U turn anxiety

[Ryan S.]

I am not sure if anyone else is suffering from this. I get a U-turn anxiety when I drive D.
I can make a U-turn easily with all my other cars, including my wife's large SUV. But my D makes a wider turn and sometimes I don't make it. To avoid hitting a curve, I have to do reverse and second maneuver to make a turn. Sometimes I just simply avoid u-turns altogether especially street looks narrow.
Any suggestions or tips on making u-turns?

[Tillsy]

I am not sure if anyone else is suffering from this... Sometimes I just simply avoid u-turns altogether especially street looks narrow.

I too get a little self-concious when doing a U-turn with the D.

First up is the turning circle, she's a b#tch! I always make sure I am doing the U-turn where there is a lane T-joining to the road, so that I can swing into and back out of that road, giving a bit more width. I'll also not fully pull into the turning lane, eg not going too far to the right of it (left in your case) so that I give that little bit of extra road width for the turn as well. I will also make sure the oncoming road is VERY clear because there is still a chance I may need to make a correction due to not making the turn. Where the road is really busy I have a couple of times ended up turning down a side street, doing a three point turn, head back to the main road, and then turn down the opposite direction - eg screw the U-turn :)

Secondly is the tire grinding due to the wheel angles in our car. The insane squeal from doing a full lock on the DeLorean is incredibly embarrassing - anyone within a km radius suddenly looks at you! However I have found that since lowering my D this tire squeal is pretty much gone - so it has obviously had a dramatic effect on the geometry.

[thirdmanj]

I think the D has a great turning radius. Certainly not as good as some more modern cars, but based on the vehicles I've driven the turning radius is pretty good.

[Mike C.]

if the road isn't wider than 2 lanes wide, i didn't u turn there. Either that or I pulled way up into the intersection cut wide, and then u-turned.

[JRNY13]

The D's turning radius is probably my biggest complaint about the car.

[Spittybug]

It's not hard, just put the port side cylinders into forward, the starboard bank into reverse, spin the wheel hard over to starboard, watch your head so that the boom doesn't get you, tell your passenger to hang out the passenger door for weight distribution (hanging from the door strap is NOT recommended because you may damage your torsion bar) and go for it! ~4 miles later you should have completed your maneuver.

[DniveK]

No problems, I just crank the wheel:rock_on: and floor it. Heavy rear end flips around easily, hard on the tires thou.

[refugeefromcalif]

No problems, I just crank the wheel:rock_on: and floor it. Heavy rear end flips around easily, hard on the tires thou.

I tried that after it rained a week ago. I Don't recommend it...
(I almost had a Bill Cosby "Left Hook" moment).

While I do some U turns now and again, I only do them on a few 4 lane roads around town.

I have more issues pulling into a parking space in smaller lots.

George

[aipri]

That was one of the first things I noticed about the car, the poor turning radius that is. It was much worse before I got my steering bushing replaced. The only thing worse than not making a U turn, is having the column drop in your lap while your doing it thanks to the loose steering column.

[Dangermouse]

Making sure the tire pressure is correct will help a bit.

[DavidProehl]

No real suggestion here. Just want to chime in that I too am hesitant to do u-turns in the D unless there is ample room. I've had to do the reverse move you mention more than a couple times when I've mis-judged.

[rddmc]

No real suggestion here. Just want to chime in that I too am hesitant to do u-turns in the D unless there is ample room. I've had to do the reverse move you mention more than a couple times when I've mis-judged.

I agree!

Rod
10921

[tgraham]

Here's a quick tactic:

Drive fast
22268

Begin turn
22269

Add plenty of throttle to slip rear tires
22270

Continue turn w/ throttle
22271

Straighten front wheels
22272

U-turn complete
22273

Travis

[Dangermouse]

Then jump out and slide over the hood :)

[ccurzio]

The D's turning radius is probably my biggest complaint about the car.

You would HATE driving a PT Cruiser.

[jawn101]

You would HATE driving a PT Cruiser.

I hate that for reasons other than the turning circle :) Had one as a rental once. That thing is one giant blind spot.

[ccurzio]

I hate that for reasons other than the turning circle :) Had one as a rental once. That thing is one giant blind spot.

My ex had one a long time ago. It was NOT great to drive, and you can forget any kind of reasonable U-Turn.

[Dangermouse]

I hate that for reasons other than the turning circle :) Had one as a rental once. That thing is one giant blind spot.

I got a PT Cruiser Conv once as a rental upgrade because no one wanted it. Talk about blind spots! I had to drop the top just to see behind me properly.