240SX Handling Comparison

I've heard this for a long time, american cars handling sucks. okay now that I'm not bent out of shape anymore about it, I can tolerate people's views on them but truthfully I don't know how these 'other cars' are handling, but I do compare other cars to a car I drive everyday, the 1992 nissan 240sx (puts it on a pedestal, falls off and window breaks)

I'll clean that up later, NEways from what I know, handling is based on a number of factors, turning, the contrast between rigidity and flex, and traction to name a few. My 240 has the best turn lock I've ever had, so much that I can make many u-turns on a normal street. when the car's moving, it feels like it's on rails, and that can be improved with better tires, it's all attributed to the independent rear double wishbone setup. I've never spun out...ever, unless I meant to...doing donuts.

So on a scale from 1 to 10, based on the handling in the cars you know of, how does the 240sx fair and why is the handling better or worse in another car?

I have driven a stock 240 and a fairly modified one, and the stock one was really nothing impressive at all. In fact it didn't even stand out in my mind as a car worth mentioning when it came to handling. I think my mustang had a tighter suspension and certainly gripped the road harder. However the modified one had its a pretty hard core suspension and much better wheels and tires and that thing was definately nice. With that being said, I like the 240 because its small and RWD but to be honest thats really what its got going for it. I am sure nearly any car with better suspension and tires will handle with impressive results. I really only judge cars in stock form or on an individual basis. For example.... civics are slow.....or mikes civic is fast. I don't ever say, "civics are impressive because you can make them fast" because you can make anything fast with thousands of dollars.

Generally cars with independent rear suspension have better handling, your mustang has a solid rear axle. You are the first person I have ever heard say their mustang handles better than a 240SX. Now I REALLY need more opinions on this.

Let's not confuse 'fast' with 'good handling' here. I know my car is slow.

the really important thing about the handling of a car is its general behaviour, consistancy in that behaviour, predictablity (related to both) and how controllable it is if you overstep the car's limit.
How easy it is to U-turn a car doesn't really mean much as this is down to the level of power assistance and the gearing of the steering/turning circle.
Best examples of cars with supurb handling but stuid turning circles;
Renault Clio V6 (both MK1 and MK2 cars)
Evo FQ400.
the types of suspension determines how much you can maximise road contact but it isn't a guarantee of good handling; it is only part of it and even then, depending on how much power you are dealing with and the drive train, any suspension set up can be made to handle well.

I've heard this for a long time, american cars handling sucks. okay now that I'm not bent out of shape anymore about it, I can tolerate people's views on them but truthfully I don't know how these 'other cars' are handling, but I do compare other cars to a car I drive everyday, the 1992 nissan 240sx (puts it on a pedestal, falls off and window breaks)

I'll clean that up later, NEways from what I know, handling is based on a number of factors, turning, the contrast between rigidity and flex, and traction to name a few. My 240 has the best turn lock I've ever had, so much that I can make many u-turns on a normal street. when the car's moving, it feels like it's on rails, and that can be improved with better tires, it's all attributed to the independent rear double wishbone setup. I've never spun out...ever, unless I meant to...doing donuts.

So on a scale from 1 to 10, based on the handling in the cars you know of, how does the 240sx fair and why is the handling better or worse in another car?

american cars dont all handle bad, its just the big ones with out of date suspension like the mustang that handle bad. the f-body handles decent for its size. and theres the cobalt ss which beat out the miata, civic si, vw gti, and mustang gt on a track.

Generally cars with independent rear suspension have better handling, your mustang has a solid rear axle. You are the first person I have ever heard say their mustang handles better than a 240SX. Now I REALLY need more opinions on this.

Let's not confuse 'fast' with 'good handling' here. I know my car is slow.


My mustang was faster and generally felt tighter and stiffer around turns than the stock 240 I drove.

Well where were you driving it? Where are the best places to test handling?

haha if you think your s13 handles well... you need to drive a starion.... fully independant suspension... came with factory-issued tokico struts starting in 1983... food for thought... starions are beasts :)

One of the best handling cars i've ever driven was a mr2 mkII, however it does take a bit of experience to handle one safely.

Starions were respectable in their day, but they are hardly beasts today by anyones standards. Also, the 240sx does have an independent suspension.

I always kind of wondered when and where a mid engine car spins out, especially because that's my favorite layout. What on the mr2 mkII made it want to get loose? Just to clarify, it's this one:
http://car.kitt.net/uploaded_images/car_back-765675.jpg
How did THAT get in there?

I had a 200 sx that handeled the best out of any car ive had but then again its only 1 of 2 ive mainly owned 4x4 trucks which dont handel worth a shit.