_MG*F* Tracking, Handling & Stability Survey _


_Introduction_ 

Dear MGF'er
 
Many thanks for having a look at this survey form. The primary aim of this
survey is to enable us to better unstand how to hone our car's behaviour. 
Some of us prefer sharper steering response, and improved feel, whilst others
may actually want the opposite.
 
But how does one go about changing the characteristics ? 
In part handling is dependent upon how the car is set up (tracking), the tyre
choice, tyre pressures, aerodynamics and so on.
 
How can we advise on such a complex subject? 
The only way is to compile data on the experiences of as many enthusiasts as
possible. Positive findings can then be collated and passed on to other owners
who may have similar objectives. And hence this data form. To complete the
form will probably take between 30 and 45 minutes, and will require you to
have some information to hand, and to perform a simple road test.
 
Information required:
 
  1. Current odometer reading of the car (miles/kilometres) 
  2. The type, size and manufacturer of each tyre fitted to your F. Also
approximate milage / age of tyres 
  3. The pressure of each tyre 
  4. The actual ride hight and temperature when you measured the height 
  5. Any tracking data that your servicing garage or tyre centre may have
given you 
  6. The road test is simple- you may want to print off the tests required: 

    1. Assess steering stability under the following conditions on a plain and
straight motorway
 (by losening grip on the steering wheel and judging whether steering is
pulling in any direction) 
      + Steady 50mph (80km/h) travel 
      + From 50mph (80km/h) accelerate gently in 5th gear, and then return to
50mph (80km/h) 
and gently decelerate. 
      + From 50mph (80km/h) accelerate hard in 3rd gear, and then return to
50mph (80km/h) 
and then decelerate rapidly, by the release of the accelerator only. 
    2. Assess whether the car tracks straight under gentle and hard braking. 

Your help in compiling this data is greatly appreciated and we shall contact
you with the results of the investigation.
 
Yours faithfully 
Rob Bell, Alan Dunstan, Dieter Koennecke
 
_To survey Form _( version 13a)
 
_Survey Note_: By completing the Car and Driver information data you are
agreeing that all information is freely given and that where necessary this
data may be used to verify survey input. No data will be accepted without the
drivers' name and either their e-mail address (preferred) or a telephone
number where they can be contacted. No personal details given will be
disclosed without prior written permission of the respondent. The form data
will be sent by email to our data collecting base. The data base collects each
form mail and can be seen by the above stated persons only. Survey
consumptions will be discussed i.e. at the MG Cars BBS and made common on
websides. Nevertheless we take no responsibility on any missuse of your data. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Robert Bell, Alan Dunstan, Dieter 
  Koennecke
[dkoen@gmx.de?subject=V1.00.02] January,20th 2000 V1.00.04 
Thanks fly to our friends from the 
  MG Cars BBS
[http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs] , special to the
Beta-Testers Paul N., Neil W. Thomas R., Hugh L., Ingo F and Nikolaj K. _