Author Topic: Speed or handling? (Read 2389 times)

markkram · « **on:** August 25, 2005, 07:43:42 pm »

If you had the choice between a fast car but maybe doesn't handle all that great, or a great handling car and is sorta slow, what would you buy (or modify to an existing car with limited $$$)?

si · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2005, 07:49:50 pm »

for example...
SRT-4 vs. S2000

fast straight line vs. moderate

moderate handelling vs. excellent

but this thread is far too vague

The Mighty Duck · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2005, 07:54:47 pm »

Define "sort of slow". Most cars these days can reach 120 km/h with little difficulty, and you're not likely to be going faster than that most of the time.

Or do you mean off the line speed?

I'd chose handling either way; that's what makes it fun.

sly · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2005, 07:55:28 pm »

Handling!

For example, many cars come in both 4 and 6 and even 8 bangers form and in general, the smaller the engine (less weight) the better balanced is the car. On larger engines they have to put tighter suspension, bigger roll bars and beeffier rubbers to achieve good handling.

My recommendation. Buy the smaller engine with the manual tranny and beef up wheel and tires and you will retain decent acceleration, obtain better handling and save on gas big time. If enough doug, improve the suspension too.

AVToller · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2005, 08:55:20 pm »

Handling every time! Speed is easy, balance is difficult but where the fun comes IMO.

quadzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2005, 08:59:31 pm »

Handling for sure. Remember, its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Even more fun when the slow car can out handle the fast car.

wing · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2005, 09:17:26 pm »

Handling, and robo the SRT-4 isn't much if any faster than an S2000 stock.

safristi · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2005, 09:30:32 pm »

Wot about a MEDIUM CAR ...driven...err...Modestly like.........will we get tha HOT gels!!!??? Quadzilla!!!???.......Cor ..I could handle THAT...sorry ma gear err..slipped.....WHOO-HAA...gotta get me an INTREPID!!!!!

barrie1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2005, 10:47:32 pm »

I'll take the fast car to start with as its cheaper to alter the supension then to do engine mods. Much easier to change parts under the car then under the hood sometimes as well.

tpl · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2005, 05:54:30 am »

I'll do the inverse Barrie.... Suspension mods take serious work to get right and more power is always available relatively cheaply with your beloved small block.

Where is Bob when we need him. The Exige is absolutely not a high powered car by North American standards but I'd bet that not even the famous Rut-Ro could catch him around Mosport on a dry day...

bmorton · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2005, 08:17:32 am »

Handling... a slower car that handles well is more fun for me than a fast car that's only satisfying in a straight line. I used to have lots of fun in my 106-hp Civic a few years ago because you could drive it at 8 or 9/10ths of its capabilities on the way to work.

Shnak · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2005, 09:04:10 am »

Well since we don't live on race tracks and can't drive 200kph all day, I'll take handling.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:30:13 am »

Handling.

Inspires a smile around every turn.

AVToller · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:32:08 am »

Seems like handling is winning "hands down"!

Giant Dwarf · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2005, 10:38:42 am »

See for me, the majority of the driving excitement I get is trying to leave the suped-up Civic behind me on on/off-ramps and squirting through the odd hole in traffic to get into that mystical traffic-free zone somewhere ahead (approximately the same spot as the treasure at the end of a rainbow).

I so rarely get to really use handling in an enjoyable, twisty-road sense that having point-and-shoot power is more gratifying for most of the driving I do.

Still, a car like an S2000 or even RX8 tends to provide exceptional handling and much-better-than-average speed/acceleration capabilities which should appease my desires.

Scaerio · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2005, 12:13:27 pm »

Definately handling. Cars such as the original Mini, Austin Healey Sprite, and others were never super fast, but handled like they were on rails.

safristi · « **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:07:42 pm »

A modicum of both...NO on second thoughts a SURFEIT OF BOTH....we only LIVE ONCE..or so Charlize Theron KEEPS telling me.......ta take out tha Garbage.......re-Cycle the coffee grounds......mow tha lawn......I have a headache.....feck...where is Random 006's PHONE NUMBER....555-5545...!! HALLOW there RANDY....have I got a deal fer you.....

jeeper · « **Reply #17 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:34:57 pm »

power....
handling is not important when u dont wanna be a racer...

Drivesideways · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:37:09 pm »

Neither is speed.

articsteve · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2005, 02:34:14 pm »

Handling, braking and a good shifter is my current bliss. My standing start days are long gone. Although, disabled for the moment because of standing starts, my TSI Talon 4WD with LSD, has a pretty good launch. Head to head with the earlier 5.0 Mustangs, but that kind of useage eventually leads to problems of all sorts.