Handling of old vs new cars

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jkoorts
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Handling of old vs new cars

Post by jkoorts »

I was reading that the new Polo GTI is putting out a whopping 147kw. It is also lower and wider. All good properties for a nice handling car.

But then I read the weight of the thing is like 1355kg. That is 500kg heavier than a MK1. Please take some time to reflect how much 500kg is. It is nearly another car worth in weight!

If you would be driving that polo and you would want to throw (and I mean really throw) it into a corner, you would be swinging 500kg more in that turn than a MK1. No matter how good the technology has advanced you still have this thing called physics and so I as a 1400 corsa bakkie driver the last 10 years would like to know:

Taking for example the TT, TTS, GTI, M3, M2 - How does a modern heavy sport(ier) car handle these days through a 90 degree turn compared to a MK1 at lets say 50km/h?
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Re: Handling of old vs new cars

Post by HendrikCTI »

There are some other things to keep in mind if you do compare it to a Mk1.
Better suspention is one.
Wider tyres is another.

I would say the difference on your test example there would be very little difference in handling between the two but I would gladly take the GTI above a Mk1 as the ride comfort would be better and high speed handling also. Heavier cars tend to handle better at high speeds.
50kmh making a 90 degree turn rarely happens. But take both cars and put them in a everyday possible situation on today's roads like jerking the car to prevent a deep pothole on the freeway traveling at 120kmh, the GTI will win hands down.
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Jetta2
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Re: Handling of old vs new cars

Post by Jetta2 »

A Rolls Royce Ghost that weighs 2500kg will handle that turn better than a Mk1 and arguably better than the Polo GTI.

It is not just weight that makes a difference. Steering geometry, tyres, shocks, in fact, the whole design dynamic of the vehicle will make a difference.
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RedBeard
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Re: Handling of old vs new cars

Post by RedBeard »

Im sure the mk1 has a narrow wheel base compared to the GTIand like HendrikCTI says the whole setup differs. Newer cars are designed to accomodate all the weight. If you stick all the functions and trick bits of the GTI in a mk1 you'll add alot of weight aswell. I can personally say my aygo handels much better than my mk1.
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Re: Handling of old vs new cars

Post by Neuk »

Just about any modern car will handle better than a stock MkI Golf.
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