Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Leaf Springs vs. Coil Springs

[robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com (robert_h_bowser]

As far as this member of the peanut gallery is concerned....

The C5 Z06 (GM leaf springs) is the most incredibly handling car I have ever 
been fortunate to drive.  GM really did it right.  But then again, I am not 
really a track guy.  I'm a high speed guy.  And when you push that car to high 
speeds, it is very stable.  Very forgiving of lousy road surfaces.  On a very 
tight track where the speeds are limited to less than 60mph, many other cars 
would run circles around it.  On high speed tracks, it would probably be the 
reverse. 

I think that there are so many other factors affecting handling that I can't 
say that the leaf spring is any better.  Every car is a package.  Good and bad. 
 Really depends on the application.  Each car is tuned for a different 
audience. 

I've had a Lotus Europa S2, a Jaguar XKE, a Datsun 280Zx, a Ferrari 308GTS, and 
a Corvette Z06.  All great cars in their own way, but terrible cars in other 
ways.  All different.

Can't see one suspension design as being intrinsically better than another.  
Depends on the entire package.  What works for that car.

Bob
'01 Corvette Z06
'78 308GTS 
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