DSM's are straight demons, but how about curves?

[Kenchinito]

I've been reading a lot about dsm's even though i don't have one but hopefully, i'll be getting one soon. And it's pretty clear a well tuned DSM is able to smoke almost everything (if not everything) on a straight line.

Now i was wondering how would a GSX behave inside a circuit? I've come to notice most people only care about straight lines so finding info about a dsm in a circuit was pretty tough.

 

[doctor_shock10]

I've been reading a lot about dsm's even though i don't have one but hopefully, i'll be getting one soon. And it's pretty clear a well tuned DSM is able to smoke almost everything (if not everything) on a straight line.

Now i was wondering how would a GSX behave inside a circuit? I've come to notice most people only care about straight lines so finding info about a dsm in a circuit was pretty tough.

in my old 1g in virginia i took a back road pretty fast (please dont try i almost killed my best friend doing that). with the right setup and driver dsm's can dominate a circuit, 2.0 liter turbo and all wheel drive. what else do you need? .

 

[ESleazy]

My DSM sits like 2 inches from the ground and I've taken some wicked curves at like 60.... of course this is at like 4am on the way to work... but none the less not an appropriate place to be doing it.

 

[1990AWD]

If you were to do some searching, you would find many DSMs in road racing. The top of the game is Andrew Brilliant (Gixxerdrew is his username; or something like that) who races a 700+hp FF 2g Eclipse. There are also many others that do proffesional road racing and autocross in both 1g and 2g DSMs.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

I would just say get an evo but that wasn't your question.

 

[DSM1G90]

DSM's are designed to handle curves being a sport coupe.

They ride a bit lower, have a lower roof height and have a wider track with stiffer suspension than their sedan counterparts due to a simple factor that most don't know: Center of Gravity....

which is an important equation in auto making...to lower you get a vehicle to the ground, the center of gravity is also down low for better handling and control.

Course, you know that INDY car are only fractions of an inch above the ground and hug them corners in a breeze. Being low makes them cut into the wind with no problem, but their extremely low center of gravity also aids in their easy handling. NASCAR vehicles are more like stock, but still ride low to get that center of gravity down some for them to handle the curves.

SUVS are the WORST vehicles on the road due to their center of gravity is very high, thus if you sneeze hard enough, you can tip one over, making them very easy to have an accident in if you drop your phone, eyeballing your GF's good looks and skimpy outfit she's wearing, or spill the coffee in your lap and you do a sudden twist of the steering wheel.....

Kinda of a silly question since most sport coupes - both foreign and domestic - are designed to handle lateral G forces since they have that low center of gravity, but if one doesn't know about that center of gravity factor, they got a nice surprise in store waiting for them when they step into one of these vehicles since they are actually more easier to drive and control than a standard vehicle.

-DSM

 

[DSM1G90]

I could only imagine that an AWD setup would do WONDERS for our times!!!

You'd jump off the line quicker since the rear end would be pushing while the front end would be pulling making the car move in one piece...

..but have to be careful posting speed times since we don't endorse any form of illegal racing and that can cause issues with the MODS ...

 

[dj-t]

I think with the right setup and right driver any DSM can handle the twisty road courses just as well as any other car brands.

When I find enough funds and time I would like to have a circuit warrior that can be driven everyday to the grocery store.

 

[unplugme71]

SUVS are the WORST vehicles on the road due to their center of gravity is very high, thus if you sneeze hard enough, you can tip one over, making them very easy to have an accident in if you drop your phone, eyeballing your GF's good looks and skimpy outfit she's wearing, or spill the coffee in your lap and you do a sudden twist of the steering wheel.....
-DSM

Speak from experience?

 

[Ludachris]

Head over to the Handling forum and Road Racing forum and do some reading. You'll find info in the Tech section as well. Lots to read.

 

[crusada]

And someone has spoke with a 1g road circuit car unplugme71 it does sound like that was from experience DSM1G90

 

[91stocker]

Had some thoughts floating around, kind of fitting for this topic. With people using the ford 8.8 rear in these cars. Has anyone ever used that rear with a watts link? The ford rear would open the rear suspension options wide open wouldn't it?

The griggs products specifically.

 

[crusada]

Thats actually a good thought dude. Id think it would open it up but i honestly dont know for sure. Any DSM WISEMAN input wouild be great on this I would like to know an answer for my self as well

 

[Kenchinito]

yeah, i knew that the dsm's are sport cars and therefore have better handling than say... a corolla ()...

i don't remember where i read this but a guy who had a dsm switched to an evo and posted his comments... he said that the evo is way more fun to drive than a dsm. he didn't specify in what way though... so my question comes from that comment.

 

[69_luv]

I have a biased opinion but my Mini Cooper out corners just about any stock power-train eclipse. Even with lowered, suspension, AWD, you name it my Mini just creams it in the corners. My wheels are literally at the farthest corners of the car, lower, lighter and it's only FWD. My GSX is at least 15mph slower in the same corner when both were in stock form. GSX isn't even close to stock (haven't updated my profile yet...) and it's still not even close to the Cooper. Straight line the GSX destroys the Mini though

 

[Ludachris]

yeah, i knew that the dsm's are sport cars and therefore have better handling than say... a corolla ()...

i don't remember where i read this but a guy who had a dsm switched to an evo and posted his comments... he said that the evo is way more fun to drive than a dsm. he didn't specify in what way though... so my question comes from that comment.

The Evo suspension design is far more modern and refined than the DSM - just like most other new cars that are on the road today. In order to come close to an Evo with a DSM you need to have a lot of upgrades. And most DSMers that jump into an Evo usually had lowering springs and KYB shocks - not quite what I'd call a good suspension, not even in the same hemisphere as an Evo. You get yourself a set of "quality" coilovers for $2500+ put some poly bushings in, address the swaybars, and a few other upgrades, the DSM will handle very well. Put more money into quality differentials and it'll be a monster! It still won't be as modern a design as the Evo but should handle at least as well, if not far better than a stock Evo and most other cars on the road if your suspension tuning is done right. But if that Evo has an upgraded suspension, you're in trouble.

Unfortunately, very few DSMers ever do what's necessary to make these cars handle well. Since these cars are known for easy power, that's where all the money is spent. An Evo is much more fun to drive out of the box than 95% of the DSMs out there. Drop $5-7k into a DSM suspension and that won't necessarily be the case. It's not the natural handler like the BMW M3 of the same generation but with some money and effort a DSM can handle well.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Did some one say demon?

I tracked my car on the Nurburgring. I'd say it held it's own for having a 20 year suspension.

 

[arrowhead]

Well, I agree and disagree on some of the points made.

First what type of curves are you talking about , it is not the same set up for autoX, slaloms, time attacks, etc, or wheel to wheel, depending on which you are planning on doing.

I am building a 98 talon for road racing wheel to wheel, I have no experience with dsm cars but I have built many others before, all rwd.

From what I have learned about these, a lot of priorities change.

You still make your times on the straights and your braking.

No. 1 problem I think is proper cooling , brakes are poor, and a lot of weight can be taken off, I am even replacing the complete roof on mine, extra benefits.

I do not believe a huge turbo is needed. a FMIC I am still debating, etc.

So think of what you want to do first and where to put your money to get best return.

 

[Ludachris]

Well, I agree and disagree on some of the points made.

First what type of curves are you talking about , it is not the same set up for autoX, slaloms, time attacks, etc, or wheel to wheel, depending on which you are planning on doing.

I am building a 98 talon for road racing wheel to wheel, I have no experience with dsm cars but I have built many others before, all rwd.

From what I have learned about these, a lot of priorities change.

You still make your times on the straights and your braking.

No. 1 problem I think is proper cooling , brakes are poor, and a lot of weight can be taken off, I am even replacing the complete roof on mine, extra benefits.

I do not believe a huge turbo is needed. a FMIC I am still debating, etc.

So think of what you want to do first and where to put your money to get best return.

Good points, and a lot of members have already covered much of what needs to be done in our Road Racing forum to make these cars fun at the track. Anyone serious about tracking their DSM should do some reading in that forum.

 

[FLASH1970]

I tracked my car on the Nurburgring.

I'm jealous.