Import Guy Considers Defection!

Scot_94GT · Dec 5, 2004

I really don't understand why people care so much abotu handling. Of course I wouldn't wan't a sports car that handles like an SUV, but why do people get such a hardon for cars that handle like "they are on rails"? I'm sure it would be fun to take a car like that on a road course, but how many of you actually take you car out on a closed circuit racetrack? Straight line acceleration is really the only part of a car you can enjoy pretty much anywhere. Where exactly can you enjoy a car's "great ahndling" if not on a track? By swerving in and out of traffic?

351CJ · Dec 5, 2004

Scot_94GT said:
I really don't understand why people care so much abotu handling. Of course I wouldn't wan't a sports car that handles like an SUV, but why do people get such a hardon for cars that handle like "they are on rails"? I'm sure it would be fun to take a car like that on a road course, but how many of you actually take you car out on a closed circuit racetrack? Straight line acceleration is really the only part of a car you can enjoy pretty much anywhere. Where exactly can you enjoy a car's "great ahndling" if not on a track? By swerving in and out of traffic?

If you have ever owned a car that has that magic handling, you would understand. Even if you're nowhere near the limit, a great handling car gives you a feeling that makes you grin from ear to ear. There is nothing like taking a perfectly balanced car and doing a 4 wheel drift through a corner. Nothing like taking a ride through twisty mountain roads

I get to use the handing of my cars far more often than I ever get to use max acceleration.

How do you get to use your straight line acceleration pretty much anywhere? What to you do smash into the vehicle in front of you to get your rocks off?

bodizafa · Dec 5, 2004

351CJ said:
If you have ever owned a car that has that magic handling, you would understand. Even if you're nowhere near the limit, a great handling car gives you a feeling that makes you grin from ear to ear. There is nothing like taking a perfectly balanced car and doing a 4 wheel drift through a corner. Nothing like taking a ride through twisty mountain roads

I get to use the handing of my cars far more often than I ever get to use max acceleration.

How do you get to use your straight line acceleration pretty much anywhere? What to you do smash into the vehicle in front of you to get your rocks off?

there is nothing like finding a nice empty stretch of asphalt with plenty of switchbacks...it is always more fun (for me) to accelerate out of a corner than from a stoplight...

DBMSTNG · Dec 5, 2004

Scot_94GT said:
I really don't understand why people care so much abotu handling. Of course I wouldn't wan't a sports car that handles like an SUV, but why do people get such a hardon for cars that handle like "they are on rails"? I'm sure it would be fun to take a car like that on a road course, but how many of you actually take you car out on a closed circuit racetrack? Straight line acceleration is really the only part of a car you can enjoy pretty much anywhere. Where exactly can you enjoy a car's "great ahndling" if not on a track? By swerving in and out of traffic?

carving corners in my SVT Focus is just as much fun as accelerating in my blown GT. there are plenty of fun roads to drive on.

Scot_94GT · Dec 5, 2004

hmmm...I guess I don't live near any windy back-country roads. The only time I ever get to pull any lateral g's is on a cloverleaf ramp.

PalaceofStangs1 · Dec 5, 2004

bodizafa, I know exactly how you feel on this. Right now I'm driving a '95 Integra GS-R, and while it's nowhere near the car that the RSX is, I can wholeheartedly, without a doubt tell you that the '05 Mustang is something special. It wowed me so much that I ordered one at the start of November . I wasn't able to stomp down on it with the guy that sold me the car, but I can tell you that I was impressed. I've driven many different makes and models of cars. I have car loving friends that have leased alot of different cars over the years, so I have gotten the opportunity to step into a few really nice ones. The Mustang, for the price, power, feel, and comfortable ride for those of us over 6'2", lol, is the way to go when looking at cars in that price range.

bodizafa · Dec 6, 2004

...actually, i always enjoyed the handling on the earlier integras (maybe a little more than my RSX) so the fact that you ordered an '05 Mustang says a lot...

StangCrazy302Gt · Dec 7, 2004

like i said i i had the rsx just like u ..at teh same time had my 90 fox body...but when i test drove the 05 stang i fell in love and ordered it on the spot.that and this new body style seems 2 have a better shape 4 body kits and such(none ricy kits)

rhumbline · Dec 7, 2004

Scot_94GT said:
I really don't understand why people care so much abotu handling. Of course I wouldn't wan't a sports car that handles like an SUV, but why do people get such a hardon for cars that handle like "they are on rails"? I'm sure it would be fun to take a car like that on a road course, but how many of you actually take you car out on a closed circuit racetrack? Straight line acceleration is really the only part of a car you can enjoy pretty much anywhere. Where exactly can you enjoy a car's "great ahndling" if not on a track? By swerving in and out of traffic?

Try a nice long Sunday afternoon drive on some winding back roads up through some hills and woods or something. There, the overall balance and full performance envelope of a car will become much more apparent and appreciated. A well balanced car that dances with you rather than bucking against you is a revelation and can be far more enjoyable and rewarding than some brutish but cloddish muscle-bound muscle car.

Being able to actually utilize a strong motor beyond the very idealized realm of laser-straight, billiards-table smooth roads and strips is the mark of a well designed performance road car.

And then there is the huge safety aspect of having an extremely competent chassis and brakes to control a potentially fast car in all situations, especially the unforeseen.

Sure, mashing the loud pedal for a few couple-second 1/4-mile spurts of acceleration are fun as far as that goes, but that strikes me as focusing narrowly on the one-degree straight ahead aspect of the performance compass while basically ignoring the other 359 degrees. Sure, if your performance world is essentially stop-light/drag-strip centric, then all this talk of handling dynamics and chassis balance will escape you. But venture away from the straight and narrow and a whole new, wider performance world may open up to you.

5.8CAPRI · Dec 7, 2004

rhumbline said:
Try a nice long Sunday afternoon drive on some winding back roads up through some hills and woods or something. There, the overall balance and full performance envelope of a car will become much more apparent and appreciated. A well balanced car that dances with you rather than bucking against you is a revelation and can be far more enjoyable and rewarding than some brutish but cloddish muscle-bound muscle car.

Being able to actually utilize a strong motor beyond the very idealized realm of laser-straight, billiards-table smooth roads and strips is the mark of a well designed performance road car.

And then there is the huge safety aspect of having an extremely competent chassis and brakes to control a potentially fast car in all situations, especially the unforeseen.

Sure, mashing the loud pedal for a few couple-second 1/4-mile spurts of acceleration are fun as far as that goes, but that strikes me as focusing narrowly on the one-degree straight ahead aspect of the performance compass while basically ignoring the other 359 degrees. Sure, if your performance world is essentially stop-light/drag-strip centric, then all this talk of handling dynamics and chassis balance will escape you. But venture away from the straight and narrow and a whole new, wider performance world may open up to you.

Very well said. As already mentioned, the 05 does not do any one thing best(except maybe style), but does ALL things (go, stop, turn, comfort, NVH, etc) better than anything else in the price range.

I mean shoot, Edmunds test drove the 05 Stang and the 05 Vette back to back and said that while the corvette posted better numbers(well duh), All the testers found the Mustang More Fun to drive.... And that pretty well sums it up.

rhumbline · Dec 8, 2004

Actually, for a "couldn't have said it better" post, I might refer one to this thread on a Miata forum discussion American's obsession with straight line speed.

http://forum.miata.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=019784

Import Guy Considers Defection!

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