Carrera's Mustang guide placement

QUOTE (Julian_Boolean @ 20 Aug 2012, 14:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>... go for the Ford Torino or the Dodge Charger 500, BTW both the Dodge Chargers and the Plymouth Superbird have the same chassis but the spoilers and droop snoots on the Daytona and Superbird mean they handle a little worse than the Charger 500, though the Torino handles better than the Chrger.

Thanks Julian - I'll save up for the '57 Chevy as I do like that one, but will keep an eye out for a wingless Plymouth too. Torinos seem to command quite a premium - sounds like there's a good reason for that!

QUOTE (Screwneck @ 20 Aug 2012, 15:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So you are simply having a go because it's different to what you are used to? Just try it out before you reject it on principle. Trimming the guide flag and adjusting the gearing to 3:5 or 8t:28t should be all you need to do to create a good slotcar.

I'm not bashing them compared to any other brand as we only run Carreras against Carreras. We've got four Carrera classes, none of which I'm overly fond of. We have to trim the guides to get round the track but can't change the gears or tyres so everyone's in the same boat. For this class we're retaining one magnet... just for variety!

The cherry on the cake with this Mustang, however, is that the distance between the rear axle and the centre of the guide flag is less than half the total length of what is a tall, long, narrow and heavy car. I just doubt that Carrera has discovered the secret of optimum handling - and lament spending my hard-earned on it.

QUOTE (BEEJAY7 @ 20 Aug 2012, 20:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It is a fairly straight forward fix....I've done it on several Carrera cars. It does transform handling.

Very smart Alan. Like that. But yes we do have to run box standard - and with the polarity reversed!

QUOTE (ss67 @ 21 Aug 2012, 08:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>At least it's not as bad as the Carrera F1 cars.

True - although Carrera F1s are quite fun to race against each other, and a lot tougher than Scalextric F1s. I tried a Carrera against the Scalextrics and although they had half a second a lap on me I picked up some points by thundering in weighty, Germanic fashion through the debris field of where the Scalextric cars had come to grief!

If you run box standard cars as club classes there's always going to be one or maybe two that are head and shoulders above the rest, whether that's single make like this or something more general like 'Raid'. Carrera seems to throw more oddballs into the mix than most. For example we run the Mille Miglia cars with only the weak sliding magnets permitted - yet some are in front of the motor and some behind, giving a clear advantage.

This guide position is just another permutation, but b!00£y annoying.