Terry,
Sounds to me like you didn't agree with his assessment either, by the
comments you made at the end. Consider that anybody can accumulate data
to support any conclusion that they have already made. All you gotta do
is look through all the data that has ever been published and pick
through it until you find little bits that support your opinion.
Personally, the MkIV rear suspension is a bit weaker than earlier Spits
because of the "Swing Spring" modification that was implemented to
correct wheel tuck. If you were to do the same tests using a Mk3 with a
camber compensator, I date say your results will be drastically
different. Plus as you say, tire technology has changed dramatically
since the early 70's.
(By the way, my reply was more "tongue-in-cheek" than serious)
Regards,
Joe
"Banbury, Terrence" wrote:
>
> Pretty harsh stuff, Joe. I have read this opinion in magazines and heard it
> in discussions of sports car owners, as well. "Generally accepted" doesn't
> mean universally accepted, so the fact that you personally don't hold with
> it, tends to validate Terry's statement. The man also included data in his
> post as well.
>
> > ----------
> > From: Joe Curry[SMTP:spitlist@gte.net]
> > Reply To: Joe Curry
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:52 AM
> > To: Terry L. Thompson
> > Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: Beating a dead horse
> >
> >
> > Terry,
> >
> > I really hate it when anybody starts off a (debatable) statement with,
> > "It is generally accepted..."!!! Who generally accepts this? I
> > certainly don't! Personally, I think that anybody who tries to sell
> > anything using that beginning remark probably doesn't know what the hell
> > he is talking about, and what he really means is, "It is my uninformed
> > and highly biased opinion that..."
> >
> > Regards,
> > Joe
> >
> > "Terry L. Thompson" wrote:
> > >
> > > Recently at work, I had a brief debate with a co-worker regarding the
> > > saving graces of British 2 seat roadsters.
> > >
> > > I tried to explain that it was somewhat generally excepted that, what
> > the
> > > spitfire lacks in a smooth elegent ride and wheel-peeling g-force
> > > inducing power, it made up for in it's ability to corner and tame the
> > > winding country roads. To punctuate my discussion, I provided for him a
> > > list of contemporary "sports cars" and their relative road holding index
> > > (as acquired from Edmunds.com).
> > >
> > > My argument was wasted on his deaf ears. He still calls my car "the
> > > shi?fire"
> > >
> > > Although not side-by-side imperical evidence (and G-ratings tend to vary
> > > slightly), here's the break-down of the road holding index ratings of
> > > several 2000 model year "sports cars" and "convertible compacts" along
> > > with that of the Spitfire. (The percentage of 1g-force that the car can
> > > generate before losing traction in a turn).
> > >
> > > '00 Porsche Boxter S .91
> > >
> > > '00 Honda S2000 .91
> > >
> > > '00 BMW Z3 .89
> > >
> > > '00 Mazda Miata MX-5 .89
> > >
> > > <bold>'73 Spitfire Mark IV .87
> > >
> > > </bold>'99 Mitsubishi Eclipse Syder .86
> > >
> > > '00 Mercedes Benz SLK230 .85
> > >
> > > '00 Pontiac Firebird TransAm .85
> > >
> > > '00 Ford Mustang GT Conv. .85
> > >
> > > '00 Volkswagon Carbrio GL .81
> > >
> > > '00 Chevy Camero Coupe .81
> > >
> > > '00 Saab 9-3 SE HOT .80
> > >
> > > '00 Chevy Cavalier Z24 .74
> > >
> > > '00 Pontiac Sunfire GT .74
> > >
> > > Note that the Spitfire rating was taken 27 years ago, on tires that are
> > > probably not
> > >
> > > as "advanced" or wide as what you might be running today.
> > >
> > > As a printed advertisement from 1973 that hangs on my wall boldy states:
> > >
> > > ".87g's for only about 3G's*." (*$3,295)
> > >
> > > "This performance puts the Spitfire in the same league as the $5,000
> > > Datsun Z-series, the $6,300 Alpha Romeo 2000 GTV, even the $10,000
> > > Porsche 911. And the Spitfire gives you .87g's while getting 23 miles
> > per
> > > g... Gee."
> > >
> > > Terry L. Thompson
> > >
> > > '76 Spit 1500
> >
> > --
> > "If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
> > -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
> >
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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