Transitioning to new car

[wepsbee]

Have purchased a new car. Fully set up Integra. I am leaving a 95 escort.
I would guess the change in handling is dramatic. The new car is set up much stiffer
than what I have been driving. My question is should I regress on the stiffness of the car ie make the springs/suspension softer, and drive the car and relearn how to drive
or, to borrow a phrase, just shut up and drive!!!!

[Chip42]

how much stiffer is the suspension, really? keep in mind that you loose roughly a quarter of the spring rate on each corner of the honda due to the different motion ratios. the struts you are coming from are very close to 1:1. the car's also heavier.

If the car seemed well sorted before, I'd take it out as is and see what you think before spending any money to undo what's already more than likely right, or at least close to it.

[Greg Amy]

...you loose roughly a quarter of the spring rate on each corner of the honda due to the different motion ratios...

DING! Probably more.

You'll be shocked at how much easier the Integra is to drive than the Escort. Motion ratio and geometry is everything...

Shut up and drive. - GA

[JLawton]

Are the rear shocks adjustable? If so, the first time out out would soften them up 1/2 turn or move the rear sway bar link to the outer most position. That way it will understeer for you and be a little "safer" until you get used to it. As Greg said it will be sooooo much easier to drive....... where it will bite you is if you do something stupid mid corner. You'll need quick hands to catch a stiffer set up. Curbs will no longer be your friend.

Don't sweat it too much. Seriously, just get in it and drive. I have really found over the years that jumping from car to car isn't that big of a deal.

[924Guy]

I'm with Greg. Don't overthink it - just go out and learn what the car wants. Listen, and it'll tell you what it likes. Though it may take sleeping on it for a couple of nights to put it all together.

Last time I made that first transition from a soft to a stiff setup (this on the same car), I spent a whole weekend driving straight into curbs. Wasn't till I had time to sleep on it that I realized, after the race weekend, that I was turning in at the same point; I just didn't have to wait 2 seconds for the car to respond! LOL You may very well have a similar experience...

[dave parker]

Participate in some sort of test day, where you can go out and do lap after lap on a track you know to get used to the car. Do this before your first race event.

Enjoy.

cheers
dave parker

[lateapex911]

. Curbs will no longer be your friend.

Don't sweat it too much. Seriously, just get in it and drive. I have really found over the years that jumping from car to car isn't that big of a deal.

Bwahahaha!
Tell Richie Hunter curbs are to be avoided. I followed that guy, and I saw air under two wheels regularly. And both doors of the thing...in the same corner!
If I did that kind of driving in my car, I wouldn't have a car!

Dan, take it to an SCDA event, or a test day, dial the rear bar back a notch or two and just get up to speed in it one lap at a time. be methodical. You should adapt in a session or two max. Then dial the rear bar stiffer until you're uncomfortable, then back a notch from there.

[JLawton]

Maybe Greg should tell the story of what happened when he rented Richie's car!!

As Greg showed in that incident and what Vaughn said, your turn-in will be a "little" sharper!! LOL

[wepsbee]

Bwahahaha!
Tell Richie Hunter curbs are to be avoided. I followed that guy, and I saw air under two wheels regularly. And both doors of the thing...in the same corner!
If I did that kind of driving in my car, I wouldn't have a car!

Dan, take it to an SCDA event, or a test day, dial the rear bar back a notch or two and just get up to speed in it one lap at a time. be methodical. You should adapt in a session or two max. Then dial the rear bar stiffer until you're uncomfortable, then back a notch from there.

Jake,
Sounds like a plan. This seems like a great approach.
All,
Thanks all for the advice and slightly unnerving stories