Ute vs. sedan handling...

[plonky]

For racing purposes, a double wishbone independent suspension is the ducks guts. You wouldn't see an open wheeler (pure racing car) with anything but.

However.

A number of exceptionally handling cars have been designed with handling in mind. A BMW M Class for example. The McPherson strut (debuted in the Ford Zephyr) is used at the front.

Why not a double wishbone. I don't know but BMW seem to make it work.

Latest Corvette. Apparently handles really well. Has Leaf springs at the rear. Not very sexy for marketing purposes but if it does the job to the level that it does then so what.

The VX/VZ Late model camira is a classic example. It uses a McPherson strut front suspension and a semi trailing arm rear suspension with two locating rods (to limit the camber change). I have driven these SOB's and even though the suspension is dated (front end 1960's rear end 1980's)it is a bloody good handling car. In fact, it has extremely high handling thresholds due to the development is tyre and damper technology, though when it goes, it goes very quickly and is very hard to recover from.

Suspension design, like anything else, is a marketable tool and is subject to a lot of criticism from motoring journalists. Sure they push the development by making the consumer more aware however the deveopment/technology doesn't replace real world experience/

On a day to day basis though, the infinite angle change afforded by IRS may be quite a waste of time of a vehicle used purely for driving to the shops and back or to pick up kids from school.

The consumer makes the decisions pushed along by marketers/advertisers who respond to feedback from media commentators who push their own agenda onto a receptive audience.

Are you really driving the car that you believe you should be?