Chassis that flexible?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 24 2006, 11:56 PM) [snapback]353875[/snapback]</div>

wow that much weight?? awesome!

 

Stiffer chassis are always preferable to flexible chassis - it isn't just one particular design philosophy. You'll never see a flexible chassis as a design goal, only a maximum amount of chassis allowed before more bracing or modification is required. There are at least 4 reasons why a stiffer chassis is preferrable to one with lots of flex:

1. Better handing. By eliminating as much variable geometry in the chassis, the suspension components work as designed by the engineers. The last thing you want in a tight turn is chassis flex allowing your alignment to change.

2. Better comfort. Limited chassis flex allows more roadshock to be handled entirely by the suspension as intended by the designers. This permits a higher degree of control and isolation between the road and the vehicle. If a cushy ride is desired, softer springs and shocks can be used. If a more sporty ride is the goal, that can be tuned as well.

3. More durability. Chassis flex over time is the most common reason for the dreaded vehicle squeaking that inevitably develops over time. Also, the less the chassis flexes, the less stress parts like door hinges, dask components, and other parts will experience.

4. Better "feel." All things being equal, the stiffer the chassis, the higher the customer perception of quality will be.

These reasons are precisely why the most expensive cars have the stiffest chassis. So why don't all cars? Because like most things, less flex means more money.