The Perfect Suspension rear end..

[Mysticle31]

That explains some of the weight jumps I see thoughout time. But what makes this car so good? It must be that it's the only car that had any real power? I could move everything I could foward in a SB and never reach that weight. (I don't know how much the front and rear weighs without a rear engine..but the engine is some odd 220lbs) I can move the batt up there, put in 50 lbs worth of sterio stuff..and still not have it.. but I've always read it's critical for handling..

[NO_H2O]

Transfer the batery to the front, ditch the back seat and give it a try. If you are going to tweek a rear engine car, narrow your research down to racing resorces for Porsches and early VW's. All that water pumpin' front engine stuff will get you all messed up, poison your mind and rott your teeth.

[Mysticle31]

True, but some of the best handling cars (except 911 it seems, and I've had people tell me a 944 will outhandle a 911) are AWD and/or 50/50 weight dist? What does it all mean? How do you make these cars handle?

(I'm a dunce..)

By worlds best handling cars, I mean Ferarri F50, BMW M3, Porsche 944, WRX, Anything Ford Cosworth..etc. (All in their own right, some need a little work to get there, but are excelent platforms) And I know 911 is in there somewhere too.

[Pillow]

It's all the driver.

You just have to know how to drive a rear engined car to understand the advantage over some other types of car formats.

The rear weight over the drive wheels is a powerful advantage and disadvantage. The advantage is that the rear end weight offers excellent rear traction. The bad is that if the rearend breaks loose in a turn then it is harder to "catch".

Race drivers can use the rear weight to "turn" the racecars via the throttle (kind of like drifting or rally racing - just not as extreme) and that helps keep speed as it is not shaved off by the front tires. IMHO the front drivers offer the worst setup to be fast on the track (granted some are still very fast) as the front tires are meant to pull, turn, and stop all the time and share no real work load with the rears (okay maybe 10%).

Power slide a RWD car and you will understand! Yah BMWs and Camaros are fine, but are not a 911 in the turns. Or a hot VW!

[boygenius]

A true testament to the beetles handling is when Sport compact Car had their utimate street car challenge. In just the handling department there were two beetles, one a full race standard with wider rims and fenders and the other a super with new shocks and a performance anti-sway bars. The full race standard took 2nd place over all and the near stock Super took 2nd in the slolom? course... I think the WRX was in 7th place...

[Supa Ninja]

The Super had a 1641 w/ Kadrons, and the suspension wasn't anything to crazy, The cars it was up against were quite the machines too. A couple of tuned RX-7's, 914-6, I think there was a Cosworth Escort, the WRX,...
Pillow is on the money, in capable hand a rear engined car is very effective on the track.

Nick

[Pillow]

Hey BoyGenius,

What issue of Sport Compact was that article in? I would love to read it if one the web or buy a "back issue".

Thanks,