Why modern sports cars blow goats
Discussion
Funnily enough, I've been thinking about this a lot recently. My current daily driver is a Rover 75 estate (no sniggering at the back) and in most respects it handles like a boat, but it actually has pretty decent steering feel. I'm convinced that's partly due to the huge squishy tyres. And virtually all of the cars I've driven with notably good slip angle feedback have had one common attribute - relatively tall sidewalls for a car of their type.
I strongly believe that a bit of compliance in the suspension is needed for a road going sports car too, but if anything I'd say a bit of tyre flex is more important. It improves contact over rough surfaces, but it also gives you a better idea of what the grip levels are doing. Okay, you tend to lose a bit of precision in the process, but I think that's infinitely preferable to only finding out what the grip levels are doing when the hedge starts moving closer.
I strongly believe that a bit of compliance in the suspension is needed for a road going sports car too, but if anything I'd say a bit of tyre flex is more important. It improves contact over rough surfaces, but it also gives you a better idea of what the grip levels are doing. Okay, you tend to lose a bit of precision in the process, but I think that's infinitely preferable to only finding out what the grip levels are doing when the hedge starts moving closer.
TameRacingDriver said:
Shows that the current trend for huge wheels, rubber band tyres and slammed suspension does precisely f
k all for driving enjoyment.
Indeed. The wheels attached to the forthcoming BMW M4 suggest that their target market will be drug dealers and pimps rather than people who want the 'ultimate driving experience'.k all for driving enjoyment.heebeegeetee said:
mygoldfishbowl said:
Garlick said:
Blow goats?
This.
TurboBlue said:
Really interesting video; anyone who owns an Elise like to comment on the changes to the set up?
It looks like someone has bought a track prepared Elise, found the limits rather narrow and reverted it to something approaching the original road-biased setup. Whilst I'm sure the wheel changes helped with the original stiff suspension, I suspect switching back to more conventional wheel sizes would improve the car once they'd softened the suspension to sensible levels. Fitting tyres with soft side-walls tends to rob the Elise of much of its steering feel and precision; I'd imagine fitting such high side-walls would do the same. I've never driven an Elise on non-standard diameter wheels which really feels right.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 21st August 16:33
TurboBlue said:
Really interesting video; anyone who owns an Elise like to comment on the changes to the set up?
Stiff, track biased car in crap on greasy country road shocker.Seriously though, they're great fun on track as standard but the limits are low and they are very easy to drive. Fine for a play, but I wouldn't blame anyone that wants to go faster and give themselves more of a challenge, although it is easy to bolt on something that's just a pain to drive and not actually faster if it's been specced by someone that doesn't know what they're doing
Having said that the standard Lotus Track setup for an Elise is absolutely f
king dreadful on the road and is great fun on the track.Horses for courses.
Edited by The Wookie on Wednesday 21st August 16:42
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