Well, was just reading the Miata thread....yesterday a Subaru WRX Sti was carving the road in front of me....with the four wheel drive, I was hard pressed to stay with him, and I don't think he was pressing very hard, since one hand was resting out the window. The Vette does great in the longer stretches, but in those twisties, I think a few cars out there will outperform.

But....I'd still rather be in the VETTE!!!!

 

Try having Hotchkis sway bars, Pfadt shocks and go LOW LOW with the car then tell me what you think of the corvette.

 

I've been on track against a heavily modified STi with my nearly stock FRC on lame tires, and it wasn't much of a competition. The guy was a good driver and knew what he was doing, and if I pushed he got smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror. This STi had pretty much every suspension brace and sway bar upgrade you can imagine, and engine mods too.

 

Show those 4dr 4 bangers who's boss.

 

I let him pass me one session, and then I regretted it the rest of the session as he wouldn't point me by. The next session I just decided to push a bit more and there was no way he could keep up. They're not bad cars, but they're not sports cars either.

 

YEAH I would much rather be in my Z than an STI. They are nce cars but I love the Vette!!!

As for cornering.. It has alot to do with how comfortable the people are in their cars, and how far they are willing to push. More times than not people will not push their vehicle past THEIR safe point, not the cars safe point!!! If that make sense.... I has seen a Suburban out corner a Mustang GT and a Celica GTS!!! I guess I was more willing to do the posted ramp speed than they were.......... They would pass no problem on the straights but when it comes time to turn, they back off A LOT!!! This is all below the speed limit too!!!! People are wierd..

 

Anyone remember the video comparing the Yamaha R1 to the Carrera 4? The commentator made the comment that the all wheel drive on the porsche actually made it slower in the turns.

 

For comparisons sake.

Good driver in 405hp Z, coil overs, sways, slicks, exhaust, intake, etc...

Good driver in STi, slicks, intake, exhaust, probably about 400hp also give or take.

1:25 for both cars around Grattan.

More track time, less bench racing = greater understanding of what makes a good car and its not neccessarily the nameplate or perception.

This is another thing that gives Corvette drivers a bad name, a lack of understanding and respect for other cars.

Lets not all forget these high dollar C5's we're all driving probably have a median value less than the average new family cruiser.

 

interesting points...since neither the WRX or myself were pushing to the extreme, I found myself at times not able to really accelerate coming out of the corner, which affects my grip. But I was a little surprised how quick the little guy was....but different cars for different types of driving, though I have seen some comparisons and the WRX performed nearly identical to the Vette. But no one around here but the rice guys check out a WRX...but just last night two people were drooling over my Vette...

 

Well with some Koni FSD's some good Hotchkis springs and a T1 Sway bars you should be able to out perform the WRX all day!

Well, it does depend on the driver, I went with Al at LAPD one day throught the Santa Susana Pass (Heavy Twisties) and there was a WRX that was trying to get out of the way! needless to say it was no cintest.

You should be able to corner well even in a stock set-up too!

Sounds like it might be time for more practice and some new suspension parts too!

Thanks,Matt

 

Lets not confuse the WRX with the STi, as they are COMPLETELY different animals both in power and handling.
The STi is a very easy car to drive fast, there really isn't an art to it, you approach the turn and put your foot on the floor, the AWD and differentials do the work to pull you through. The Vette takes a lot more skill. That is probably why he was moving away from you in the turns. That said, they can be made to be very quick, and I guarentee you that AWD drive is not a hindrance in the twisties.

Besides that, I think that NoOne summed it up nicely.

-George

 

I have a modified wrx... big sways, sti springs/components, etc. By comparison, the Vette feels like its full of lead when cornering. But, the WRX won't hold the road like the Vette will.

WRX is also much, much easier to drive fast.

 

My biggest point...ultimate cornering grip is not the same as a well handling car. Outlaw cars corner GREAT...in one direction...how a car handles the suspension getting upset, change in weight, and how handles those things not only on straight roads but ones with camber, bumps, crown, etc.

It is a lot more in the details. I love my new suspension setup and alignment but I would bet 10 percent of you on here would drive it for 2days or less and go back to stock. Its fantastic for road grip and transititions but if your not paying attention a slight crown in the road will throw you in a ditch. It follows the crown in a road with a vengence and almost has tossed me in the ditch once or twice.

How a car is balanced, and its ability to be balanced, is far more important and varied than ultimate grip in a constant corner which is what most base their presumptions on.

The steering on the Vette is horrible compared to most other cars, its numb, non responsive, and makes you think twice before you do something.

Thats its biggest downfall and the C6's I've driven seem to address it and I'd like to know if they did anything except geometry changes, ie somethat that could be adapted to a C5 to increase steering feel.

Its shorter wheel base is its biggest advantage, the car feels much more connected front to back...my C5 feels like the rear is a good .25 second behind the front.

 

It's far more forgiving when you oversteer and the front wheels pull you back in line. AWD is for those who don't have the skill to drive fast with a RWD car.

They are fun to launch off the line and to drive in the rain, but to me that's about it. The STI is pretty tall, lots of body roll.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnuqiHuLDkQ

"Carrera 4 ... has 4 wheel drive which on a dry track makes it slower."

Does this guy know what he is talking about? Honestly, is there a benefit of AWD on a clean dry road?

He must have some reason. Perhaps in the hands of an experienced driver the AWD is a hinderance in the twisties while it benefits the inexperienced driver.

 

in all my driving around the mountains I've found the pickup trucks to be about the best at the corners, especially the small trucks. I would have to push to shut one down. in caual driving, about 20-25 mph over the posted corner speed, the trucks are all over it.

and I've found that volvo wagons are the craziest drivers on the road. passing in blind corners, speeding, you name it, those guys are on it.

the BMW drivers are the 'weakest'. in town they speed, cut people off etc. in the hills they are total house cats. I shut down a 5 series BMW with my 2002 de ville in the mountains one time. I did burn my brakes out though so I never did that again.

it's the weird isn't it? anyone have similar experiences? -bmb

 

yes I know this feeling very well, the z sway bar sure helped however I can feel the back 'float' off the back suspension at times.

 

I want my click back - looks like I entered the Rice Forum

 

My previous car to the 'vette was an STI. The vette is a whole lot quicker after say 60mph than my Subaru could ever dream, but it did handle corners with a bit more confidence.

Claiming the STI outhandles the Corvette doesn't mean my vette is some kind of boat though... they're both excellent cornerers. I think too many people feel needlessly threatened by such a comparison. They are both awesome cars.

But I don't miss my STI now that I've got the 'vette, except when it's rainy or snow and ice are on the ground. The Subie is just plain awesome in the muck.

 

Yep, don't ya just love these racing/comparison tests!