What body is better

[confish86]

#1 I`m new here & between moving & job , (both of which retired me from racing for quite awhile) I have a question on , with all things equal (power to weight) what body is better to run in the spec Focus series (someday i might return & Spec Focus looks like the best place to get back into it) Would it be the ZX3-ZX5- ZX4 or the new 08-up 2dr or 4dr. Is there an advantage to either one if full cage is installed.

#2 I am the owner of an 08 4dr & just woundering if the early models were affected as bad to wind & traffic around you as my 08 is.

I was a roadracer from years gone by (E.M.R.A.) & ran a fully caged 5.0 mustang & did win some races from time to time & if i had the time & money i`d buy Matt Marks ZX4 Focus, but figured nows not the time.
No i`m not a spammer , but a Ford fan (tried & true) & think what you guys are doing is great.

Thanks Gerard

[Ted7rns]

From a Aero stand point... I would say the new coupe is better. After that I would say the Sedans are better. But, We're not talking a small amount here.

[confish86]

Originally Posted by Ted7rns

From a Aero stand point... I would say the new coupe is better. After that I would say the Sedans are better. But, We're not talking a small amount here.

Would it be that the sedans have more overhang on the rear to keep the rear tires planted or does it help the rear of the car rotate better, as the hatchback has more weight on the front than the back, which turns it into a 3 wheeler in corners. ??? I try to get to Summit point at least once a year just to watch the (as some would say the slower classes) & would rather watch those cars all day over the GT cars.

[Ted7rns]

I was really only talking from an Aero point of view or a lower CD. I don’t think we have enough data which is a better handling body.

[sleeperlove]

The sedans have a bout a .05 advantage in coefficient of drag. Which comes from the gradual slope of the rear window to the decklid. The hatch just abruptly ends causing a crazt vacuum/ turbulent air bubble right behind the car.

Edit- Ted beat me to it.

Really neither body should out handle the other, with the same wheel base and track width, then the cage should negate any stiffness advantage the sedan might have had before.

[confish86]

Thanks !!

The reason i asked was a couple of years ago when at Summit , i was looking & talking to the Spec E30 BMW guys & most of them at the time said that the 4dr car was stiffer than the 2dr , because of the center post between the doors. I remember way back in nascar that most used post cars when building cars , & figured maybe some of it did trickle down to the newer cars (but with all these new crumple zones who knows anymore)

[confish86]

Originally Posted by confish86

Thanks !!

The reason i asked was a couple of years ago when at Summit , i was looking & talking to the Spec E30 BMW guys & most of them at the time said that the 4dr car was stiffer than the 2dr , because of the center post between the doors. I remember way back in nascar that most used post cars when building cars , & figured maybe some of it did trickle down to the newer cars (but with all these new crumple zones who knows anymore)

I know it sounded stupid, but the reason i was asking the e30 guys as i was looking at the 4dr sedan escort as an improved touring car instead of the ZX2 body.

[Cameroon]

I have both a hatch and sedan. It may be in my head, but IMO the sedan does seem to rotate better. My hatch has a 21mm rear bar vs the sedan's 20mm but it sure feels like having those few pounds further back help the rear 'swing' a little better.