Comparing generations (92, 93, and a pair of 2000's)
#21
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
They probably waited till the model change. No need to change it mid production of the H body ones.
00+ have better handling, but grip is less. You feel much further forward, and the hood slopes more. The 92-99 feel like an older car (especially with a hood protector on, damn it looked long with mine on). but they seem to be more responsive. The 00'* dont' quite have the sense of speed on them, but the float over bumps better, and before you know it you're doing 100 (happened to me in 8 Ball) Both are fast, fun and agile for their size, but for twisties i'd rather have an 00 dropped and stiffened. For just driving, i like the urgency of the 92-99.
00+ have better handling, but grip is less. You feel much further forward, and the hood slopes more. The 92-99 feel like an older car (especially with a hood protector on, damn it looked long with mine on). but they seem to be more responsive. The 00'* dont' quite have the sense of speed on them, but the float over bumps better, and before you know it you're doing 100 (happened to me in 8 Ball) Both are fast, fun and agile for their size, but for twisties i'd rather have an 00 dropped and stiffened. For just driving, i like the urgency of the 92-99.
#22
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bloomington-Normal, IL 1997 SE
Posts: 3,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
comparing our two cars i find that the 2k has stiffer suspension and is a little lower than the 97. The stock exhaust is louder too, and man can you tell the difference between airboxes, the 2k is much less restrictive.
#23
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BonneMeMN
00+ have better handling, but grip is less. You feel much further forward, and the hood slopes more. The 92-99 feel like an older car (especially with a hood protector on, damn it looked long with mine on). but they seem to be more responsive. The 00'* dont' quite have the sense of speed on them, but the float over bumps better, and before you know it you're doing 100 (happened to me in 8 Ball) Both are fast, fun and agile for their size, but for twisties i'd rather have an 00 dropped and stiffened. For just driving, i like the urgency of the 92-99.
If you compare a 92-99 SSEi to a 00-03 SSEi, and the newer car corners better, there'* something wrong with the older one. Any 92 or 93 will out-handle any 00+ assuming both cars are in good condition. It'* enough of a difference to be easily noticed.
#25
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Thread Starter
Compare 8-ball to an earlier SSEi, not an SE or SLE. With the same age of suspension. A straight up and balanced comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.
#26
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bloomington-Normal, IL 1997 SE
Posts: 3,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by willwren
Compare 8-ball to an earlier SSEi, not an SE or SLE. With the same age of suspension. A straight up and balanced comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.
#27
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Montréal, QC
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would be interesting to see a 92-99 with less unsprung weight and see how that improves the corning. The 00+ SSEi, like the GTP I had, have aluminum knuckles and lighter brake calipers, it would be nice to shave 20 lbs. of each front wheel.
On a visit to my GM dealer not long ago, I had them lay out the hub assemblies for a 97 SSEi, a 00 SSEi and 00 GTP and they are all the same physical size.
I almost bough a set of knuckles off a 98 GTP upon which I would use my existing hubs for TCS/ABS compatibility along with 2002 Camaro calipers and brackets. The calipers are a dual piston aluminum design. The only mod needed to mount to Camaro caliper and bracket on the W-body knuckle is to drill and tap the brackets for 14mm bolts. You will also need the caliper banjo bolts from the Camaro.
You would end up with much lighter knuckles - aluminum versus cast iron, much lighter brake calipers - dual piston aluminum versus single cast, and you would have 12" rotors versus 11".
One day I'll do this project
Cheers,
On a visit to my GM dealer not long ago, I had them lay out the hub assemblies for a 97 SSEi, a 00 SSEi and 00 GTP and they are all the same physical size.
I almost bough a set of knuckles off a 98 GTP upon which I would use my existing hubs for TCS/ABS compatibility along with 2002 Camaro calipers and brackets. The calipers are a dual piston aluminum design. The only mod needed to mount to Camaro caliper and bracket on the W-body knuckle is to drill and tap the brackets for 14mm bolts. You will also need the caliper banjo bolts from the Camaro.
You would end up with much lighter knuckles - aluminum versus cast iron, much lighter brake calipers - dual piston aluminum versus single cast, and you would have 12" rotors versus 11".
One day I'll do this project
Cheers,
#29
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bloomington-Normal, IL 1997 SE
Posts: 3,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BonneMeMN
OOOO I was looking at braking stuff next for my car, and this is perfect!
Those camaro calipers sound too good to be true, what does it help?
#30
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by macho_mike21
Originally Posted by willwren
Compare 8-ball to an earlier SSEi, not an SE or SLE. With the same age of suspension. A straight up and balanced comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.
Even the two 2000'* were different because Pdad has alot of miles (100,000+) on his suspension. His endlinks need to be replaced, but after that, the two 2k'* will probably handle equally.
Nevertheless, the 93SSEi is obvious in comparison.