Topic: Speed or handling?

[tenpenny]

Speed or handling?

Reminds me of an old girlfriend.....

[Snowman]

I prefer a good handling car……but if the car in question cannot do 0-60 in six seconds or less I will not even going to think about it. What is the point when exiting a corner when you can’t get by an SUV. Top speed is not important but acceleration is. Cornering opportunities are limited in day to day driving and I enjoy my spirited passing episodes with people who think they think the have a performance vehicle…..I just love smoking anything with a HEMI badge.

[Scaerio]

When you are on twisty backroads with limited visibility (Vermont, upstate NY, and New Hampshire are full of great ones)a good handling car is a hoot.  It's like a huge rollercoaster!  I's love to try something like that in one of those Smart Roadsters (pretty much an MG Midget/A-H Sprite reincarnated anyway...)

[davidm]

Handling - and then as snowy points out, torque.  That said, the Miata is too much fun as it is soooo light.

[Turbo Bob]

Handling, easy.

Setting up suspension, anti-roll bars, camber etc. properly is a much harder art to master than increasing power.

Here are the Top Gear Power Lap Times:

1. Maserati MC12 - 1.18.9
2. Ferrari F60 Enzo - 1.19.0
3. Ariel Atom - 1.19.5
4. Porsche Carerra GT - 1.19.8
5. Mercedes McLaren SLR - 1.20.9
6. Ford GT - 1.21.9
7. Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3
8. Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3
9. Murcielago - 1.23.7
10. Zonda - 1.23.8
11. Koenigsegg - 1.23.9
12. Noble - 1.25.0  
13. Gallardo - 1.25.8  
14. Lotus Exige - 1.26.4
15. Chevrolet Corvette - 1.26.8  
16. Mercedes CLS 55 AMG - 1.26.9
17. Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2  
18. TVR 350C - 1.27.5  
19. BMW M3 CSL - 1.28.0  
20. Dodge Viper SRT-10 - 1.28.5
21. MG SV - 1.28.6
22. Porsche 911 Carrera S - 1.28.9 (very wet)
23. Mitsubishi Evo VIII - 1.28.9
24. BMW Alpine Z8 - 1.29.0
25. Mercedes CL65 - 1.29
26. Alfa 3.7 GTA - 1.30.0  
27. Subaru Impreza STI - 1.30.1  
28. Aston Martin DB7 GT - 1.30.4  
29. Vauxhall Monaro VXR - 1.30.16  
30. Audi S4 - 1.30.9  
31. Porsche 911 turbo - 1.31.0  
32. Vauxhall VX 220 turbo - 1.31.3  

Not bad for 189bhp!


The only car in the top 25 that comes anywhere near the Lotus on price (in the UK anyway) is the Mitsubishi Evo...

[safristi]

WOT 13 Ities,Yanks and Krauts ahead of Jolly OLD ENGLAND....feck..pedal FASTER MAN!!!!......oops sorry ta tread on yer sensible'ity shoes bob....

[sparky]

You don't want a car that handles atrociously, but for daily driving on public roads, acceleration is more usable. Effortless passing and climbing, the feeling that you've got lots of juice on tap, can be employed safely and enjoyably at any time. Frankly, it's a bit irresponsible to push any car to its handling limits on a public road. With the tires and suspension systems in common use today, almost any car can be fun on a winding backroad. So I'll take acceleration. (Don't care about top-end speed. I'll never use it.)

[davidm]

Make the roads wet and you get to the handling (and more particularly, traction) limits very quickly.  To me, unless you toodle around Toronto streets and highways all day, lots of time to use the handling - for me, everyday to and from work in Vancouver there are some unbelievable corners that are wide open and medium speed.

[ovr50]

Handling and torque, I don't care that much about top speed which is rarely used in the real world anyway.

[random006]

Handling for sure as far as I am concerned.

Although not all people will agree.  In Montreal, the Mustang and Trans Am/Camaro/Firebird triplets are/were known as "Greek and Roman Chariots" for their popularity in the Greek and italian neighbourhoods.

They loved to do the street dragging thing and of course troll the trendy spots with their stereos going THUMPA-THUMPA-THUMPA.  Not especially good on those twisty country roads but what a sound they made accelerating from standing!

For Saffy:

My phone number is, well, RANDOMly generated!    

[onearmed]

Most cars handle decent nowadays, power is much much harder to come by so I would have to go with Acceleration. I use it much more than handling in my daily commute. Even with a Tercel I would be up the ass of most BMW's and Mercedes on ramps and curvy roads.  I love being able to merge into traffic easily, pass others easily on the hwy and make right hand turns (and lefts) knowing I can get up to speed faster than the guy coming up behind me lol.  

Since 99% of people on the road don't use any power or any handling I believe its a moot point cause you're going to get stuck behind them.

[The Mighty Duck]

I HATE those drivers!

[barrie1]

I just got home from the Carshow at GM Headquarters to-day in Oshawa. On the 401 the Power of My truck allowed me to keep up with almost anything out there and leave most of them in the Dust. The old truck only reads in Imperial and says 100MPH for the Top End. I wonder what it means when you are 3"s past that?   Don't need that much fancy handling on a average highway here.  

[Careener]

Barrie1 how was that show? I was thinking of going, but there was hardly any info on the website.

[barrie1]

It was a good time with around 1700 vehicles in attendence. They gave away a 383Stroker engine complete and a new Auto Tranny. 4 New General Tires as well as A $1800. Tool Cabinet. $4000. was raised for the Charity on the 50/50. Overall there was a very good mix of interesting Toys. The 1955 Chevies had their own section there was so many of them here. Some nice new C6's in the Vette area as well. A Good Show.

[vz64]

Handling is a N1 for me, but power is close 2nd. STi gives me both, winter or summer. And if Evo MR was available here, it would be my choice.