Driving "feel"

[fduboss302]

Apologies if this has been posted before, found this article while checking out the corvetteforums of all places (still at times think of trading my Boss 302 for a C7 Z51)



TLDR: Race car driver says I don't want my road car to feel like a race car. I like my road cars with "feel and connection" vs fast/capable but "numb."

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Originally Posted by fduboss302

still at times think of trading my Boss 302 for a C7 Z51

If you wont get bathed in a trade loss I definitely would too

[Trettiosjuan]

Interesting. He captures my sentiment that enjoyment in road driving is different than track driving, but then I don't understand how he could sanely enjoy the cars he owns on a public road. Many enthusiast owners have come to our platform from more powerful stuff precisely for that reason... while other have them as an aspiring platform for that faster stuff, and successively turn them into high gripping power monsters...

Oh well...

[Ozzman]

So what does it take to get more road feel out of the steering on the BRZ?

[track junkie]

Originally Posted by fduboss302

Apologies if this has been posted before, found this article while checking out the corvetteforums of all places (still at times think of trading my Boss 302 for a C7 Z51)

You won't find driving feel with the C7 Z51. You will be on an endless quest that will only disappoint. You will have a challenge finding more driving feel that the BRZ.

I just picked up, this weekend, a 2014 Cayman S with sport suspension and after 1300 miles I am disappointed in the lack of driving feel at reasonable cornering speeds on the street, it feels "numb". I prefer my BRZ with oem tires for much better driving feel on quiet, twisty country roads.

If you find something with more driving feel on the street that a BRZ, let me know.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by track junkie

If you find something with more driving feel on the street that a BRZ, let me know.

Lotus elise?

[fduboss302]

Originally Posted by track junkie

If you find something with more driving feel on the street that a BRZ, let me know.

My old NB Miata for sure. The BRZ is more liveable day to day though. Curious what the ND (next gen) holds.

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Lotus elise?

True but the Lotus elise is hardly as livable as the BRZ. I think that the BRZ is by far the best compromise of all things expected in a sports car. To add a few the Miata and S2000 are also contenders.

Again, I still think that the BRZ is the best thing going when factoring everything in.

I love my Subaru.

Cheers,

-Nate

[Trettiosjuan]

Originally Posted by Ozzman

So what does it take to get more road feel out of the steering on the BRZ?

Superlight 16" rims (5kg) with light moderate grip tyres (8kg) (my next mod). Solid steering bushes.
A tight and precise chassis is not necessarily the same as a feelsome chassis, in fact more movement can be beneficial as long as it communicates with the driver...

[DarkSunrise]

Good article. I find it interesting he doesn't do track days. Most pro drivers I've seen love to drive at the track, whether being paid or not.

[krayzie]

But you see because the car companies' marketing depts tend to use their professional racing efforts to market their production sports cars, it has brainwashed a good portion of the population into thinking the ultimate street ride is setup with track parts, then they complain about the day to day ride quality.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by track junkie

I just picked up, this weekend, a 2014 Cayman S with sport suspension and after 1300 miles I am disappointed in the lack of driving feel at reasonable cornering speeds on the street, it feels "numb". I prefer my BRZ with oem tires for much better driving feel on quiet, twisty country roads.

If you find something with more driving feel on the street that a BRZ, let me know.

Really? I find my Cayman S to be more communicative at any speed than the BRZs that I've driven, but I have the old Cayman with the hydraulic steering, and I've heard the new electric steering isn't as good. That is a shame though - I'd be curious to hear your opinion on a 987 as a point of comparison.

[Purdue FR-S]

"Everyone wants something different from a car, and I respect that. Some people want a car that's pin-sharp, others something with a lot of horsepower. Ultimately this means that a car one person loves, another will find to be a load of crap."

^ Best quote haha

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by chrisl

Really? I find my Cayman S to be more communicative at any speed than the BRZs that I've driven, but I have the old Cayman with the hydraulic steering, and I've heard the new electric steering isn't as good. That is a shame though - I'd be curious to hear your opinion on a 987 as a point of comparison.

I've driven a 986 with hydraulic steering and a Mk5 Golf GTI with electric steering I think I kinda know what he's talking about with the electric steering being kinda "numb" or "dead". It feels just like a heavy arcade game steering wheel except smoother. That hydraulic feel is really hard to replicate. BRZ is pretty good for an electric steering setup (I've driven worse like modern Honda and Lexus where the motor has trouble keeping up with quick steering input).