I drove 240Z's for a long time, still love that type of car (and I'm sorta
in the market for another right now).
Also had two A2's and a long string of other front-drivers.
The other day I had to drive my friend's car, a '92ish prelude with hopped
up wheels/tires/suspension, set up for autocross (so he says). The car
understeers incredibly, dangerously, and this is with a suspension setup
(springs, shocks, swaybars) from a well-known tuner and with big wheels and
tires (like 245/35's on 17" wheels).
My bone-stock '89 GLI with cheap rubber (pirelli HP 185/60-14) will corner
faster and is much easier to modulate between oversteer (lift throttle,
light brake) and understeer (throttle on), to neutral (very light
throttle). His car will NOT oversteer no matter how much brake.
I think that's the big difference, so many FWD cars are built with a ton of
front roll stiffness, which makes them feel quick and darty, like they
handle great, at low speeds, while preventing their inexperienced drivers
from making them oversteer into a guardrail. The veedub has the chassis
tuned differently.
With the rear drive car, the way you steer with the throttle is
different. The way you work the chassis for roll stiffness is
different. Just different, not really better.
At 03:58 AM 1/18/00 -0800, you wrote:
It's more like - Teach your kids how to drive when they turn 16 (or
18). I've seen my share of
FWD cars that have been curbed. Remember, he entered awkwardly, you
probably entered by braking
hard and powering thru the apex. Of course you didn't lead him on, right <g>
--- Jassem <[email protected]> wrote:
> I was following a kid in a 325i at moderately high speeds. We came to a
> small roundabout where the tarmac was not too grippy. He entered awkwardly
> and exited sideways, recovered, and finally spun out when the thing snapped
> into oversteer, hitting the curb and doing moderate damage to the wheel +
> suspension. The golf simply goes into that same roundabout, throttle on and
> the thing is out smoothly. Lesson learned: don't get your kids a RWD when
> they turn 18.
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Josh Karnes <>< "As long as the devil gives you slack in Austin TX
your chain, you think you are free."
- Dick Brown
_____________
List Sponsor: http://www.netsville.com
To remove yourself from this list, send mail to [email protected] with
'unsubscribe a2_16v' in the body of your message
See us on the web at http://www.a2-16v.com
Visit the 16V Homepage at http://www.gti16v.org
