[Shotimes] "Soul"

[BJamesjr@aol.com]

> I don't know about all of this "soul" stuff.  What defines 
> "soul"?

Soul means how responsive it is:

When you put on the brakes, does the car stop?  Do you have to move the pedal way down before the brakes start to take effect?  Does the body pitch forward excessively?

When you hit the gas does the car accellerate?  If it is an automatic does it downshift quickly?  Does it get anemic near redline?

When you enter a turn does the car turn with you?  Does it take too much steering effort to get it started?  If you enter too fast does the front end keep pushing forward or does the rear end suddenly get loose?  Does the body roll excessively?  

Does the car inspire confidence?  Does it feel like it is supercar and will do anything you ask?

Does the engine sound like a tractor when it revs?  Does it sound like it has a potato in the tailpipe?

I can answer favorably to every question with my Gen 1.  With my Gen 3 I can answer favorably to everything except the ATX part.  I haven't driven a new Max, G35, Mazda.  I did drive a 3.2TL-S which was reasonably responsive but it did not provide a very solid feel.