Handling -- a story

["Christian Els" <tiAn@usiw.net>]

I finally got to wring out my (wife's ;) Scirocco over the holiday weekend
on a nice four-hour two-lane trip to my grandparent's farm.

Yes this is the car I bought last September, shame on me for having a life
besides this car. Nevermind the fact that I haven't started my scooter in
over a year :(

What I wanted most to share for commentary was a rather surprising
observation, as follows:

I have an all new suspension under this thing; Boge Progas struts, OEM
springs and bearings, and urethane bushings. I also have a pair of huge (25
mm front, 28 mm rear) anti-roll bars BUT I have only gotten around to
installing the front bar, the rear is still the stock (19 mm on a 16V?)
piece.

All my previous experience with Rabbits and Jettas (several of which were
pretty thoroughly done), my experience with other brands and all the
literature I have read (Raven, Schroeder, Hamilton, et al) suggest that with
my car set up as it is, it should push (understeer) worse than my old Alfa -
not an easy feat mind you.

What I discovered instead was a wonderfully neutral car that trailed nicely
on-throttle, slipped the rear just a bit at steady thrust, and purposefully
(but very controllably) steps the tail loose off-throttle. The thing flat
drives perfectly. I found myself taking corners faster and with more
confidence than I had in either of my dedicated track GTi's.

At this point I'm hesitant to put the bigger rear bar on for fear I'll lose
this wonderful feel and control the car now exhibits. But I'm very confused
why this setup is working so well.

Thoughts?

My wife is slowly but surely losing this car to me...heh. She wants a
toaster er, Honda anyway, I'll have to find her one ;)

tiAn
87 16V
stuff.


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