Quote:
Originally Posted by limey
You are not alone, and I am not a Mom 
I keep hearing about people putting rear wheels on the front and I can't help but wonder why they think they know more than all the Daimler engineers that decided a smaller tire was a better compromise.
That said it is the same in every web forum that I am a member of whether they talk about cars, bikes or just about anything else. It seems to be part of the enthusiast's make up that however good a vehicle is, it can always be a little bit better with different exhaust, tires, wheels, oil etc. |
... and in many cases it can.... depending on how you define "better."
My $0.02 - not on this specific wheel issue, but on "modding" generally.
As an example, a car can be made to handle with more confidence at the expense of some ride harshness. An enthusiast, might choose to compromise more on ride quality over comfort - especially if the car in question is a second or third car, whereas a commuter with just one all-purpose vehicle that they use day in and day out might put a higher value on comfort. Cars, like most consumer goods, are heavily impacted by market research and focus groups prior to release. What pleases the majority and ensures the highest volume sales, may not suit your personal preference - hence the appeal of fine-tuning cars with you, the end-user's, own expectations in mind.
This may surprise some, but you can actually make a car both handle better and be more comfortable to drive. Ohlins, for example, makes a remote reservoir coilover suspension that has no trade-offs in ride quality while dramatically improving handling. But there is a price associated with this upgrade, and many consumers would not want to pay another $500 in the sticker price of a car, let along the $6,000 it would cost equip a car from the factory with a set of Ohlins.
Our Smarts were definitely engineered to a price point. Everything from the drum brakes in the rear to the three lug wheels points to hitting a dollar target more than engineering to the highest possible standard. While they have done a good job of hiding some of this economizing, just because the Mercedes built it a certain way, don't assume that the car was an unadulterated exercise in engineering in its purest form - without accountants and focus having a significant part in the decision.
-- DavidV
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