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From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Spitfires, Corvettes, RX7s and handling
Message-ID: <449@ihuxk.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 10-Sep-83 01:11:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxk.449
Posted: Sat Sep 10 01:11:00 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Sep-83 21:10:10 EDT
References: <110@lzmi.UUCP>
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 48

I'm a former owner of a Triumph TR250, and a Fiat 124 Spider,
and have a fair amount of experience driving some mid-60's
Sting Rays and a little in mid 70's Vettes. (I now own a 59 Vette,
but let's ignore that for now, it's a little  old fashioned).
My basic feelings on the relative handling of these cars is:

TR250 - Pretty fair handling, in the old British tradition. 
The IRS didn't work well (TR4 live axle versions are a little
better, I think).  I'd call the handling more fun than good.
My little time in Sptfires gave me the impression that they 
perhaps handled a little better than the heavier TRs, but the
swing axles take some gettin used to, especially on older ones.

Fiat 124 - Very good handling, with good balance, tending
slightly to understeer.  An easy car to drive at its limits,
and it was easy to set up controlled 4-wheel drifts.  RX7's
I've driven have had a similar feel.

60's and 70's Vettes - Heavy feeling, require a lot of effort on
the part of the driver.  You also have to pay careful attention
to your gas pedal work, as throttle plays a crucial role
in the handling of these (normal understeer, but  proper throttle
gives neutral handling and/or overssteer.  Very good handling
on smooth roads, but tight turns require a lot of work, and ad-
hesion on rough roads is not good.

In summary, my feeling is that Vettes can handle as well if not
better than the others, but are much less forgiving, and are more
sensitive to driver input, esp. on throttle.  A friend who used to
race his Porsche 912 had an interesting comment related to this:
He said his 912 (911 with a four-cyl. engine) was easy to race,
in that it was engine limited.  You gave it all the gas you could,
and drove it around the track.  The engine couldn't exceed the 
car's handling limits.  With a 911, on the other hand, the extra
power made it easy to get in trouble, and the 911 requires
greater skill to drive it at its limits.

Incidently the car that "felt" as if it handled best was the Fiat.
As for my 59 Vette, it has an extremely heavy feel to it, even
though its lighter than even an 84 Vette.  It understeers,
but has a wonderful transition to oversteer with throotle
upon exiting a turn.  Although primitive, the handling is
on a par with other sports cars of the period.  In short,
not too good handling, but tremendous fun!  Also,
a great engine (283/270 hp).

Bob Schleicher (I didn't mean to go on like this!)
ihuxk!rs55611