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From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Ferrari vs Big block Corvette
Message-ID: <661@ihuxk.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Jun-84 18:52:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxk.661
Posted: Fri Jun 15 18:52:37 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 03:01:15 EDT
References: <1171@qubix.UUCP> <461@trwspp.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 24

For the person who complained that the 1984 Vette was too heavy to
be a true sports car, it is exactly the same weight (within 50 lbs,
and I'm not sure of which direction) as the Ferrari 308GTS.  The suspension
of the Vette is definitely not old fashioned.  The front suspension uses alloy
double wishbones (or A-arms).  The transverse fiberglass leaf springs
used front and rear should be judged on how they work, not on the fact that
they are leaf springs.  In my view, its an innovative suspension, especially
in the use of fiberglass springs.  Hey, the Ferrari GTO (new one) is a great
car, but its also a 200 model limited production line, with a lot of
things that even Ferrari wouldn't do in greater quantities.  $100k should
buy a lot of high tech.

Bob Schleicher
ihuxk!rs55611
AT&T Bell Laboratories

PS  Car and Driver just re-compared the 85 Vette, Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole
Porsche 928, and Lotus Turbo Esprit, in a top-speed shoot-out.  The Vette
won, at 154 mph.  C&D also said that with the new suspension changes,
which lowered spring rates while increasing roll stiffness, that the
Vette felt very stable and smooth at 150+, on the banked turns of the test trackThe others?
Lotus - 152 for  a lap or two, then blew a hole in a piston
Porsche - just under 150
Ferrari - 151, despite an indicated speedo reading of 168!