So recently, for reasons I will not go into here, I had an opportunity to drive a 99 Saturn SL2. That, in and of itself, is not particularly special. However, I did notice something I consider interesting.
My daily work commute (in Mexico) comprises of two good-sized sweeping on/off ramps, one going in each direction (though not the same ones). My daily driver is a 2011 STI, so this adds a bit of fun for my commute on those days I am lucky enough to have some open road in front of me. While I am not pushing the car to it's limits as that would be unsafe, I am certainly pushing the car.
And then the Saturn. Because I drove it for a couple days on my work commute, I got to throw the Saturn against those very same sweepers. And discovered something interesting - the Saturn could handle the corners at practically the same speed as the STI. Huh. Don't misunderstand me, I am not taking these corners at 30 mph. More like 85 mph (in Mexico). The other cars are going like maybe 45 mph. Hmm.
So I did some thinking about this on the drive in/home.
I am of the opinion, that on the street, for a given speed limit, it really doesn't matter what car you drive with regard to cornering performance. Kia, STI, Saturn, Mustang, all the same - practically speaking. I am not referring to a big truck or minivan here, but for cars that are similar size/shape. At a steady-state speed, purely corning, at say 85 mph the STI and Saturn are on par.
Okay, Seriously?
Now, obviously a STI and Saturn are not on par, and the differences show up pretty quickly outside of that steady-state corning. The STI will be able to accelerate much quicker out of the corner, probably out-brake the Saturn into the corner, etc. etc. But on the street, where people are not pushing cars to the limit because it is illegal and/or they do not feel safe doing so, one might get surprised. In other words, that BRZ/FRS driver with their vaunted "handling" might get surprised on that off-ramp by an eager/capable driver in a POS Saturn. The BRZ/FRS driver watches the rear-view to see <insert "crap" car> fall behind in that corner...except that it doesn't. It stays with them. Hmm.
On a track, everything I said goes out the window. The BRZ/FRS is a lot faster than a Saturn. But the street isn't a track.
In Other Words
The only thing that really matters, on the street, with regard to "performance" - is acceleration. The drags, baby. Nothing else will set your car apart, performance-wise, better than pure unadulterated acceleration. Because most of the other things that matter, braking distance, brake fade, cornering capability, are never really tested in street conditions. Unless one is doing something totally stupid, one will not likely get the opportunity to out-corner or out-break another car. So to buy that BRZ/FRS/Honda S2000/Miata solely because of it's handling capabilities and then NOT take it on a track is pointless. You would have been better off buying a Mustang (as a for-example). You will repeatedly get raped in stop-light pulls and never get the opportunity to redeem yourself. You won't be able to out-corner them at the first hairpin despite loosing the start - because you are on a street. You will stop at the next light....and then get raped again. By a Kia.
I am NOT saying these are terrible cars. The opposite actually. Nor am I saying the only reason to buy them is the handling, as there is a certain feeling one gets from driving those cars rather then, say a Saturn. In fact they are quite good cars. And they really shine on the track. If you are someone that does not mind losing the stop-light drags, then you will thoroughly enjoy these cars. But if it does bother you, and your car has never seen a track...you bought the wrong car. You will find yourself soon looking for a FI solution because you will get tired of yelling "but my car handles better!" as the Kia pulls lengths on you.
So if you are looking for a car, or want to make mods to your car, want something with good performance, that "acts" like a performance car, that can beat your friends' cars, all on the street and only the street - then forego everything else and focus completely on the motor (and weight, as a function of weight/power ratio). Brakes don't matter. Handling don't matter. Chassis stiffening don't matter (excepting what is needed to put the power down). "Go" is what matters. And if you stop to think about it, I essentially just described every Muscle car from the 60's & 70's. And look how much of a hit they were.
If you want a track car, ignore everything I have said here.
(Bonus Side Note: the 99 Saturn SC2/SL2 is actually a great little car. Its body panels are plastic, which means it weighs like 2400 lbs. That's fantastic. It also has 4-wheel independent suspension. The motor is rev happy, but under-powered. A built motor or low-to-mid boost FI option and this car would butthurt not a small number of people. It would have made a much better candidate for the Unlikely Racecar Series than that stupid Sonata did on the Budget Racers Youtube channel - ugh.)
My daily work commute (in Mexico) comprises of two good-sized sweeping on/off ramps, one going in each direction (though not the same ones). My daily driver is a 2011 STI, so this adds a bit of fun for my commute on those days I am lucky enough to have some open road in front of me. While I am not pushing the car to it's limits as that would be unsafe, I am certainly pushing the car.
And then the Saturn. Because I drove it for a couple days on my work commute, I got to throw the Saturn against those very same sweepers. And discovered something interesting - the Saturn could handle the corners at practically the same speed as the STI. Huh. Don't misunderstand me, I am not taking these corners at 30 mph. More like 85 mph (in Mexico). The other cars are going like maybe 45 mph. Hmm.
So I did some thinking about this on the drive in/home.
I am of the opinion, that on the street, for a given speed limit, it really doesn't matter what car you drive with regard to cornering performance. Kia, STI, Saturn, Mustang, all the same - practically speaking. I am not referring to a big truck or minivan here, but for cars that are similar size/shape. At a steady-state speed, purely corning, at say 85 mph the STI and Saturn are on par.
Okay, Seriously?
Now, obviously a STI and Saturn are not on par, and the differences show up pretty quickly outside of that steady-state corning. The STI will be able to accelerate much quicker out of the corner, probably out-brake the Saturn into the corner, etc. etc. But on the street, where people are not pushing cars to the limit because it is illegal and/or they do not feel safe doing so, one might get surprised. In other words, that BRZ/FRS driver with their vaunted "handling" might get surprised on that off-ramp by an eager/capable driver in a POS Saturn. The BRZ/FRS driver watches the rear-view to see <insert "crap" car> fall behind in that corner...except that it doesn't. It stays with them. Hmm.
On a track, everything I said goes out the window. The BRZ/FRS is a lot faster than a Saturn. But the street isn't a track.
In Other Words
The only thing that really matters, on the street, with regard to "performance" - is acceleration. The drags, baby. Nothing else will set your car apart, performance-wise, better than pure unadulterated acceleration. Because most of the other things that matter, braking distance, brake fade, cornering capability, are never really tested in street conditions. Unless one is doing something totally stupid, one will not likely get the opportunity to out-corner or out-break another car. So to buy that BRZ/FRS/Honda S2000/Miata solely because of it's handling capabilities and then NOT take it on a track is pointless. You would have been better off buying a Mustang (as a for-example). You will repeatedly get raped in stop-light pulls and never get the opportunity to redeem yourself. You won't be able to out-corner them at the first hairpin despite loosing the start - because you are on a street. You will stop at the next light....and then get raped again. By a Kia.
I am NOT saying these are terrible cars. The opposite actually. Nor am I saying the only reason to buy them is the handling, as there is a certain feeling one gets from driving those cars rather then, say a Saturn. In fact they are quite good cars. And they really shine on the track. If you are someone that does not mind losing the stop-light drags, then you will thoroughly enjoy these cars. But if it does bother you, and your car has never seen a track...you bought the wrong car. You will find yourself soon looking for a FI solution because you will get tired of yelling "but my car handles better!" as the Kia pulls lengths on you.
So if you are looking for a car, or want to make mods to your car, want something with good performance, that "acts" like a performance car, that can beat your friends' cars, all on the street and only the street - then forego everything else and focus completely on the motor (and weight, as a function of weight/power ratio). Brakes don't matter. Handling don't matter. Chassis stiffening don't matter (excepting what is needed to put the power down). "Go" is what matters. And if you stop to think about it, I essentially just described every Muscle car from the 60's & 70's. And look how much of a hit they were.
If you want a track car, ignore everything I have said here.
(Bonus Side Note: the 99 Saturn SC2/SL2 is actually a great little car. Its body panels are plastic, which means it weighs like 2400 lbs. That's fantastic. It also has 4-wheel independent suspension. The motor is rev happy, but under-powered. A built motor or low-to-mid boost FI option and this car would butthurt not a small number of people. It would have made a much better candidate for the Unlikely Racecar Series than that stupid Sonata did on the Budget Racers Youtube channel - ugh.)
