My suspension setup: Breakfast Blend for the angry panda

[Loren]

What's different between the two videos? Seems like the first video is on crappy tires... the second one?

My thought is that you're mistaking less body roll and improved steering response for "better handling". The car might feel more responsive, but ultimately, is it really handling better? Is it capable of getting around the corner faster?

Quantitatively, using reference points in the video (the sign post on the entrance and the start of the bridge at the end), the new setup IS a little less than a second faster. But, tires can easily make more of a difference than that, as can driver confidence (if you FEEL more comfortable driving the car). Of course, entry speed is a huge factor, as well. BTW, did you notice that the guard rail on the bridge has been replaced?

You'd be SO much faster if you'd just set up for the turn and smoothly drive through it rather than constantly sawing at the wheel, though. It looks like you're over-driving the car. There's no way the back end is getting loose in that kind of a turn with throttle on all the way, especially with the front way stiffer than the rear, so those corrections are coming from the front tires being over-driven. You're way too stiff in the front for the amount of power you're trying to put down in that turn.

Remember that more rear stiffness is what gives you better weight transfer to the front in a turn. More compliance on the drive wheels allows them to more easily follow the road surface and maintain grip. Watch the video and think about what you were doing while driving... think about what the car is doing. Listen to what the car is telling you.

Try this: Skip the downshift and just flow through the turn. You don't need the extra torque of a downshift in that turn. (and the car obviously won't put it down, anyway) Enter the turn at a proper speed and try to maintain that speed. Use your momentum, that's what a Yaris is good at. See if driving smoothly through the turn without the downshift isn't faster.

Sorry for the ramble, hope it helps.