Fortunately I have been afforded back to back rides of stock base solstices and stock GXPs. My opinion only, but the GXP is better controlled at high speeds, it turns in better, settles better in corners. This is 2007 vs. 2007 cars, and also a SKY thrown in for good measure.
The GXP (and/or RedLine), (again my opinion, and I don't own my own of either) to me seems to have a neutral turn in, obviously less roll in a hard corner, and mild understeer exiting corners. I think (again, MY OPINION) that this is a proper way to set up a car that has excess accelerative capability. It allows the ability to roll on throttle without worrying as much about countersteering. The ability to trim the car with throttle was nice, and the lag which I was worried about was mostly non-existent.
Skidpad/stopwatch showed pretty much identical lateral g's - about 0.88 to 0.90, some on same day, some on different days, and mostly on the same location. Approximate speeds through a slalom, about 65-69 mph on average for a base solstice on stock tires, and about 2 mph faster and more consistent on a RedLine (GXP not available that day).
My initial thoughts were that some more damping might be warranted in the rear of the GXP, but not sure if that would be worth any tradeoff in rough ride. It would also potentially hurt the neutrality of the turn in - making turn in 'sharper' but potentially more difficult to control, and corner exit more dicey when going with power up...
I was waiting for fastmike's chance to revalve shocks, 'cause I suspected he would add damping. Apparently it works, but also makes it ride harder.
Ordered my ZOK/Clubsport Solstice today!
I bet it autocrosses better, but would be worse on a road course.
Conversely, the turn in of the base car seemed as neutral as the GXP, but the car seemed a teeny bit more... tail-happy on corner exit. I found that interesting, but factor in the amount of power and it isn't that surprising at all.
Again, MY OPINION, that people may be perceiving the amount of transient understeer tuned in the car as 'less handling'.
HOWEVER, there's more to handling than weight, power:weight ratio, stopping distance, and grip/skidpad g's. A car must also balance ALL directions of acceleration, and a driver must be able to read a car and find a way to live with it, bend it to his/her will by changing/tuning it, or find another 'weapon of choice'.
I also find that the further I push a GXP/RedLine, the better it feels - that means the closer I get to the edges of the friction circle, the better I feel. Just MY OPINION.
Now, IF I read this stuff right, people seem to feel the GXP is more 'pushy' or maybe isn't as 'sprightly' as the base car. To many, this is considered 'less handling'. Maybe I am misinterpreting it, but allow me contrast that with a car I consider 'sprightly'.
The Honda S2000. I don't know if any of you have driven one. Wicked-sharp turn in, but that car sometimes has a will of its own. Corner exit behavior - it all depends. Have you heel-toed and hit the right gear? What's your corner exit RPM, are you in the power band (about 6K) or below it... before, during or after the cams switch? if you're below it and the cams switch on you powering out of a turn - you had damn well be johnny-on-the-spot with the countersteer, or set up an appointment with any track 'safe barriers' and your rear fascia. Corner exit - not enough chassis understeer, and not a consistent torque application = tail-happy.
Be smooth in an S2000 - turn in must be done carefully and no quick corrections. Don't do anything more than what you intend - like in a chicane, and be PROMPT in your countersteers - or you will eat 2-second penalty cones for lunch. It sucks to try and pry them out of the wheel wells.
Does it handle 'better'? Yes. No. Maybe. It has better grip (0.92g) on stock tires. Slalom with active handling off is or can be a friggin' handful. You may squeeze an MPH more than the GXP, but you will work your ASS off to do it. I don't this this is the hallmark of a good-handling car - FOR ME. (this means: MY OPINION)
I enjoy driving the GXP/RedLine more.
This all leaves us with what to do. From the added power alone, I find it hard to belive that a n/a Sol will negotiate an autcross or road course faster by the stopwatch than a GXP - ESPECIALLY if prepped with Hoosier/Kuhmo type tires. This has never happened in any of our evaluations.
But - as I said, power:weight isn't everything, either. Just look at the SCCA Solo Nationals - a 16.4 lbs/hp car stomped a 450 lb lighter 14.7 lbs/hp car. Go figure.
It seems to me we may not (LV's well-done evaluations aside for a moment) dealing with anything that can be put on paper, but maybe a necessary balance in a car with 55% more power and torque. I can't always borrow a VBOX or DL1, so I have to do my stuff the old fashioned way - with a stopwatch.
I hear these same 'complaints' at times about the Corvette. It doesn't 'feel' like it handles that well - but any car you can slam around Grattan Raceway in the sub minute-and-a-half timeframe sure as heck ain't a slouch.
S'man sums it up imho. My '06 base stock handles like a Seabiscuit but it takes the jockey to know the horse. JustMike tossed me his GXP keys; I was impressed with the power on a straight stretch, but unfortunately we didn't have the time to take it where it counts: around a few twisties. Maybe in May.....
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