why can't american car makers make a car that handles? Don't gove me that corvette rubbish etc coz they stink.

Answer 1

Oh, I diifer in opinion a tad.
Yes, a lot of the rubbish out of Detroit etc. handle like damp sponges, and only good for long straight bits.
However, I bought a nice Pontiac Transam when living in the Mid-East, and although just the "baby" one at 4.9 litre tubocharged, I was amazed at the way it stuck to corners at high speed, did lovely power-slides, no spongy wallowing about, but the suspension & general design gave a very comfortable ride.
OK, ditch the catylitic converters, stick the best tyres available in it, and have fun.
Only real problem I had was on smooth sticky tarmac at a set of lights in town.
The thing, when floored, just sat there for a tick in a cloud of blue tyre smoke, then sort of took off in a big way.
Every confidance in it, though, when hurtling around bendy mountain roads. It under-steered a tad, but still went exactly where you aimed it.
I do agree though, that a lot of USA stuff is pretty hopeless stuff.
Cheers for your observation,
Bob.

Answer 2

Define "handles" - and define an American car maker. I've never heard anyone accuse the Mosler MT900 of handling like a pig.

American cars made for boring, everyday transportation aren't really made to handle. They're made for driving on pothole-filled, relatively straight streets. But American manufacturers can build cars that handle if they put their minds to it.

Some good examples of American cars that can handle:

The Dodge Neon ACR competely dominated SCCA Showroom Stock road racing when they came out. It wasn't until the SCCA allowed other manufacturers to add "trunk kits" (extra parts not sold on the street versions) that anyone else - Japanese, European, or America - could rival them.

While the regular Pontiac Solstice hasn't been too spectacular, Pontiac offers an upgraded package that completely routed the Miata in B/Stock autocross racing this year - something nobody's pulled off for, well, ever since the Miata came out.

While the Corvette and the Viper may feel like sledgehammers to a Lotus's scalpel approach, even something like a WRX will have a hard time chasing one down on a tight, winding course. I've seen WRX drivers try and fail.

It's just that there is not very much demand for small, light cars in the States, so this segment doesn't get developed very often.

Answer 3

Ever hear of Carrol Shelby, Rousch, Saleen? The cars produced by these men can, have & will continue to stomp the crap out of just about anything on the road. Does the name Ford GT ring a bell? It ran the best Germany & Italy could offer off the road & did it for 1/3 the cost.

Answer 4

you dont want to hear it, but the corvette put out a better time on the nurburgring than any other production car, so i would say that it handles. the CTS-V and GTO both put a beating on the other cars in their classes in the american LeMans series. if properly driven, the Corvair was devastating on roadcourses compared to other cars in its class. i think that there are some american cars that can handle well. but basically, americans have typically bought cars based on straightline performance, 0-60 and 1/4 times, and thats what carmakers cater to.

Answer 5

This was on Top Gear a few years ago.

Its because American roads are much straighter than ours and so there is less of a need for them to handle well.

Answer 6

No need for a car that handles well in stop & go traffic. A '87 Buick with 3 flat tires handles good enough for most U.S. urban traffic.

Answer 7

They used to.
You never drove my Mopar. That car would dance.
My bike handles ok for a tank too.

Answer 8

How did a car make it to being a cycle

Answer 9

All usa made cars are designed for drag racing, not handling.

Answer 10

My question to you is:
Why is a car question in the motorcycle section??