Live-N-Learn
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Learn-N-Live
"Short Wheelbase Nightmares"
This doesn't have to be exclusively to the Mustang. It's just that this car makes an EXCELLENT example as I would like to talk to you about the following subject. FIRST a little terminology. Wheelbase: The distance between the front wheels and the rear wheels. Long wheelbase = better high speed stability but not as good in quick tight situations. Short wheelbase = great slalom handling but dangerous at high speeds unless you have the money to buy a Porsche or other cars designed in wind tunnels to handle high speeds. I always owned big muscle cars in the past so it wasn't until I got a 1989 5.0 before I learned (the hard way!) that short wheelbase + wide tires + powerful engine with all the weight in the front = dangerous conditions in ANYTHING but dry clean road conditions! When I first got my 5.0 I was driving across country and had never had a car with a short wheelbase until now so I was TOTALLY unsuspecting to what was about to happen! Driving through Mississippi after a rainstorm on the interstate at about 60mph I was heading down a hill when I hit standing water dripping off an overhead railroad bridge. Well IMMEDIATELY the rear end of the car was trying to pass the front end and it took a series of quick (VERY QUICK & PANICKED!) counter steering maneuvers to get the untamed pony back into the corral!! I truly thought the car was a total loss and if not for the quick response rack & pinion steering the car would now be a Pepsi can!! Cars that can fit into this category: Nova, Dart, older Trans Am's, Firebirds & Camaro's, AMX's and ANY Mustang, Mach 1 or Cobra's and a few others that escape me right now!
Lesson Learned: KNOW YOUR CAR! Pay attention to the wheelbase and weight distribution numbers. If all your weight is in the front you WILL have problems with the back end trying to come around on you regardless of wet, slippery or trying to stick your car hard into a corner. Learn what your advantages and disadvantages are BEFORE you get into a life threatening situation!
-greg-