DavidTK
10-05-2008, 11:23 PM
I was at a local track doing some testing on my race car and thought - what the heck, let's take the CX-7 out and see how it does. The track is a 2+ mile road course and I've logged more than 1000 miles there over the years so I know the track pretty well.
I pumped up the tire pressures to prevent the tires from rolling over (after giving the car a pre-track checkup), and headed out. Overall, the CX handled pretty well for an "SUV." As expected, the car is biased toward understeer and the front tires howled when pushed mildly. However, it felt pretty planted through the turns and had predictable handling. The power was great and I got it up to 110 mph on the longest straight before having to brake for the next turn.
Which brings me to the weak point on CX for track use: the brakes faded after less than 2 flying laps, and I was pretty easy on the brakes. I could smell them cooking after a lap and a half, so I backed off, did a cool down lap, and came in. But it's not a sports car, so I wasn't expecting much.
I still managed to pass a few less experienced drivers on track - I don't think they appreciated being passed by an SUV and I suspect it's a story they won't be sharing with their buddies.
That's probably the only time I'll ever put the CX on track, but it was fun to give it a try. It was worth the look I got from my wife when I told her I took her car on track (confused)
I pumped up the tire pressures to prevent the tires from rolling over (after giving the car a pre-track checkup), and headed out. Overall, the CX handled pretty well for an "SUV." As expected, the car is biased toward understeer and the front tires howled when pushed mildly. However, it felt pretty planted through the turns and had predictable handling. The power was great and I got it up to 110 mph on the longest straight before having to brake for the next turn.
Which brings me to the weak point on CX for track use: the brakes faded after less than 2 flying laps, and I was pretty easy on the brakes. I could smell them cooking after a lap and a half, so I backed off, did a cool down lap, and came in. But it's not a sports car, so I wasn't expecting much.
I still managed to pass a few less experienced drivers on track - I don't think they appreciated being passed by an SUV and I suspect it's a story they won't be sharing with their buddies.
That's probably the only time I'll ever put the CX on track, but it was fun to give it a try. It was worth the look I got from my wife when I told her I took her car on track (confused)