Quote:
Originally Posted by enkeivette
No blanket statements. Statements from reading motor trend magazine for years. They tested all the hot cars a few years ago and published a report. Vipers and Vettes had slight oversteer. And I'm pretty sure they know the difference between breaking the tires loose with the motor and breaking the tires loose with lateral g force.
So, yes, a Corvette will oversteer in neutral. Wanna go for a ride? I'll show ya. And as physics would have it, more weight in the rear would make that bias worse.
The Corvette frame has been completely transformed 3 times since my frame was conceived in 1963. The front end is about 2 feet shorter now and the transmission is in a different spot. I don't believe that maintaining a 50/50 weight distribution again and again was an accident. Too much has changed and the weight distribution is no accident. The fact that the other American front engine rear drive supercar has almost the exact same weight distribution with a different frame, engine, and transmission location is no coincidence either.
I'm not saying they got it exactly where they wanted it, I agree there is always a need to compromise. But I'll bet 50/50 was and always has been their goal.
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50/50 may have been the goal. 50/50 weight distribution may indeed be the best compromise for a street car but this does not make it ideal. What i am saying is in terms of outright performance a rearward weight bias allows for quicker changes in direction and better braking performance which is proven time and again by purpose built race cars and very high performance street cars.