Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

I got over trying to explain the handling thing. I know guys with slammed Honda's who think their car handles awesome with the ebay coilovers, 60 chassis braces, and control arms they bought. You can usually tell the people that are really interested.

I haven't yet out-driven the stock suspension. Need to actually track to do that. The understeer is a bit annoying at times but all cars come with training wheels. Some just less than others.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by spike021

A current model Civic Si pulled up alongside me a couple weeks back at a red light and the guy didn't believe me when I said what you said and that's RWD.

He then proceeded to try chasing me even though it's a surface street so I didn't oblige other than revving out 2nd gear to the speed limit (45mph) on our left turn at the intersection. He couldn't keep up .

All other things being equal-ish, a FWD car can be set up to corner just as well as (R,A)WD. It's not about that. For all platforms, it's about how much inherent potential they have in the first place, then how much work does it take to tune away those training wheels.


IMO

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

The understeer is a bit annoying ...

reminds me of my first drive after installing the TRD springs and swaybars, I almost turned into the mountain. Understeer gone!

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

All other things being equal-ish, a FWD car can be set up to corner just as well as (R,A)WD. It's not about that. For all platforms, it's about how much inherent potential they have in the first place, then how much work does it take to tune away those training wheels.


IMO

Yes.

My first autox car, my 1978 euro GTI, was setup so awesome I swear that thing was a slot car. I spent a lot of time and money setting it up myself. It was competitive in CSP.

There used to be a shop (could still be there, I don't know) in Mountain View called custom alignment that did a lot of track prep and performance work. I took it there for an alignment when I finished with the suspension my final time. The owner called me that day and said he took my car out, and asked me who set it up. I told him I did. He said, "You did a great job, that car is amazing!". One of my proudest car guy moments.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

reminds me of my first drive after installing the TRD springs and swaybars, I almost turned into the mountain. Understeer gone!

Haha... Now I'm remembering how I better be super careful for a while after I get around to adjusting camber.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

I got over trying to explain the handling thing. I know guys with slammed Honda's who think their car handles awesome with the ebay coilovers, 60 chassis braces, and control arms they bought. You can usually tell the people that are really interested.

The worst is trying to explain it to people who claim they've owned or driven this platform and still insist it should be a straight line fast car. I say to rev it out and they're like "it sounds awful if you do that!" or stuff like "I shouldn't need to!" And then can't believe their opinion is wrong.

I still get a kick out of Everyday Drivers old videos where they'd show one of them driving an frs uphill on a straight at like 35mph in 5th gear or something stupid and then saying it's slow.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

One of my proudest car guy moments.

One time after a sound check at a gig, the house engineer came down and asked me if he could look at my amp. When I asked him if anything was wrong he exclaimed "No! Your bass is the first one ever that I haven't had to eq at all."

So many feels.

[Sapphireho]

Well shit. Both my Ryobi 40v batteries are "defective". I cut down a tree with the chainsaw, really pushing it, and the batteries got real hot. Neither one will charge. Those batteries are like $120 each!

Shit!

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Am I the only one that, when approached, and they compliment the car, I cannot bring myself to say that the car is "fast". I just say it really isn't, straight line wise, just quick around turns and curvy roads.

I mean the car does look good, it looks the part, but I would just feel wrong if I told someone that I live my life a quarter mile at a time and that for those 20 seconds or more, I'm free.

i always just say "it's fast enough". and many times, they'll compliment the entirely-stock exhaust...

i find the whole dick-wagging 'i'm faster' thing tiring...

Originally Posted by spike021

A current model Civic Si pulled up alongside me a couple weeks back at a red light and the guy didn't believe me when I said what you said and that's RWD.

He then proceeded to try chasing me even though it's a surface street so I didn't oblige other than revving out 2nd gear to the speed limit (45mph) on our left turn at the intersection. He couldn't keep up .

sounds like he was a crappy driver... an Si ought to be able to keep up under those conditions...

[Ultramaroon]

"Like a frightened turtle!"

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Haha... Now I'm remembering how I better be super careful for a while after I get around to adjusting camber.

Funny, back in the day, people used to shake their heads when I would set camber on the GTI at -1.5°. What they do today...

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

All other things being equal-ish,

[rant]
I dislike simple statement like RWD>FWD (all rwd are better than all fwd?) or another peeve of mine is the 50/50 weight balance thing (as you would know from how many times I have posted about this). These are particular aspects of a complex system all working (or not) together to give an overall result.

My father's Volvo was rwd. It was the very definition of a barge and it was shit.
[/rant]

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Well shit. Both my Ryobi 40v batteries are "defective". I cut down a tree with the chainsaw, really pushing it, and the batteries got real hot. Neither one will charge. Those batteries are like $120 each!

Shit!

That's the catch about battery tools, they are great until the battery craps itself.



Best hack I have ever seen is a couple of old Italian dudes with their electric drill wired in to a car battery.

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

[rant]
I dislike simple statement like RWD>FWD (all rwd are better than all fwd?) or another peeve of mine is the 50/50 weight balance thing (as you would know from how many times I have posted about this). These are particular aspects of a complex system all working (or not) together to give an overall result.

My father's Volvo was rwd. It was the very definition of a barge and it was shit.
[/rant]

AWD must trump all surely?