<VV> Re: Ad - Turbo question?

[Bill Elliott]

I find that all cars have a "comfort" speed (which the car seems to 
settle into if you're not paying attention and there are no adverse road 
conditions). I have a theory that this is close to the torque peak of 
the engine... so older cars without overdrive will necessarily have a 
lower "comfort speed" than modern cars. In a similar vein, due to 
overdriven modern cars, the same speed in an older nonoverdrive car will 
_seem_ much faster.

I find it interesting that so many folks are more comfortable in heavy 
(and topheavy) SUV's than they are in normal cars... except for the 
engine being wound up, I'm much  more comfortable in my Corvair at 90mph 
than I am in my Suburban.

In terms of steering and stability alone, Corvairs without a front 
spoiler/air dam "feel" light" over 60-65mph... but that's easily solved. 
Narrow hard tires (which give little feedback) are easily replaced by 
modern low profile rubber. Almost every Corvair I've been in is 
underdamped (modern performance shocks cure that) and virtually all have 
had loose steering (quickly cured by a modern pitman arm bushing) and/or 
a bad alignment (aligned to bias spec tires vice radials). So you are 
correct...in _most_ Corvairs I would not be comfortable in much more 
than 60-65 on a routine basis, but in _my_ Corvairs, I'm not speed 
limited by the car... only by my fear of revenue enhancement officials. 
I'm more comfortable running at high speeds in a slightly modified 
Corvair than virtually any other car of the era...

What I also find interesting is how various "high performance" cars feel 
at really high speeds (say 125mph). While I've owned a good number of 
cars that would readily do that, I've only driven a handful that felt 
good there...

Bill
 
Eric S. Eberhard wrote:

> Hmmm -- our speed limit here is 75mph, so people travel at 80 
> routinely.  Our Monza wagon (102 hp 4 speed) will make that speed if 
> conditions are good (not too steep).  The Monza sedan (Judson 
> supercharged 102 hp with PG) will make 90 but is really struggling 
> after 80 -- I believe this has more to do with the PG than the 
> engine.  The Spyder Convertible will do 95 and still be pulling -- 
> fear keeps me from going any faster.  The sedan and Spyder will 
> maintain their speeds up reasonable hills.  25 years ago I had a Corsa 
> 180 coupe that I got up to about 110.  I suspect the Spyder will do 
> that as well.
>
> I don't like any of the Corvairs all that well at speeds over 65 -- 
> brakes and steering and air bags are not what they are on a modern 
> car.  They have all made occasional 120 mile trips, the Spyder and 
> Judson sedan can cruise all day in that 75-80mph range, the wagon is 
> 10mph slower over long distances.
>
> All of my speeds are fairly accurate in that I know what the true 
> speed is on each given the spedo reading (I check them against our 
> Landcruiser).  I suspect a 4 speed with the Judson would also do 110.
>
> I, too, am curious not only what speeds are achievable by most people, 
> but also what people are comfortable with (and why).
>
>


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