[Warez]

I’ve seen this question thrown around very often on numerous F car forums with no real consensus reached. So which do you guys think is the better handling platform, the 3rd or 4th gen? Also was the 4th gen front suspension a superior design to the modified McPherson setup used on the 3rd gens? I often hear 3rd gen owners saying the 4th gen setup is inferior.

[Warez]

From my understanding the rear suspension are identical with all parts being interchangeable. However since the rear tracks are slightly different, doesn’t that mean that the 4th gen rear end is slightly wider than the 3rd gens? How exactly is the track measured anyways, is it the distance from one wheel mounting surface to the other?

With regard to the front suspension, the short and long arm (dual A-arm) design on 4th gens have superior camber characteristics by being able to keep the same camber when the suspension is compressed; whereas the McPherson suspension on 3rd gens loses its camber the more you compress the suspension?

Identical to the CTS suspension:

(IMG:http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/PV__005672__.jpg)

http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/previewpage?005672

Also from my understanding, cars with McPherson strut suspensions provide optimal handling when the lower control arm is parallel to the road. When you lower these vehicles you move the instant centre below the road line which results in worse handling, such as in Fox body mustangs which actually handle worse when they are lowered unless you install the expensive lowering kits.

So it can’t be as clear cut as that, what else am I missing especially since most of you are tipping the hat to the 3rd gen?