Best Overall Handling Car

[FYRHWK1]

Originally Posted by Jimster

Camaro and Mustangs have live rear axles, handling not nearly what it could be.

Hondas are amazing Front Wheel Drive chassis' the handling is up with most rear-drive layouts.

The Eclipse?? Never driven one, but AWD grip could count for something

The Mr2 has the proper layout, so naturally, that is really the way to go, only problem is, that it's WAY too heavy for waht it is.

You have got to be kidding me

[Jimster]

Kidding you on what exactly???

[FYRHWK1]

Pretty much all of it, Since when does AWD aid HANDLING any? traction exiting a turn perhaps, but beyond that it causes push entering a turn and increases unsprung weight by a large amount. Beyond that, AWD eclipses are still primarily FWD, not only is the whole driveline in the engine bay the front wheels recieve a larger amount of power.

Live axles may hurt the car if it ever reaches LeMans level racing on a rough surface, but until you begin to make 1 wheel ride much higher then another you don't run into any issues with using solid axle. Thats easily solved by limiting suspension travel, alas it'll never work for rally racing. In fact, the fact that these admittedly heavy cars have solid axles helps them keep rear traction, downard loading of the tires through body roll has no negative effects on camber like it does on an IRS setup.

and I misread what you said about hondas, I still havent ever ridden nor driven one that comes close to a proper RWD setup, but nevermind there.

[freakonaleash1187]

i have not only seen it on here, but heard it form other people and read it in magazines that solid rear axles makes handling not so good. but hey, if tons of people are lying and you are correct, then i'll be damned.

i want to drive a mr2 now reading all the posts. it sounds like a fun car to drive.

[Kurtdg19]

A solid rear axle doesn't necessarily make a bad handling car. It can be tuned to perform relativly well. Just like IRS systems. A postive thing about a solid rear axle would be that body roll will not effect the camber of your wheels. However, unsprung weight always seems to be an issue on non-independent axles leading to a poor ride quality.

[BlueShadowDemon]

well what about for power? I know the Z28 has to be the next thing LT1 are some 275 horses at the crank, so what about if its for a straight shot?

[Lambor]

I like other cars around that price range that are better.