handling is important too!

[rbboyl]

I think handling is many time overlooked in cars in favor or power. I was wondering, stock for stock, how does the 240sx compare in handling from most cars on the road. I'm sure the rwd makes it a better drive than most cars similar to it (in price).

It would be cool to see some stats too, like on the skidpad, slalom, etc. I would do some research on the internet, but I'm kinda lazy right now and I just wanted to start a discussion about a comparison in handling. To similar sporty cars, like the rsx, wrx, rx-7, integra, talon, prelude, 3000gt, etc.

Are there any fwd cars out there now that would out handle a 240?

[kayo240se]

There arent many cars who can hang with the 240 in it's price range when it comes to handling. most AWD cars are gonna out handle the car but you'll spend a easy 3-8 grand more for those (ie. WRX,3OOOGT VR-4,talon)

I've driven in a integra and they handle good but nothing like the 240.My girl drives a 01 prelude and it handles but she's alittle shook when it comes to turns and curves so I always leave her behind,I did hear the sh model can handle it's own in turns.

never driven a rx-7 worth comparing to the 240,so I dont know about those.

[s14=pimpin']

turbo AWD talons handle extremely well, better than the 240 IMO, although I haven't driven one, my buddy took me for a real nice boot! One of the best aspects of the 240 is its great handling characteristics, so why not improve on that by adding parts. I have a front strut tower bar waiting for me, lowering springs w/camber kit in my closet, just waiting for more $$$ to purchase shocks.

Brakes are also another very important component that people usually ignore in favor of power!

[Bubba]

Handling is the 240sx biggest strength. Anyone who's driven one at the track will know the stock suspension/chassis will keep pace with most everything out there in a corner. They understeer but are very tossable. Where the 240sx falls flat is acceleration coming out of a corner. They're simply underpowered. If you're going to do mods to a 240sx, engine/brakes should come loooong before suspension. If most of your driving is done on the street, just remember stiffening things worsens the ride quality.Good luck

[rbboyl]

240s understeer? I thought rwd cars oversteer generally.

[Jubs180]

drifting is one big exaggerated oversteer

FWD and AWD cars are usually the ones that tend to understeer.but RWD can do it too, its just in the distribution of weight and how it is put to the ground.

Although I have never pushed my 240 enough to experience understeer.. I have seen and felt much oversteer

-Dan

[UncleBen]

My girl drives a 01 prelude and it handles but she's alittle shook when it comes to turns and curves so I always leave her behind,I did hear the sh model can handle it's own in turns.

i'm pretty sure that all the prelude type sh's have the ATTS (active torque transfer system) system. my friends did. it was awesome. that car would handle pretty good. i never drove it, but ridin in it, it felt flat on the ground goin around a turn. that system transers torque to the wheel that needs it most. usually, the outside front wheels when going fast around a curve. i would still rahter have RWD tho

[s14=pimpin']

the Lude feels really heavy, especially when cornering. At the same time, it feels very stable in turns, just not very fun. I didn't drive the SH model though, so ihave no comment on the attc system. I like my S14 much more.

[usuck]

any car can oversteer or understeer. anyone who tells you that a FR car can't understeer, and a FF or AWD can't oversteer, has never really driven one. it just depends on how the car is set up and driven. however, in my opinion the most fun car to drive is a FR car with oversteer characteristics (i have never driven a MR or RR car, so i can't comment on those). that's why i'm looking into 240's. and while the sr20 red top will probably be my engine, i'm still planing on spending more money on the suspension than the engine (go figure). because you can have all the power in the world but if you have to bleed it off before you go into a turn, you're going to suck azz when you exit the turn:( .

[Bubba]

hey rbboyl. Yes, they understeer. I use my S-13 regularly at road race tracks on the east coast. (I just ran her at an Audi event at Watkins Glen). 240sx's definately understeer. But it is pretty easy to coax the rear end out when you're at speed. Lots of fun. Rear engine RWD cars are the ones with the tendency to oversteer. That's what made the old Porsche 911 such a fun car, especially before Porsche put on those ultra wide, ultra soft compound tires that they use now. Regards

[Repo Man]

One thing that definitely helps cancel understeer is power applied to the rear wheels. As we have determined, the 240 is mostly underpowered. It does understeer at the limit, that is, the limit when the car is gradually pushed to it. It can be pushed past it's limit abruptly and cause mad oversteer.

When I push the car on the on/off ramps, it's the front tires that protest first, without fail. I have staggered size tires on the car though which is something I want to change. I also need to add sways and strut bars and maybe set the KYB's softer in front than in the rear. These are things that should also cancel the understeer effect.

Understeer is gay.

[ennui]

I have staggered size tires on the car though which is something I want to change.

Staggered size? As in like 235s in the front and 255s in the rear? I don't really see how this causes understeer . . . if anything, it seems to me like there would be more gripping area in back thus causing more oversteer . . .

I guess the whole concept of the width of tires eludes me ^ ^. Someone once told me that the width of a tire has no effect on it's gripping ability since spreading out the weight of the car on more area of the tire has no effect since it's still the total amount of pressure . . . but if that's true, why such a variety?

[redrocket]

less grip in the back would cause oversteer because it has less contact with the road so it is most likly going to try to break loose dude to the smaller tread patch

Robbie

[Bubba]

Tire size will not prevent understeer, though it may prevent it from occurring at a very slightly higher speed depending how big the change in tire is. Tire pressure and the weight bias of the car as you're turning, plus steering input affects understeer far more than tire size.

[C-Kwik]

Staggered size? As in like 235s in the front and 255s in the rear? I don't really see how this causes understeer . . . if anything, it seems to me like there would be more gripping area in back thus causing more oversteer . . .

I guess the whole concept of the width of tires eludes me ^ ^. Someone once told me that the width of a tire has no effect on it's gripping ability since spreading out the weight of the car on more area of the tire has no effect since it's still the total amount of pressure . . . but if that's true, why such a variety?

Staggering tires like this will promote understeer. There is some truth to what you are saying, but tires have a much different property. In a solid to solid contact, the physics you are talking about works. Tires are more of a semi-solid. The contact patch makes more of a difference. It's been explained to me one, but I doubt I can repeat it correctly. And I highly doubt high performance cars would put on the big tires they do if it made no difference.

[C-Kwik]

240s understeer? I thought rwd cars oversteer generally.

Pretty much all cars will understeeer if pushed too hard. Imagine coming into a turn 50 mph too fast. Try to turn the wheel as hard as you can. The tires will not grip enough to turn the front end in as fast as you would like. So...you end up with understeer.

The 240sx is fairly well balanced, but we have a crutch that is referred to as a Macpherson strut in our front suspension. Not that it's not well engineered, but it's not optimal for handling. Unfortunately, it does not change camber enough as you corner. You'll end up running on the outer edge of your outside tire. I've actually ripped away small chunks of the tread that's right against the sidewall when driving around a race track. My last set of tires wore the outer edge before the inner edge. I've gotten camber plates since and the difference is quite noticable. Running about 3 degrees of camber, it has very little understeer.

And as far as trying to power out, many times, if you are understeering heavily, adding power will actually increase understeer. Go to a track. Everything you thought you knew about handling will go out the window.