Question of the Day: Do Live Axles Get a Bum Rap?
I know Farago’s answer, but hear me out. As I mentioned when I reviewed the Bullitt, I’ve driven many Mustangs. And do you want to know the truth? The fact they all have live axles… really doesn’t make any difference. Like, let’s get real here. None. As far as I can tell, the only time you can tell from the driver’s seat the new Mustang is without IRS is when you hit a bump going around a corner. “Dude!” I hear you yelling, “You’re admitting that bumps upset the live axle!” No, not really. I’m simply saying that live axles feel different from IRS. The car doesn’t explode. But what about dangerous? Naw. I mean do you see Mustang FR500Cs killing their drivers any faster than the BMW Z4s, Lotus Exiges, Aston martin V8s or Porsche Caymans it competes with in GT4? Right, you don’t. “But, but, but!” I hear you stammering. “Those ‘Stangs are highly tuned. Regular Mustangs aren’t.” Says who? Here’s what I’m saying after driving an awful lot of Mustangs. Knocking on live axles is just another anti-American car Jeremy Clarksonism. What’s next, knocking the Z06 because it sports traverse leaf springs? Oh wait– he did that, didn’t he? What say you?
Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.
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I think the point to be gleaned from all this brouhaha is that the enthusiast community is a very small segment of the buying public. Given that Ford is able to sell 50k plus Mustangs without IRS, and without substantial noise from the masses is self-evident. The business case is, obviously, closed.
SPIN-SPIN-SPIN: DOES A W111 MB 220 SEb DE'DION-POSI BEAT A 1971 BMW 2002 SEMI-TRAILING ARM-POSI: I CAN LOCK THE BRAKES WITHOUT TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL AT OVER 100MPH BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY POSI ON A JAGUAR 420 4.2L XK-ENGINE WITH 4 WHEEL DISK BRAKES ON STRESSED IRS!!!
RALLY DIRT, MUD AND ICE AREN'T REALLY ONE-LEGGER TERRITORY. I HAVE EXCELLENT CONTROL ON A STRESSED MEMBER IRS: MY TR-6 HAD A NASTY SEMI-TRAILING ARM TOE-IN PROBLEM AND THE BMW 2002 DIDN'T HAVE THE 6-CYLINDER TORQUE REQUIRED TO EXPLOIT THE MISSING TR-6 POSI. I DIDN'T OWN THE MB 220 SEb, I OWNED A HIGHER IRS.
THE DE'DION DATABASE IS PROBABLY ON MB 300SLR EARLY 1950s GRAND PRIX