Competitive Mode Handling
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 06-28-2008
Posts: 62
From: Simi Valley, CA
Competitive Mode Handling
Coming home late, and without my carpool coworker I took the "scenic" route home last night: the Santa Susana Pass.
This is absolutely the best handling FWD car I've ever been in. Absolutely would have trounced my SRT-4 Neon. That car (stock) wanted to understeer into hot corners, the torque steer was more severe, and you could feel that it was nose heavy.
This car actually would rotate quite neutrally around its center, and felt very balanced. In fact, I got the rear to rotate out, and the ESC would gently pull me in. There's obviously more of a performance envelope left than the ESC will allow, even in Competitive Mode, but the public streets are not the place to discover them.
Once I sent the car slightly sideways and I was amazed at how gently I was reigned in (even though I didn't really need saving, just needed more throttle to pull out of it
). The system works great. 
The car operates with surgical precision. If only I could mate the infinite torque of my Mustang, with the handling of the SS I'd be in heaven!
So big thumbs up to the engineers who made the SS handle this well, including the gentle electronic nannies.
This is absolutely the best handling FWD car I've ever been in. Absolutely would have trounced my SRT-4 Neon. That car (stock) wanted to understeer into hot corners, the torque steer was more severe, and you could feel that it was nose heavy.
This car actually would rotate quite neutrally around its center, and felt very balanced. In fact, I got the rear to rotate out, and the ESC would gently pull me in. There's obviously more of a performance envelope left than the ESC will allow, even in Competitive Mode, but the public streets are not the place to discover them.
Once I sent the car slightly sideways and I was amazed at how gently I was reigned in (even though I didn't really need saving, just needed more throttle to pull out of it
). The system works great. The car operates with surgical precision. If only I could mate the infinite torque of my Mustang, with the handling of the SS I'd be in heaven!
So big thumbs up to the engineers who made the SS handle this well, including the gentle electronic nannies.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-03-2008
Posts: 1,664
From: jerSSey, exit 5
I am absolutely amazed at how well this vehicle handles. I've taken some turns at outrageous speeds (break-in period, what's that?) and it has never broke loose, and the tires don't even squeal or give up. Kudos to the Chevy engineers.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-27-2008
Posts: 276
From: Arlington, Texas
The similar system on my Z06, called Active Handling, is amazing. It's like the hand of God nudging you around the track.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-06-2008
Posts: 1,076
From: Over here
Yup. I've found that when you're in a curve, the rearend tries to pitch on rebound.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-03-2008
Posts: 1,664
From: jerSSey, exit 5
I haven't had it past 80 yet. Only a little while longer until I finish break in period.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-30-2008
Posts: 278
From: Texas
I was up to about 125 mph passing 4 cars in Arkansas. It got there quick and was smooooooth. I haven't been up over 80 mph in the turning department, but it was on rails doing 80 mph into a reasonably hard right corner with compresion since the corner was at the bottom of a hill. The car isn't a 'vette, but it does handle nice!
