockford Files" TV series. Hit the gas and back away from the bad guys in a cloud of burnout smoke, slam on the brakes and throw the steering wheel left or right, get the nose pointing the other way, and gun it. Very flashy.

Yeah rolling backwards is not drifting. I meant that trying to get sideways is kind of drifting. The rolling backwards part was something unintentional that I did not want to happen and was concerned about its effects.

 

[D.J.]

Yeah rolling backwards is not drifting. I meant that trying to get sideways is kind of drifting. The rolling backwards part was something unintentional that I did not want to happen and was concerned about its effects.

You could have just - pressed the gas pedal - to stop rolling backwards.

I reverse park up a hill, if I reverse to far - I just let off the gas and brake and roll forward, while in reverse... the same, but opposite, of what you are fearing.

 

[D.J.]

Rolling backwards is not drifting. I've never rolled backwards in an automatic transmission car, so, I can't directly answer your question about potentially being bad for the trans or what else. I do know this, in the Stinger commercial featuring Steven Tyler - and a cameo by Emerson Fittipaldi - he ran that HCR in reverse and did a brake 180 spin, which, if I understand the method, involves locking the rear wheels while throwing the front out and around to the 180, and then either continuing on in the opposite direction or coming to a halt, like Steven did in the commercial. Jim Rockford did it all the time in the "Rockford Files" TV series. Hit the gas and back away from the bad guys in a cloud of burnout smoke, slam on the brakes and throw the steering wheel left or right, get the nose pointing the other way, and gun it. Very flashy.

Looks like he just turned the steering wheel, to spin the 180.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Looks like he just turned the steering wheel, to spin the 180.

I suppose so. We don't get to see any brake work, or gas pedal either. Let off the gas and give the wheel a stiff crank? I don't know, I've only seen it in the movies.

 

[D.J.]

I suppose so. We don't get to see any brake work, or gas pedal either. Let off the gas and give the wheel a stiff crank? I don't know, I've only seen it in the movies.

You can just turn the wheel, and car will spin with ease, no braking required, while reversing at that speed.

Brake only needed if you are trying to stop.

 

[Snicklefritz]

You can just turn the wheel, and car will spin with ease, no braking required, while reversing at that speed.

Brake only needed if you are trying to stop.

Oh, well, then Steven used the brake for sure. That is some stop at the end of that lap.