Fun2Drive Winter Jam: Ice Driving Japan-style

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy) 02/22/2015 at 08:57 • Filed to: None

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Yesterday evening I left my cozy warm home, to go spend the night in a tiny ski resort named Yachihokogen, in Nagano prefecture. I had this little trip planned for over a month now, when the owner of Fun2Drive, Chikara Yokoyama, told me he was organizing this little "get together" in the middle of nowhere!

For those who missed it, here is a little reminder of my time renting Fun2Drive cars

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Anyway... "Yeah, Quebec ice driving memories!!"

I don't miss Québec very much, but I do miss driving there in winter... Heck, I miss driving in general as for now, I'm stucked with an automatic Toyota Passo until I find something I actually want to live with for the years to come (and I'm complicated and dificult when it comes to cars...). I couldn't ignore this "winter jam" and rented 2 cars right away, securing my spot at the event.

When I first arrived, after a good 4 hour drive, I had no idea what to expect. Maybe a couple guys with Miatas drifting an unplowed frozen lake? Maybe something super organized with some pros coming to perfect their skills? No idea. I didn't even know what car I was supposed to drive! I only knew I would spend some time in a RWD and in an AWD car. I was quite exited about the AWD car as the only couple of times I had driven one, it was to go get the groceries and I had NO IDEA how they behaved when pushed around.

Around 10am after a nice long night in the ski resort nearby I arrived at the lake and saw... everything! You had Renault Clios, Citroen C6, Mazda Rx7, Suzuki Cappucinos, a bunch of WRX STis of different generations, a Civic, some econoboxes, a couple of automatic minivans, a Golf R.... EVERYTHING! All types of modern cars were represented. I have to admit I was kind of desappointed not to see someone hoon an old Datsun or an old Skyline.

I wasn't gonna be driving until the afternoon so I hung around, taking pictures, talking with people in my broken japanese, mixed with some english.

All morning was icy to say the least. I'm glad I wasn't scheduled around 10am, that would have ruined my time there. The rental cars did not have any studded tires, just some decent snow tires and people struggled terribly on the ice. Luckily for me, it warmed up to 10 degrees celcius in the afternoon and the ice started to transform itself in something a bit grippier for studdless snowtires.

Then around 1.30pm, it was my turn to drive!

The Mazda FC Rx-7:

What a fun little thing to drive on ice! This car was just pure fun. Naturally slightly understeery, it was very easy to slide around, despite needing a little bit of hand brake action once in while on tighter corners. A small modulation of the throttle combined with a little tap on the brake and there you go! It pivots and slides aroud! Lots of fun and barely any turbo lag. On the down side, it was driving aorund with a stock of spare belts in the trunk and when I asked the mechanic how it was in term of reliability he laughed at me and said "Yeah! Problems and engine! Booom!!". I still like it though!!!

But well, it's a car you can find for 3k$ here, so if it explodes on you, I guess it's acceptable.

Join me for one lap in it (this time I can publish the videos, it's legal! :) )

Then the AWD car: A Subaru Legacy.

At first I was a bit surpirsed. Really? A wagon at that?? (not a big fan of wagons in general) Oh well, why not... I remembered being driven in one as a passenger, in the snow, with it understeering like a pig and the driver being totally unable to get it to turn. Sounds like lots of fun!

In the end, it's not bad. My friend who was driving it back in QC most likely sucked and it corners alright. Sure it understeers, but with a bit of practice and once you understand that you must let go of the damn throttle to get it to pivot (took me a couple laps to understand that), it's actually somewhat fun. Very stable and you can easily pull on to the hand brake at speed and get set for the next upcomming corner nicely. It's fun, but as a rental. I wouldn't buy a car like this as I would certainly find it to be extremely boring to drive after a while.

Another onboard quick video of one little lap.

(If you see me chewing onto something, it's my tongue... I'm chewing my damn tongue when I'm enjoying something. Don't ask me why, I know it looks stupid)

Overall a great time in Middleofnowhere, Japan and I'll come back next year with my own car this time! Can't wait already!

And to finish, a quick photodump of some of the cars that were there at the event!

(new JDM style of wheels!)

I miss this Ô so reliable Rx7 already...

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 09:04

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la de da de da, its the mother fucken B4 B

Snoop dawg


running some gen 4 legacy wheels no less?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 09:05

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I said you were living my dream last fun2drive post.

Flavien.

I'm aeroplane jelly.

Flavien Vidal > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 02/22/2015 at 09:12

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haha, yeah I enjoy Japan, definitly, I enjoy it here :)

Flavien Vidal > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 02/22/2015 at 09:13

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I don't know shit about JDM cars and Subarus and well, pretty much anything that came out after 2000 to be honest so... :)

AgentBauman > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 10:12

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That's really cool! Glad you enjoyed the FC in the snow, I daily drove my '87 for five years in Minnesota and it was a blast. You find it very difficult to avoid screaming "Tokyo DORIFTOOOOOO!!!" out the window when you're sliding into every parking lot and driveway.

Chasaboo > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 10:17

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You don't like wagons?

What in the world is wrong with you?

Called_Strike_4 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 10:25

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Damn I would love a right hand drive STI in my garage. I hate being in Texas where I can't drive mine through the snow.

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 10:38

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DAT 22B DOE.

911e46z06 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:12

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Did they give the winner a trophy, then take it away, then give it back again? I hear that's how they roll around those parts.

This is the best 1998 Winter Olympics-related joke you will see today.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:13

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Did you ask the guy whatever happened to his relationship with 7Tune?

Sir HoonsAlot > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:21

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Get the wing back on there ASAP

Stuttgart Shuffle > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you 02/22/2015 at 11:32

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That's not a 22b

TheHondaBro > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:44

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Is this an S2000 CR?

carcrasher88 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:52

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A Daihatsu Esse, that's pretty cool to see!

carcrasher88 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 11:53

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Oh, this shot looks so amazing!

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Stuttgart Shuffle 02/22/2015 at 12:09

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Just a normal GC8 STi with what looks like the S201 wing.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 13:10

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HEAD LIGHTS GO UP, HEAD LIGHTS GO DOWN, HEAD LIGHTS GO UP, HEAD LIGHTS GO DOWN, HEAD LIGHTS GO UP, HEAD LIGHTS GO DOWN

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 13:11

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22b? It a pink logo?

Canadmos > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 13:29

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When in doubt, throttle out. I've never had a problem getting my Subaru to rotate or go sideways, including yesterday;

theshinobi01 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 13:35

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Horey shiet drifing Suzuki Cappuccino. Sign me up.

Bryan V. Hodges > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 13:49

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Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail.

———————————> http://www.jobs-mill.Com

asindhidude > Called_Strike_4 02/22/2015 at 14:22

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snow in a subie is AMAZING. i moved to philly from orlando, and brought along my 15 wrx. its like a videogame. you should try to get a part of this.

Called_Strike_4 > asindhidude 02/22/2015 at 14:50

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I bought a '09 WRX while I'm down in Texas working but I'll be moving home to Maryland with it soon.

Michael > Called_Strike_4 02/22/2015 at 15:21

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Just got over a foot and a half in CO. Having the STi with my wintersport 4D is great!

Stuttgart Shuffle > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ 02/22/2015 at 15:32

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Subaru fanboys can't even tell their favorite cars apart. Some how that doesn't surprise me.

Here's a fun way to remember which is the 22B. Take the first 2, that's two doors, take the B, that's bulbous flares, take the other 2 and shove that one up your ass.

Nauraushaun > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 02/22/2015 at 15:50

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Sweet reference bro

dai-head-jai > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 17:47

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Snow wheels to go with snow tires

J Bonington Jagworth > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 18:20

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The Legacy wagon will drift very nicely if you want it to. A squeeze in the throttle in a turn, then a quick lift will bring the back out, then give it plenty and away you go.

Stable cars aren't boring. I do lots of long trips in my Legacy wagon, loaded up to the roof and in foul weather. Stability is exactly what I want on snow covered roads or at night in pissing rain. I also like to have the option of hooning when the conditions are right and The Force is with me. Legacy wagon give me both options, when I choose.

Flavien Vidal > J Bonington Jagworth 02/22/2015 at 19:15

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Yeah as I said, it took me a couple of laps to understand it, but it was fine after :)

I enjoyed driving it, I just prefer a RWD car. I'd have to try a more powerful AWD car though. That ride in the Golf R was truly fun and I wouldn't mind owning something equaivalent.

Flavien Vidal > dai-head-jai 02/22/2015 at 19:16

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He had to choose, balanced wheels or stylish wheels... He chose :)

Flavien Vidal > theshinobi01 02/22/2015 at 19:18

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And it had a turbo blower!! pshiiiewewewew, pshiiiwewewewewewew :)

It will depend on how many parking spots I get with my new appartment or house, but considering how cheap they are, I wouldn't mind having one as a weekender (I unfortunatly need more space for my daily...)

Flavien Vidal > Canadmos 02/22/2015 at 19:19

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Yeah it was my first time with one... Just didn't like the throttle out thing so much...

I prefer the smashing it thing :)

Flavien Vidal > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 02/22/2015 at 19:21

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Nope, they were type RA... 22b have bubbly eyes, the generation before these.

Flavien Vidal > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 02/22/2015 at 19:23

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Headlights stayed up at all time, probably broken haha

Flavien Vidal > TheHondaBro 02/22/2015 at 19:26

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I don't know... but it looked a bit beat up so if a CR (no idea what it is) is somewhat rare and expensive, I doubt it was one :)

Flavien Vidal > Sir HoonsAlot 02/22/2015 at 19:27

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Some were sold without one... It might be one of those...

Flavien Vidal > 911e46z06 02/22/2015 at 19:28

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lol

No timer though, just driving. The Golf R would have won though... Driver was really nice and gave me a ride... A bit rough, but "clarksoned" in all situations, it was fun :)

I'll post a video onbaord with me as a passenger later on :)

Flavien Vidal > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you 02/22/2015 at 19:29

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All of them were Type RA :)

22b has the Bubble Eyes...

Flavien Vidal > Called_Strike_4 02/22/2015 at 19:30

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Are there any differences with RWD and a LHD Subie?

Flavien Vidal > Chasaboo 02/22/2015 at 19:32

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lol, I knew this would get noticed haha

Nope, only wagon I like are M5 Touring... That's all...

Flavien Vidal > AgentBauman 02/22/2015 at 19:33

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I really enjoyed my time with it indeed!

And they are damn cheap here! Tempting, tempting... :)

Canadmos > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 20:15

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Either way, that's a cool event. Looks like there were some interesting cars there!

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 20:17

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Called_Strike_4 > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 21:38

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Nope, just It'd just be confusing to people next to you at a stop light. And since to the best of my knowledge you can't legally get a RHD STI in the US, the rarity/I can't have it factor makes me want it.

Sir HoonsAlot > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 22:06

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Nothing the aftermarket can't fix

Nate > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 22:36

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Looks like a blast! I gotta have a Cappuccino someday. Check out these pics from the Carguy crew up in Hokkaido last week:

Flavien Vidal > Nate 02/22/2015 at 23:14

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Damn, I need to pay those guys a visit! I'm afraid I won't have the budget to hang out with them though haha

Nate > Flavien Vidal 02/22/2015 at 23:30

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Ha, they roll in style for sure. If you're in Tokyo, they often come out to Tatsumi PA at night. I was there on Saturday and the CarGuys rolled up (I finally got to see the P1 in person!!)

Flavien Vidal > Nate 02/22/2015 at 23:46

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Yep.... nope, don't have the budget :D

And I'm in Okazaki, near Nagoya :)

Flavien Vidal > AgentBauman 02/23/2015 at 00:10

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By the way, how was the reliability of yours? How was your car in the first place? Mileage and everything? NA or Turbo? We only have Turbos here...

TomZ > TheHondaBro 02/23/2015 at 00:13

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I thought all CRs had the hardtop. This looks like a soft top.

TheHondaBro > TomZ 02/23/2015 at 00:16

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Maybe. I saw the wing and thought it was a CR. Also I was tired. SHUT UP OKAY????

TomZ > TheHondaBro 02/23/2015 at 00:23

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Haha it was a reasonable mistake; I would've thought the same thing at first. Btw, I wasn't sure about the hardtop thing when I posted, but I just confirmed it on Wikipedia.

SukhoiRomantic > Flavien Vidal 02/23/2015 at 01:56

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All I'm gonna say is keep the Passo. Why? Because you can drive across that bigass bridge over Tokyo bay, get hit by a cross wind and change lanes as a result. Quite thrilling if I recall

Tipiak > TomZ 02/23/2015 at 05:57

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You are in japan, this is the type S. Same as the CR, but with a soft Top.

Kublai Kang > AgentBauman 02/23/2015 at 10:46

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Nothing like driving a manual rwd in the snow. I love it.

RustedSprinter > Flavien Vidal 02/23/2015 at 11:21

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My dream car!

AgentBauman > Flavien Vidal 02/23/2015 at 15:04

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Mine was a GXL which was the luxury version of the NA line. I sold it with around 145,000 on the clock and it was still running fine, though it was starting to suffer from the warm-start flooding issues because compression was dipping. The rust was also impossible to keep at bay which is the main reason I decided to sell and pick up a rust-free FC in a few years when I get a bigger garage.

In five years and about 60,000 miles I replaced a starter, a battery, the rear sub frame (hit a pothole and it cracked a trailing arm mount), rebuilt all four calipers (had the sweet 4-pot brakes in front), installed the Racing Beat exhaust from the headers back (the old exhaust was a rusty mess), the oil pan (I may have stripped the plug being a little too Hulk, oops) and a full emissions bypass when all that stuff started to act up. These cars are actually really easy to work on, especially with all the extra space in the engine bay.

It never left my stranded, went through a lot of miles and three auto cross seasons and was a blast. :) Turbos are a bit more touchy, but as long as you keep up with maintenance and save up a bit for a rebuild every 70,000 miles or so you'd have a lot of fun. Oh, you have to be careful with modifying as well, even swapping the exhaust can be a little hairy with all the boost cut-offs and wastegate overruns; problems that can be addressed with further modifications.

ZoopZoopLoops > Flavien Vidal 02/23/2015 at 17:50

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CR Wing. Moar Snow2000 please.

Flavien Vidal > AgentBauman 02/23/2015 at 18:30

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Yeah, that's my biggest problem... This damn rebuild, and not buying a car that will blow up the second I buy it... It's hard to get an history of anything in this country...

I'll think about it :)

TomZ > Tipiak 02/24/2015 at 00:22

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Thanks!

EitaroYama > Flavien Vidal 02/25/2015 at 17:26

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You trying to own 2 cars in Japan?Good luck. You'll know Japanese taxes are real bitch....

Flavien Vidal > EitaroYama 02/25/2015 at 17:36

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It's not bad at all really, about the same as LESS than in QC, less considering the price of a parking in Montreal vs where I live right now... And I am married here, we don't have much of a choice but to own 2 cars... Two 800$ shakens valid for two years + 600$ a year of extra insurance per car + 1200$ a year for 2 parking spots. You're looking at around 2200$ per year of general basic "fees" to own 2 cars. I was paying about 1800$ to drive and park just my Corvette ON THE STREET, when i was living in Montreal...

thebigbossyboss > Flavien Vidal 03/26/2015 at 09:08

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Wow. That is better than skiing. I too did some ice roading this winter, at Pointe Fortune, not too far from where you used to live!! Not sure if you've ever driven across this ice road...it is near Riguad Quebec just before Ontarario.Aslo in your Rx 7 lap were you in the same gear the whole time?

Flavien Vidal > thebigbossyboss 03/26/2015 at 09:26

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I know Rigaud, but I've never been on the ice road...

And yes, no need to change gears... Think of it as an autocross. Top speed was around 75kmh on the straight and since we are on ice, it's fairly easy to stay in 2nd the whole time. All I had to do was clutch kick it a couple of time + two corners with handbrake needed.

It was lots of fun! :)