>  > Subarus are all-alloy and give no troubles. Iron engines are HEAVY
>>  and this causes handling problems. My 84 Caravelle had an all-iron V6
>>  and it understeered most unpleasantly.
>>  -
>
>With all that weight in the back I would've thought it would oversteer most
>unpleasantly.

Indeed, that's what I had thought, but certainly not what I
experienced. I had expected the hallowed excellent handling, but on
the way home from taking delivery in the Sorth Island, I hit the
twisties in the northern South Island's small coastal mountains
(Hundalees) and when I sat on a speeding sales rep's Camry wagon's
tail eventually he pulled over. I passed, only to find I was already
going as fast as the van could handle the sharp bends... it started
to push its nose badly. Boy, was I disappointed! This is a major part
in my decision to ditch this engine for a "light" Subaru six.

The only oversteer I ever got was in the wet, when the engine's
pendulum effect overcame rear-end grip (I use good-quality car tires,
not crappy truck tires or Bargain Tiremart brands). In the wet it was
necessary to exercise caution, as oversteer was of the snap variety.
Not really vicious, but you had to keep it in mind.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut