How good is the NSX @ cornering?

[Daria]

I recently read a report on the 2001 Corvette Z06. They boasted that with their new "Active Handling System" the car can take a driver to 1 g of load in a corner.

Does anyone know what the NSX is capable of assuming new tires?

 

[nsxtasy]

Numbers - particularly cornering loads - don't give a good sense of how well a car corners.

If you want to know how well an NSX corners, you've got to drive one. All of the owners here know how well it does. And it does very well, indeed.

 

[NotFast]

Absolute cornering grip doesn't really matter. How controllable is the car at the limit? How does it handle quick (autocross) transitions? How fun it is while cornering?

IMHO, both the Corvette and Viper (the American sports car approach) are the sledgehammer approach to performance: apply the biggest motor, biggest tires and biggest brake pads and then drum up some big performance #'s. No finesse. No fun. Just pull out the sledghammer.

 

[8000RPM]

Fully agree. G force numbers alone are not enough to judge a car's handling. The Viper GTS generates some amazing lateral g's, but it is not considered a fine handler. On the other hand, cars like the NSX and M3 are considered awesome handlers even though they do not generate the types of g force numbers like the Viper.

Handling is all about how the car inspires confidence in its driver - not track measurements.

 

[19inchNSX]

You should check out the Nissan R34 Skyline. It displays forward-backward side-to-side G-force readings on its factory LCD display. I think it corners better than the NSX but the interior and exterior just can compete with the NSX. The computer corrects even the worst drivers mistakes. Riding in the car was like playing a Gran Turismo game...you can drift all you want.

[This message has been edited by 19inchNSX (edited 03 November 2000).]

 

[Edo]

I think it would be best put by saying that the some cars have "grip" and some cars have "Handling". A car like the Viper or Corvette Z-06 have "grip" which shows very high lateral acceleration numbers. But the NSX has "Handling" which is only apparent while driving the car.