How does load affect handling of the P5?
 

I am thinking about buying a P5, but am concerned about how the handling will be affected when I load it down with cargo. I sometimes have to carry 200-300lbs of cargo that will be in the back of the car, although I will try to keep the load as far forward as possible. I am concerned that this will make a front-wheel drive car somewhat uncontrollable at highway speeds. Do I have reason for concern? Is there any aftermarket rear suspension components that would help. I have also looked at the Subaru WRX wagon with AWD, but really do not want to spend the extra 10K. ANY input would be appreciated, as I think the P5 is one of the best looking cars around, regardless of price.

At worst, a 200-300lb load in the Pro5 would make it feel like a typical front wheel drive car. I don't have a Pro5, but in my ES sedan, I have had well over 300 pounds loaded in the trunk and it didn't make much of a difference... it just felt a tad bit heavier.

-Jerry

hmm, i've drivin my car with 6 people in it, 2 in the front, and 4 in the back with about 50 lbs of stuff in the back, with the 4 people in the back weighing in at about 140 LBS each.

I must say they car handled great even with all the exrta weight in it.

I agree that you won't notice a huge difference. For the first trip up to the cottage this year I loaded my P5 with 200-250 lbs of stuff including an outboard motor and firewood. I didn't find any real change in the handling at all even though the car's rear end was visibly loaded down. It's a very practical car.

yeah, handling will still be fine..... I sometimes have 5 people that are 170 pounds each on average in my car, and while they're not all the way back in the trunk hehe, that's quite a bit of weight. The only thing that sucks then is the acceleration.

handling will be fine...you just won't be able to accelerate as fast

are FS series engines where originaly designed as light truck engines...thats why are car has so much torque!!!

okay I have newly aquired experience here.....I just drove across lower vermont and new hampshire in my P-5.....loaded to the roof....4 peoples...and their STUFF. I figured it out...I was carrying 450 pounds more than normal... i rarely got out of 4th gear to keep the engine in the power band....it was a blast running those roads.....the car handled like a champ....pushing through 35 MPH corners at 60....and it was smoothe as glass....

to see how our cars REALLY compare in the handling department....i posted a thread in the off topic forum called STORMIN THE TWISTIES....good stuff.

Yeah its funny to watch the speedometer when you have so many in the car. You floor it, *baaaaaaah!* and here comes 20, 25, 28, 32, 35, 32 *uh oh* 30 25 *here we go* 30, 35, 35 35 35, 37, 40. lol

wow....you have to shut it down at 40?? oh I see...you are stormin a 10 MPH corner....right?

Although my car is not a P5 (it's a sedan) I can confirm that Proteges handle GREAT with a load. Last summer, my wife and I went on a camping trip to North Carolina and I drove the car through Deal's Gap on U.S. Highway 129 across the Tennessee/ North Carolina border, around the south end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This road is Mecca for Miata and motorcycle fanatics; it looks like a go-kart track with lots of elevation changes and trees :)

My Pro was loaded to the gills with camping gear (the entire trunk plus about half the backseat) but it handled the road like a champ. Yeah, it would have been faster without all the stuff, but it still handled terrific and I reeled in a couple of motorcycles :D

FWIW :D

hehe there is this particular onramp near my work that i take when going home...the posted speed limit is 40km/h and there is a 50 degree turn in it....well i can do 78km/h :D, the tires start to lose traction if i go any faster...i'm also in second gear...hehehe i can stay glued to my co-workers RSX's ass going around that corner

hehe, sweet, i did the same thing a few times but i left it in 3rd.

Boy that was fun...

you definitely feel the extra weight in the car. i was driving like a maniac in my MP5 with 4 other ppl in the car and when i charged this circular on-ramp and the thing just stuck to the ground. i doubt we were pushing any limits, but it sure felt cool. got some mini G's goin on.

another 3 year bump...

yeh it can handle weight.... i once had all the DJ gear loaded up in the boot, back seat and 2 passengers in da backk

no probz @ all... though acceleration was crappy (i mean u caint help that LOL)

handling wise... i didn;t have any problems.. exept takin it easy over some bumps hehehe