Its ironic, since the McLaren F1 has been panned for handling quite badly (in modern terms). At speed, which the car easy reaches, the front end goes all vague and at high speed it gets quite unstable.
What I think makes a good handling road car is a car that does what you tell it to, when you tell it to, and little else. That means that the car isn't necessarily super direct, since those cars also tend to tramline and get knocked off course by bumps, but it also rules out your average family hack where turning the wheel seems more a suggestion than a command.
What I look for in a good handling road car is a car that, at its limits, will gently understeer on constant throttle / gentle acceleration (the front should let go a fraction of a second before the back does, but the front should always let go faster) and goes a more neutral when you lift off. It should also have given warning when its reaching the limit of grip, so the understeer comes on gently rather than going from total grip to plough understeer.
That way you can easily approach and find the limits, which have plenty of warning, and it can be brought back on line either by winding on a touch of lock and holding the throttle steady, or lifting off the throttle.
It should also absorb bumps so you're not constantly fidgeting with the wheel and pedals to keep it on-line. This will kill a certain amount of steering and throttle response, but at the same time it means you don't have to drive at ten tenths all the time.
Note: this car won't exactly handle perfectlyu on the track, but that wasn't the question.
Login
Register
Home
Rules
FAQ
Search
