[Shotimes] Pontiac unveils SHO successor?

[Donald Mallinson]

Scott,

There is a reason why virtually every car sold anywhere 
understeers instead of oversteers when the going gets tough. 
  IT is safer.

YOU may feel you like oversteer better, but understeer is 
safer, this is proven many times over.  Ask any racer if 
they would rather have oversteer or understeer.  Understeer 
gives warning, oversteer quite often does not.  There are 
times when oversteer can be useful, and even fun, but on 
slick roads in traffic is not the place.

Also, what do you put in the back of your truck that weighs 
300 pounds?  IF it isn't solidly secured, what will happen 
in an accident or emergency stop?  The dad of a friend of 
mine used to carry a 200 pound section of railroad track in 
his trunk.  Good thing he never hit anything, that would 
just keep going right through his head!

Plus, plenty of people have proven that putting weight in 
the trunk (or back of a pickup) doesn't really improve 
traction.  Some of the best vehicles for snow are light, 
narrow tired vehicles.  the more weight, the more you have 
to get moving, the more you have to stop, the more you have 
to turn.  Adding weight just impairs that process.  This 
isn't just my opinion, it has been tested for and evaluated 
by others.

I have no doubt that you like the dynamics of your Ranger 
better than the SHO, since you say it is so.

You also should have no doubt that what I have presented in 
my own experience is true.  So we can each believe what we 
want.  :)

Don Mallinson

Scott Krietemeyer wrote:
> Don:
> 
> I have the following three vehicles in my stable...
> 
> 2 Gen 3 SHO's an
> 1 1997 Ranger 2WD pickup (5 speed and 4.0 L V6)
> 
> I add a little weight to the back of my ranger for the winter months
> (about 300 Pounds)  While my ranger will not break any land speed
> records in deep snow going in a straight line, it is my preferred
> vehcile for winter travel.
> 
> Why?  Because it is predictable and very easy to manage in the snow
> and ice as oversteer is very controllable, and actually I am familiar
> enough with the truck in the snow that I use it to my advantage.  If
> it is a 4 lane road I am turning left onto, I will slide sideways
> right into my lane just as desired.
> 
> The counterpart of understeer in a FWD when turning on ice and snow is
> much more dangerous to me than the very predictable oversteer that my
> pickup exhibits.
> 
> Different strokes for different folks, but FWD was a stupid decision
> overall and was made to appease the average idiot behind the wheel
> that isn't prepared to manipulate their cars as the situation may
> warrant.  The average idiot would rather have some understeer so they
> can see what they need to avoid hitting I suppose - not me.
> 
> Scott Krietemeyer