Why is my car 'heavy'?

[Wigeon Incognito]

Right, this may seem a bit odd but my S2 feels 'heavy'.

I don't mean heavy steering, heavy clutch, heavy whatever else and straight line performance is fine too. The whole car just feels heavy. PJS said the same thing when he tried it so it's not just me.

Now my first thought is that it would be much improved if I replaced my rear shocks, they are too soft now and I reckon that after 17 years they're probably due. There is quite a lot of squat on the rear end when you accelerate and I think this is what causes the feeling.

So shocks are on the list, but I was just wondering if anybody could think of anything else that could contribute.

Thanks!

 

[appletonn]

Matt, I felt that way about my car when I first got it, especially in terms of its handling through the corners. I put it down to unfamiliarity and the trackday tyres it was running on, the stiff Bilstein setup etc.

I have to say that the geometry set-up and corner weighting made a massive difference and it feels far more 'alive' to drive now.

The other point to note is that they are not the lightest of cars (mine is 1375KG with a tank of fuel and me!) so they are never going to have the delicacy of feel of say an Elise or MX5?!

After driving mine to Le Mans and back, my day to day car (which i had thought was quite 'sporty' and responsive in isolation) felt like a sofa on castors in comparison, so all things are relative....[]

 

[Wigeon Incognito]

Thanks Nick. The feeling is really eveident when I step back into the MX-5, it feels like a nimble little featherweight compared to the heavyweight Porsche. I went for a run in each car in turn yesterday and the difference really is stark - they're both fantastic cars and just as good as each other but in such different ways.

I did just put it down to the Porsche being a physically heavier car but then having driven PJS's S2 his feels far lighter and more nimble than mine - although with the KW V3s it really ought to!

I'm glad you mentioned the geometry though, I'm having it done during July so that should help too.

 

[appletonn]

Matt, I guess Peter's car is also a few kilos lighter than your car, as he has stripped it slightly from memory - although he has fitted a half cage I think, so perhaps not that much difference overall?

I do think the geometry will make a huge difference to the feel of the car.

 

[Big Dave]

Matt.
Dont compare it to an MX5. They are proper light...And anything will feel light compared to that..
My everday car is a BMW 330 touring + when i jump into my 968 it feels "heavy".. Its just the age of the cars....
Yes your suspension will make a difference, especially a geo check / re set...
If you want a GOOD geo garage, just get in touch with PJS. Ive just used the said garage.. BUT make sure ALL your adjusters / bolts are "loose" + NOT corroded up. otherwise itl cost you,,,,£££££££££££
As far as im aware. Pets car is not much lighter than standard. Yes hes removed a few things, but he then fitted a rear cage.

 

[Wigeon Incognito]

Cheers Dave, Pete recommended a garage to me when I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago which I assume must be said garage, in Barton.

I'm liberally dousing everything in penetrating oil at the moment to try to make sure everything is as easy as possible. It looks like most of the bolts haven't moved since the car was new!

 

[Tam Lin]

ORIGINAL: Wigeon Incognito

Right, this may seem a bit odd but my S2 feels 'heavy'.

Well, my 924S is now pretty light, yet still feels, erm, substantial.

I reckon part of the "heavy" feel is the slowness of the steering rack: If the 924/944 had a quicker rack, the reactions would feel more nimble. One of the reason TVRs feel nimble, even the relatively heavy ones...

 

[Alpine]

I asked my indie why my car felt heavy; I'd driven another S2 and the steering was much lighter.

He said that they were meant to feel heavy, if they have been set up right. A 4-wheel alignment at an indpendant specialist that knows what they are doing is what you might need.

 

[Hilux]

He said that they were meant to feel heavy, if they have been set up right.

I`m inclined to agree. Having built/driven Westy`s and Ginettas they felt heavy also but were nimble but thats because they are bolted to the road in a communicative way as are our 944`s unlike a production car where you are isolated from it all.

Where the lighter cars score is in that the mass or inertia when changing direction or braking feels less as there is less weight transfer apparent.

My KWV3 W/m ARB set up requires a slight action to centre the steering, quite normal but adds to the sensation but the steering turn in and feel is razor sharp..

I can only second an annual geo check, it makes a huge difference.

 

[Wigeon Incognito]

Thanks all, it looks like the geo could be the key and that'll be done asap. It was on the cards for July anyway as I had new wishbones/balljoints a couple of weeks ago - I just had to let pay day pass before splashing anymore cash!

Bombing down to Leicestershire, then London, and finally West Sussex tomorrow from Blackpool so that'll give me a good variety of situations to assess what I think needs doing.

Geo definitely, I've just not made my mind up about whether the shocks definitely need doing or whether they're meant to feel like they do. The back end can get caught out on bumps when cornering hard at the moment because of the movement in the suspension and I guess that shouldn't be the case.

 

[sawood12]

I think these cars can feel 'heavy' as the steering rack ration seems to be lower than modern cars (i.e. they require more turns of the steering wheel to get from lock to lock), also the brakes are not over-servo'd like modern cars so I think this gives our cars a heavy feel as you need to man-handle the controls moreso than modern cars.