Does cornering power matter?

[expat]

Originally Posted By: Bamaro
I guess it matters to someone who enters a curve a little too fast.


But you need to 'feel' when you approach too fast, preferably before you leave the road.
The last real sticky tires I had, had very little margin between full control and 'out of control'. very unnerving!
On the road the less sticky, predictable tire would inspire greater confidence.

 

[antonmnster]

Of course lateral acceleration matters! I think it's an important indicator of what kind of maneuverability one can expect from a car. It's not an ultimate number, just an indicator.

I'd rather have a car that is balanced, predictable, and has tenacious grip than one that can just accelerate to sixty fast.

That's why someone will have to pry the 3-Series keys from my cold, dead hands.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: expat
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
I guess it matters to someone who enters a curve a little too fast.


But you need to 'feel' when you approach too fast, preferably before you leave the road.
The last real sticky tires I had, had very little margin between full control and 'out of control'. very unnerving!
On the road the less sticky, predictable tire would inspire greater confidence.


You missed his point. He was saying that the extra traction can save you when you misjudge a corner and enter faster than you intended to.

Higher cornering power also gives a competent driver the ability to avoid obstacles. Unfortunately, the average driver only knows stomping on the brakes if something gets in their way...assuming they don't run into it without noticing it because they were talking on their cell phone.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Pete591


FYI...a Corvette Z0-6 on the same bank is a widow maker. Thank goodness it has a ton of under steer. The rear end just gets away from you every time. The front end is too heavy...a true lead sled. A 0-100 drag car.



That would explain why Caymans do so well against Z06s on road courses.

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
...The only thing is that you pay for the AWD every mile you drive, although it is there when you need it.


In 1990 I had an AWD loyale wagon. well, actually it was 4wd with manual 4-hi xfer case. It was one of the last years there was a 2wd "option"

total difference? 1mpg between 2wd and 4wd models, and 1mpg diff between AT and MT models.

I later owned a 2.2L '97 legacy wagon AWD. Same rear, center diff (yes, a diff) with viscous lockup. station wagon, 5 spd. it bettered my '02 accord AT in mpg. Note, the AT subies have a totally different AWD system back then, they were FWD with rear assist via viscous lockup IIRC, like a CR-V.

Not much of a mpg hit for another 2 wheels driven. Tho anemic, that 2.2L wagon was a *blast* to handle.

I did wonder if it ran a touch rich.

Mike