What was/is your favorite car to "fishtail" in?
Some of you may enjoy kicking the tail out while making a turn or if your car has enough oomph, do it from a standing start. Granted, it's not for everybody and hopefully you consider the risks if you do.
Some vehicles are easy to handle doing this and others will have you saying "Never again". I think wheelbase length plays a big factor, but when I compare the experiences with my own vehicles, there is less than 10 inches between the worst to control and the one I felt was the easiest to control.
The Marauder is easy enough to control when "fishtailing". I could get the tail to kick out when making a turn or U-turn, punch the throttle and correct/over-correct with the steering a couple of times before the stock power level is overtaken and it can't make another swing. This is controlled and one way I enjoy playing around with the Marauder when the risk to do so is low. Marauders have a wheelbase of 114.7 inches, front track width of 63.7 inches and rear track width is 66.2 inches.
I have a '70 Torino Cobra w/429 CJ that currently is waiting on me to get her running again. In times past when I would "fishtail" with it, it was very easy to control. You could get it to massively kick the tail out and almost lose it on the first swing or start with a small swing and allow it to continue with each swing getting progressively wider until you had to stop or lose control. I recall once getting to swing 9 times (a swing to one side being "1") on a damp road. With the Torino, if you let the steering wheel slide through your fingers while doing this, it would immediately correct the front wheels and stop swinging the tail. Again, very easy to control and somewhat confidence inspiring. The Torino's wheelbase is 117 inches, front track width is 60.5 inches and rear track width is 60 inches.
My '14 GT500 is another animal entirely. If you are a little over-exuberant, it will break the tail lose easily (super easy when Traction-control disabled) and kick the tail out almost before you comprehend what's happening. And unlike the Marauder or Torino, you get off the gas, steer the front wheels to control it but it continues swinging the tail after what would have corrected the other cars. Not reassuring, makes you think twice about doing it for fun (unless you have plenty of room to allow for it). This car's wheelbase is 108 inches, front track is 61.9 inches and rear track is 62.5 inches.
Does anyone have a favorite vehicle they like the way it handles when doing this, "formula" or rule of thumb for sizing up how well a car may be controlled if you decide to have fun doing this?
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137.1" wheelbase.
Originally Posted by RubberCtyRauder
