('93-'01) At the limit?

D · 04-17-2001, 12:45 AM

Hi.
Tax season is over and while awaiting my refund I've been salivating over the numerous things that I can do ranging from suspension work to rims to engine mods and possibly driving school.

Before I do make a decision, I have a question about driving at the limit, what it feels like, and how suspension affects it. It basically goes like this... when driving at the limit, is it a much more sudden onset when you have better suspension then worse suspension? An example to clear it up would be driving in as tight a circle as you can as fast as you can. In stock suspension, the body roll and tire noise will probably be evident almost immediately and gradually gets worse until the car breaks completely lose. In a better suspension setup, will the car be nice and smooth and then suddenly lose it? Meaning because you have a nice tight chasis and sway bars and strut bars and coilovers all over, you can get closer to the limit, but won't know how close you're straddling it until it's dangling between a fine edge. Then it's either on one side or the other with no real warning of how close you are?

Background behind this question is I'd like to get new suspension eventually but am also looking at classes. Would it be better to learn on a more stock car which gives you signs much earlier? Or does better suspension also give you as much warning, but due to your car's better handling gives you a "higher" limit to reach for?

Thanks!
D

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thebusiness999 · 04-17-2001, 11:23 AM

I don't know a specific answer to this, but FWIW, I think you'd be better off going to classes with the suspension that you plan on using all the time. If you will have a nice suspension set-up, learn on it...if you use the stock set-up, then learn on that.

OldWRXr · 04-17-2001, 01:51 PM

Yeah, I'd opt for the driving school. You'll be able to learn about "limits" in a classroom setting before going to the track. There are many different ways suspension mods work, but for the most part a stiffer suspension works to keep the tires planted more firmly on the ground and reduces body roll.

04-17-2001, 12:45 AM	#1
D Scooby Newbie Member#: 3161 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Berkeley, CA	At the limit? Hi. Tax season is over and while awaiting my refund I've been salivating over the numerous things that I can do ranging from suspension work to rims to engine mods and possibly driving school. Before I do make a decision, I have a question about driving at the limit, what it feels like, and how suspension affects it. It basically goes like this... when driving at the limit, is it a much more sudden onset when you have better suspension then worse suspension? An example to clear it up would be driving in as tight a circle as you can as fast as you can. In stock suspension, the body roll and tire noise will probably be evident almost immediately and gradually gets worse until the car breaks completely lose. In a better suspension setup, will the car be nice and smooth and then suddenly lose it? Meaning because you have a nice tight chasis and sway bars and strut bars and coilovers all over, you can get closer to the limit, but won't know how close you're straddling it until it's dangling between a fine edge. Then it's either on one side or the other with no real warning of how close you are? Background behind this question is I'd like to get new suspension eventually but am also looking at classes. Would it be better to learn on a more stock car which gives you signs much earlier? Or does better suspension also give you as much warning, but due to your car's better handling gives you a "higher" limit to reach for? Thanks! D * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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04-17-2001, 11:23 AM	#2
thebusiness999 Scooby Specialist Member#: 3767 Join Date: Jan 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: back in Los Angeles! Vehicle: 2008 BMW 135i !!! Jet Black	I don't know a specific answer to this, but FWIW, I think you'd be better off going to classes with the suspension that you plan on using all the time. If you will have a nice suspension set-up, learn on it...if you use the stock set-up, then learn on that.

04-17-2001, 01:51 PM	#3
OldWRXr Scooby Specialist Member#: 4650 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA USA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Silver	Yeah, I'd opt for the driving school. You'll be able to learn about "limits" in a classroom setting before going to the track. There are many different ways suspension mods work, but for the most part a stiffer suspension works to keep the tires planted more firmly on the ground and reduces body roll.