Short wheel base vs. Long wheel base

[loesch8102]

Advantages? Disadvantages?

Just curious cause I noticed today that my Integra has roughly the same overall dimensions as a new Porshe 911 except the Porsche's wheel base is a lot shorter. Don't get me wrong. I know my car is no Porsche, I am just wondering why it's the only major difference in size.

[Neutrino]

I believe that a shorter wheelbase is better for a sharp turning response but a longer wheelbase will give you more stability...the trick in a car's hadling i belive is finding a balance between the two....

for example many people comented that the longer wheelbase on the g35 coupe was an improvement over the short wheelbase on the 350z therefore making the car more easily controlable.

[FYRHWK1]

the short will also have issues at speed with turning too sharply, much more likely to kick the rearend out and slide, big reason why alot of sucessful rally cars are short wheelbased cars due to their need to slide easily and controllably. Theres also aerodynamic issues as a shorter car will have a tendency to have a worse profile, I believe the correct ratio for minimal drag would be 4:1, as in 4 times as long as the car is high, but the wheelbase can be short with a long car profile so thats not a huge issue.

[2strokebloke]

A long wheelbase will usually provide a better ride, and in my own opinion makes low speed manuevering easier (such as parking in tight spaces)

[454Casull]

Shorter cars have a lower polar moment of inertia. This means they can spin about their center of gravity more easily.

Of course, pitch increases.

[tigermiata]

I suspect that, for any particular length, a rear-engined car might automatically have a shorter wheelbase. The length of the engine and transmission would be a factor.

[454Casull]

Originally posted by tigermiata
I suspect that, for any particular length, a rear-engined car might automatically have a shorter wheelbase. The length of the engine and transmission would be a factor.

How so (referring to your first point)?