i was thinking the other day about this and given one option between handling or power which would you choose? assuming its for a track car.

For me i choose handling.95% of my money and time has gone towards handling setup.

so what would you prefer and why?

 

power is nothing without control,simple

 

i wanted a debate not common sense straight away lol

 

You have to have balance, no point in having an F1 car with a 1300 crossflow in the back.
The cars handling must beable to match the power it produces.
Rich

 

Optimise the cornering and braking ability, along with getting the most out of the car at its current performance level before sticking lots more power through the wheels... cause nobody wants to be 'that guy' on trackdays who hoons off down the straights in his million BHP car, brakes miles before a bend and then tiptoes round it.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Handling all day long
I run a 57hp @ wheels 1275 mini and the amount of skylines bmw etc I have almost smashed into especially at brands hatch due to the fact drivers cant drive and poor setup cars.
On the road I use a focus same setup as yours with bushes etc springs and dampers and good quality setup and it has more attention and stories bit like the mini than the muppet who has spent thousands on there vxr

 

Handling and braking first power second

 

Don't forget tyres as well! I'm on the handling first power second too

 

 

Slightly more power than grip so I can have fun

 

How about a muppet that has spent 10's thousands on his car you going to show that a clean pair of heels as well with 57 horses . Love you guys.

 

Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, POWER.
Unless you are playing PacMan, there will be a straight where you are left wishing you had it. Just for reference, my elbow has more power than my car.

 

Handling without a doubt, I have turned my car down to around 300bhp so the car can deliver. T

 

handling and acceleration

 

.........

 

a 600kg car with a 1.3 would be fairly good.lol. it would not need brakes anyway.it would corner at top speed. being seroius though i think it would still beat a fair few at track days

 

A 106gti on itbs which i would guess is around 150bhp can lap castle combe in 1.20/21s on semi slicks..

how much power would a standard road spec chassis saph cossie need to match that time?

400+bhp?? maybe more? what you think

 

if you have a really well balanced car, but little power you end up craving more on the straits,
and vics versa, you can end up chasing your tale, more power, o shit I can't stop or turn.
so my answer is both..... or enough to keep you happy, but I aint found that yet..

 

you have got both you lucky sod.

 

I wish mate, built a good strait line car, crap your pants getting round a corner, sold that...... thought I know I will build a screamer n.a. clio 172, handled really well come then end BUT not fast enough on the straits......sold that...... and you know the rest of the story. human obsession of always wanting more. just one more mm please lol

 

What about a third option ?

some professional track driving instruction !!

you might have the best handling, most powerful car but you still need to know how to use it..



but for the record I would also go for handling over ultimate power.. IMO it will make you a better driver as you have to be quick in the corners carrying momentum to keep up.

used to get frustrated by the straight line merchants on their 1000cc bikes blowing me away on my 750 then holding me up through the corners..

 

im with the handling side of things and my ka proves it ?I can out handle scoobies ,civic type r,and others standard ones mind around mondello park because of the aggressive handling setup on it but I also have a little more power with 120bhp I think every road car is set up very tame and safe for road driving so you can always get a better driving car by upgrading the handling .then if you you are feeling from driving it that it is under powered that's when you add power but always handling first

 

An F1 car with only about 100bhp would mean you wouldn't be going fast enough for the aero to work.
Although a proper Hillclimb 1300cc single seater is rather rapid:
Rich

 

That looked rapid!

 

Power

I have done the whole handling thing with a DC2 Teg for track and tbh found it boring, not enough of a challenge to keep me interested.

I would rather have to much power for the grip that's on offer. The challenge of trying to drive something like is much more rewarding to me. I am not racing and have my car for enjoyment, so aslong as it puts a smile on my face I am happy.

 

I used my puma on a trackday. On the corners and braking it qas good but on the straights I needed more power.

 

I wish my ST170 (ST80) had both

 

Utterly dependent on the track TBH , a short tight twisty track you can go flat out everywhere then you don't need loads of power ,Lydden Hill ,Brands for example .
Completely different at Thruxton ,Castle Coombe , Oulton tho ...

 

Try weight reduction, that will improve speed, conering, brakes and even fuel economy

 

when i got my impreza i loved the way it was apart from it understeered bad at the ring so i thought,,, well there is enough power here im gonna mod suspension to help the understeer,, spent almost 3k on suspenstion upgrades and now,,,, my biggest grip is it handles like a gokart but i cant seem to pull away,,, i can almost corner the same speed as my car produces when i power down but obv just means im cornering faster

my answer is both,,,, oh and big fuck off brakes too as,,,, having brakes where you just stamp on then does make you a shit driver,,,, but you look ALOT better than the one who done the same and hit the armco lol

 

isnt that a bike engine ?

 

i wouldnt say its completely different at combe though, as i said earlier a 150bhp 106 can lap in 1.20/21s.
do you know of any cosworth lapping that quick?? if it does how much bhp does it need?

i read a quote somewhere maybe from this forum and it said something like, big power makes you fast on the straight but light weight makes you fast everywhere.

 

Yup and it's Supercharged
Rich

 

also being a good driver helps a SHIT load more too,,, driving tuition can make a world of difference

 

I cant answer that question but the only time I went to Coombe my turbo seized and I only managed 1.14's while some of my competitors were in the 12's , I then tuned cars into the '9's ,these were 3 times CC saloon car winners .
My point is a power circuit needs Power, a handling circuit needs handling .

 

yeh i understand your point.

some of you have given some great tips and ideas but i was just thinking of a hypothetical situation of what would you choose and why?

no track instruction no race talent just power or grip IF you could only choose one.

 

this kinda sums up what i had going through my head with power vs grip. just what makes you happy.

i still prefer grip but i have no choice cos i have no power lol

 

Bit of a pointless question thou like saying if you could choose just one which you prefer oxygen or water?
Eventually you're fucked without both.
Rich

 

in what car out of interest? 1.14 is bloody quick with a faulty car.

 

Given handling is a relative term, it can mean different things to different people.

If the car feels good and safe to whoever is driving it, then it handles well for them.

Combine that with shitloads of power...and you're sorted

Handling doesnt mean it can co around corners or a track fast. It just means it feels good and safe etc to the driver.