Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?

[odbarmanbarry]

I have alloys with wider tires on my Z.  Although it loses the stock appearance and handling, it feels pretty stable.  I take care not to overstress the suspension and drivetrain by subjecting them to the higher handling speeds that the wheels allow.  It's a fun ride in any case!
Barry

[Kevin Lister]

Ouch! Yeah, those little metal keepers can do some damage! Too bad it didn't get blown out the exhaust port!
I'd see what the experts say. I've had the top end of my engine apart a couple of times due to problems with the spark plug holes going bad. i'd love to find a NOS head and cam housing to put on my car. It'd probably run better and wouldn't leak oil.
I hope you figure out the tapping but I think it is the valves.
You could check the torque on the head bolts and then set the valve clearance after you put it back together. I had to do that after putting my engine back together and running it for awhile. It made it much quieter!
kev

--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor

wrote:
From: Mike McGregor
Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:15 AM
Kev,
I might have mechanical "imperfections" as I would like to call them.
I rebuilt the engine myself last fall.  A valve keeping had ended up inside the combustion chamber and roughed up the tops of each pistion and the head and bent all four valves.
I cleaned up the pistons, and the head, and replaced the valves.  Now it runs pretty well, but there's a not-very-nice loud tapping sound coming from my engine.  It kind of sounds like the valve tappets are smacking the valve really hard or like maybe the piston is smacking the valve.  When I listen to the engine with an engine stethoscope, I don't hear the banging/tapping sound as much.
I don't know what it is.  It starts right up, and idles, and runs pretty well(by my standards).  It just goes TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP.  As it's running.
I got tired of trying to locate the tapping, and so now I just ignore it.  Maybe that's not a good idea....  :-)
Got any ideas?
--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, brad fenn

wrote:
> From: brad fenn
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:03 AM
> Don't laugh at this fact. Our Honda 600s have high performance engines. The rule of thumb is that any engine that produces at least one horsepower per cubic inch is considered high performance. The specs are 36 cid,36 hp.and weighing in at 1300lbs.  The older VWs, (say a 59 bug),had 36 hp,  was 72cid and weighed in at 1800lbs.
> From:
> Kevin Lister
> To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> Thu, March 24, 2011 12:32:38 PM
> Subject:
> Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> Mike,
> I am able to drive my sedan at 65 on the freeway all day long. It's a little slow climbing up highway 17 (Santa Cruz Mountains) but it roars on flat roads.
> I tend to keep my car at 65 or less so as not to overstress the engine.
> I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem as your car should hum right along at 65 too! ;o)
> kev
> --- On
> Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor
>
> wrote:
> > From: Mike McGregor
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:47 AM
> > I agree.  It handles like a fast lawn mower.  The back wheels and fronts wheels are so very close to each other.
> > Not that it's a bad thing.  It's the "uniqueness" of it's handling is what makes it fun to drive, not it's great performance.  I love driving mine, and I would drive it more often if I didn't have to go on the highway so much.  I know it can do 55 if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my engine, and I like keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45  -  Something that doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss off everyone else.
> > Oh-Well.  :-)
> > --- On
> > Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov
> >
> > wrote:
> > > From: Roman Ansonov
> > > Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:08 AM
> > > I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > > I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in love...

[Mike McGregor]

How did you set your valve clearance?  I don't think my rockers have any adjustabillity for lash/clearance.  I'm going to go and check, because it does sound like I simply have the gap set to high, but I don't know how I can close the gap with no adjustabillity.
I have more experience with VW's, which always need valve lash adjustments.

--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, Kevin Lister

wrote:
From: Kevin Lister
Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:55 AM
Ouch! Yeah, those little metal keepers can do some damage! Too bad it didn't get blown out the exhaust port!
I'd see what the experts say. I've had the top end of my engine apart a couple of times due to problems with the spark plug holes going bad. i'd love to find a NOS head and cam housing to put on my car. It'd probably run better and wouldn't leak oil.
I hope you figure out the tapping but I think it is the valves.
You could check the torque on the head bolts and then set the valve clearance after you put it back together. I had to do that after putting my engine back together and running it for awhile. It made it much quieter!
kev
--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor

wrote:
> From: Mike McGregor
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:15 AM
> Kev,
> I might have mechanical "imperfections" as I would like to call them.
> I rebuilt the engine myself last fall.  A valve keeping had ended up inside the combustion chamber and roughed up the tops of each pistion and the head and bent all four valves.
> I cleaned up the pistons, and the head, and replaced the valves.  Now it runs pretty well, but there's a not-very-nice loud tapping sound coming from my engine.  It kind of sounds like the valve tappets are smacking the valve really hard or like maybe the piston is smacking the valve.  When I listen to the engine with an engine stethoscope, I don't hear the banging/tapping sound as much.
> I don't know what it is.  It starts right up, and idles, and runs pretty well(by my standards).  It just goes TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP.  As it's running.
> I got tired of trying to locate the tapping, and so now I just ignore it.  Maybe that's not a good idea....  :-)
> Got any ideas?
> --- On
> Thu, 3/24/11, brad fenn
>
> wrote:
> > From: brad fenn
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:03 AM
> > Don't laugh at this fact. Our Honda 600s have high performance engines. The rule of thumb is that any engine that produces at least one horsepower per cubic inch is considered high performance. The specs are 36 cid,36 hp.and weighing in at 1300lbs.  The older VWs, (say a 59 bug),had 36 hp,  was 72cid and weighed in at 1800lbs.
> > From:
> > Kevin Lister
> > To:
> > anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent:
> > Thu, March 24, 2011 12:32:38 PM
> > Subject:
> > Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > Mike,
> > I am able to drive my sedan at 65 on the freeway all day long. It's a little slow climbing up highway 17 (Santa Cruz Mountains) but it roars on flat roads.
> > I tend to keep my car at 65 or less so as not to overstress the engine.
> > I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem as your car should hum right along at 65 too! ;o)
> > kev
> > --- On
> > Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor
> >
> > wrote:
> > > From: Mike McGregor
> > > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:47 AM
> > > I agree.  It handles like a fast lawn mower.  The back wheels and fronts wheels are so very close to each other.
> > > Not that it's a bad thing.  It's the "uniqueness" of it's handling is what makes it fun to drive, not it's great performance.  I love driving mine, and I would drive it more often if I didn't have to go on the highway so much.  I know it can do 55 if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my engine, and I like keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45  -  Something that doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss off everyone else.
> > > Oh-Well.  :-)
> > > --- On
> > > Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > > > From: Roman Ansonov
> > > > Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:08 AM
> > > > I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > > > I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in love...

[Kevin Lister]

The valve clearance is adjustable.
So, you loosen the nut on the rocker arm.
Then put a slender tool into the holes that are drilled through the shafts that goe through the rocker arms. Those shafts are like little cams. When you turn the shafts the gap between the rocker arm and valve opend and closes. Just put a good wide gauge in-between and close the gap until it is snug. Then torque the bolt down while continually checking to make sure the gauge doesn't get too loose or too tight.
You do have to rotate the cam into the correct position to do this adjustment. Just get the manual out and read through the procedure a few times. It's a little tricky but not too bad. You don't want them to clank around too much cause that can cause wear and failure pretty quickly if it is bad enough. Plus it is noisy and robs your engine of performance.
I actually check and set the valves regularly as they aren't set and forget on these engines. Well, at least not on MY engine! ;o)
kev

--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor

wrote:
From: Mike McGregor
Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 12:03 PM
How did you set your valve clearance?  I don't think my rockers have any adjustabillity for lash/clearance.  I'm going to go and check, because it does sound like I simply have the gap set to high, but I don't know how I can close the gap with no adjustabillity.
I have more experience with VW's, which always need valve lash adjustments.
--- On
Thu, 3/24/11, Kevin Lister

wrote:
> From: Kevin Lister
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:55 AM
> Ouch! Yeah, those little metal keepers can do some damage! Too bad it didn't get blown out the exhaust port!
> I'd see what the experts say. I've had the top end of my engine apart a couple of times due to problems with the spark plug holes going bad. i'd love to find a NOS head and cam housing to put on my car. It'd probably run better and wouldn't leak oil.
> I hope you figure out the tapping but I think it is the valves.
> You could check the torque on the head bolts and then set the valve clearance after you put it back together. I had to do that after putting my engine back together and running it for awhile. It made it much quieter!
> kev
> --- On
> Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor
>
> wrote:
> > From: Mike McGregor
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:15 AM
> > Kev,
> > I might have mechanical "imperfections" as I would like to call them.
> > I rebuilt the engine myself last fall.  A valve keeping had ended up inside the combustion chamber and roughed up the tops of each pistion and the head and bent all four valves.
> > I cleaned up the pistons, and the head, and replaced the valves.  Now it runs pretty well, but there's a not-very-nice loud tapping sound coming from my engine.  It kind of sounds like the valve tappets are smacking the valve really hard or like maybe the piston is smacking the valve.  When I listen to the engine with an engine stethoscope, I don't hear the banging/tapping sound as much.
> > I don't know what it is.  It starts right up, and idles, and runs pretty well(by my standards).  It just goes TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP.  As it's running.
> > I got tired of trying to locate the tapping, and so now I just ignore it.  Maybe that's not a good idea....  :-)
> > Got any ideas?
> > --- On
> > Thu, 3/24/11, brad fenn
> >
> > wrote:
> > > From: brad fenn
> > > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:03 AM
> > > Don't laugh at this fact. Our Honda 600s have high performance engines. The rule of thumb is that any engine that produces at least one horsepower per cubic inch is considered high performance. The specs are 36 cid,36 hp.and weighing in at 1300lbs.  The older VWs, (say a 59 bug),had 36 hp,  was 72cid and weighed in at 1800lbs.
> > > From:
> > > Kevin Lister
> > > To:
> > > anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent:
> > > Thu, March 24, 2011 12:32:38 PM
> > > Subject:
> > > Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > Mike,
> > > I am able to drive my sedan at 65 on the freeway all day long. It's a little slow climbing up highway 17 (Santa Cruz Mountains) but it roars on flat roads.
> > > I tend to keep my car at 65 or less so as not to overstress the engine.
> > > I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem as your car should hum right along at 65 too! ;o)
> > > kev
> > > --- On
> > > Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > > > From: Mike McGregor
> > > > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:47 AM
> > > > I agree.  It handles like a fast lawn mower.  The back wheels and fronts wheels are so very close to each other.
> > > > Not that it's a bad thing.  It's the "uniqueness" of it's handling is what makes it fun to drive, not it's great performance.  I love driving mine, and I would drive it more often if I didn't have to go on the highway so much.  I know it can do 55 if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my engine, and I like keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45  -  Something that doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss off everyone else.
> > > > Oh-Well.  :-)
> > > > --- On
> > > > Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov
> > > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > From: Roman Ansonov
> > > > > Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > > > > To: anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:08 AM
> > > > > I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > > > > I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in love...

[TOM THIES]

�
When I had my Coupe in 72 I would drive it from Spokane Washington to the Oregon coast once a year and from Spokane into Idaho a lot, 70mph.   I also raced a MG midget Down MT Spokane and I was able to take him on the corners but not the straight away.  Spun the tires in 1st and 2nd with scratch in 3rd.. And yes I did abuse it,  I was 18..lol   Had to rebuild the top end once.   Fun Fun car.  Married and had a kid,  good bye car.  I do take much better car of the Coupe I have now.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> Mike
> McGregor
> To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:47
> AM
> Subject:
> Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is
> the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> I agree.  It handles like a fast lawn mower.  The back
> wheels and fronts wheels are so very close to each other.
> Not that it's a bad thing.  It's the "uniqueness" of it's
> handling is what makes it fun to drive, not it's great > performance.  I love driving mine, and I would drive it more often > if I didn't have to go on the highway so much.  I know it can do 55 > if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my engine, and I like > keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45 > -  Something that doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss > off everyone else.
> Oh-Well.  :-)
> --- On
> Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov
>
> wrote:
> > From:
> > Roman Ansonov
> > Subject:
> > [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > To:
> > anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011,
> > 5:08 AM
> > I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, > > maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my > > N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any > > other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of > > most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) > > You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in > > love...

[Lyle]

Yep, adjust the valves like Kevin said.
Go to Steve's Honda site, lots of great info and pictures!
http://www.honda600coupe.com/Manuals,_b ... ments.html

--- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, Kevin Lister wrote:
> The valve clearance is adjustable.
> So, you loosen the nut on the rocker arm.
> Then put a slender tool into the holes that are drilled through the shafts that goe through the rocker arms. Those shafts are like little cams. When you turn the shafts the gap between the rocker arm and valve opend and closes. Just put a good wide gauge in-between and close the gap until it is snug. Then torque the bolt down while continually checking to make sure the gauge doesn't get too loose or too tight.
> You do have to rotate the cam into the correct position to do this adjustment. Just get the manual out and read through the procedure a few times. It's a little tricky but not too bad. You don't want them to clank around too much cause that can cause wear and failure pretty quickly if it is bad enough. Plus it is noisy and robs your engine of performance.
> I actually check and set the valves regularly as they aren't set and forget on these engines. Well, at least not on MY engine! ;o)
> kev
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor wrote:
> From: Mike McGregor
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 12:03 PM
> How did you set your valve clearance?  I don't think my rockers have any adjustabillity for lash/clearance.  I'm going to go and check, because it does sound like I simply have the gap set to high, but I don't know how I can close the gap with no adjustabillity.
> I have more experience with VW's, which always need valve lash adjustments.
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Kevin Lister wrote:
> From: Kevin Lister
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:55 AM
> Ouch! Yeah, those little metal keepers can do some damage! Too bad it didn't get blown out the exhaust port!
> I'd see what the experts say. I've had the top end of my engine apart a couple of times due to problems with the spark plug holes going bad. i'd love to find a NOS head and cam housing to put on my car. It'd probably run better and wouldn't leak oil.
> I hope you figure out the tapping but I think it is the valves.
> You could check the torque on the head bolts and then set the valve clearance after you put it back together. I had to do that after putting my engine back together and running it for awhile. It made it much quieter!
> kev
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor wrote:
> From: Mike McGregor
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:15 AM
> Kev,
> I might have mechanical "imperfections" as I would like to call them.
> I rebuilt the engine myself last fall.  A valve keeping had ended up inside the combustion chamber and roughed up the tops of each pistion and the head and bent all four valves.
> I cleaned up the pistons, and the head, and replaced the valves.  Now it runs pretty well, but there's a not-very-nice loud tapping sound coming from my engine.  It kind of sounds like the valve tappets are smacking the valve really hard or like maybe the piston is smacking the valve.  When I listen to the engine with an engine stethoscope, I don't hear the banging/tapping sound as much.
> I don't know what it is.  It starts right up, and idles, and runs pretty well(by my standards).  It just goes TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP.  As it's running.
> I got tired of trying to locate the tapping, and so now I just ignore it.  Maybe that's not a good idea....  :-)
> Got any ideas?
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, brad fenn wrote:
> From: brad fenn
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:03 AM
> Don't laugh at this fact. Our Honda 600s have high performance engines. The rule of thumb is that any engine that produces at least one horsepower per cubic inch is considered high performance. The specs are 36 cid,36 hp.and weighing in at 1300lbs.  The older VWs, (say a 59 bug),had 36 hp,  was 72cid and weighed in at 1800lbs.
> From: Kevin Lister
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 12:32:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> Mike,
> I am able to drive my sedan at 65 on the freeway all day long. It's a little slow climbing up highway 17 (Santa Cruz Mountains) but it roars on flat roads.
> I tend to keep my car at 65 or less so as not to overstress the engine.
> I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem as your car should hum right along at 65 too! ;o)
> kev
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor wrote:
> From: Mike McGregor
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:47 AM
> I agree.  It handles like a fast lawn mower.  The back wheels and fronts wheels are so very close to each other.
> Not that it's a bad thing.  It's the "uniqueness" of it's handling is what makes it fun to drive, not it's great performance.  I love driving mine, and I would drive it more often if I didn't have to go on the highway so much.  I know it can do 55 if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my engine, and I like keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45  -  Something that doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss off everyone else.
> Oh-Well.  :-)
> --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov wrote:
> From: Roman Ansonov
> Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:08 AM
> I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in love...

[Lyle]

Barry that's a good point. Everytime you improve a weak point the next weakest thing will break. These cars are made from some real light weight materials and the designers figured on 36hp and .63 G's.
I do like the look of the AL wheels on a coupe.
Lyle

--- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, barrypk@... wrote:
> I have alloys with wider tires on my Z. Although it loses the stock appearance and handling, it feels pretty stable. I take care not to overstress the suspension and drivetrain by subjecting them to the higher handling speeds that the wheels allow. It's a fun ride in any case!
> Barry
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: brad fenn
> Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011 2:03 pm
> Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Don't laugh at this fact. Our Honda 600s have high performance
> > engines. The rule
> > of thumb is that any engine that produces at least one
> > horsepower per cubic inch
> > is considered high performance. The specs are 36 cid,36 hp.and
> > weighing in at
> > 1300lbs. The older VWs, (say a 59 bug),had 36 hp, was 72cid
> > and weighed in at
> > 1800lbs.
> > From: Kevin Lister
> > To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 12:32:38 PM
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > Mike,
> > I am able to drive my sedan at 65 on the freeway all day long.
> > It's a little
> > slow climbing up highway 17 (Santa Cruz Mountains) but it roars
> > on flat roads.
> > I tend to keep my car at 65 or less so as not to overstress the
> > engine.
> > I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem as your car
> > should hum right
> > along at 65 too! ;o)
> > kev
> > --- On Thu, 3/24/11, Mike McGregor wrote:
> > >From: Mike McGregor
> > >Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > >To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > >Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:47 AM
> > >I agree. It handles like a fast lawn mower. The back wheels
> > and fronts wheels
> > >are so very close to each other.
> > >Not that it's a bad thing. It's the "uniqueness" of it's
> > handling is what makes
> > >it fun to drive, not it's great performance. I love driving
> > mine, and I would
> > >drive it more often if I didn't have to go on the highway so
> > much. I know it
> > >can do 55 if I push it, but I spent a lot of time building my
> > engine, and I like
> > >keeping the rpm's low, so my Honda N600 rarely even sees 45 -
> > Something that
> > >doesn't bother me at all, but sure seams to piss off everyone else.
> > >Oh-Well. :-)
> > >--- On Thu, 3/24/11, Roman Ansonov wrote:
> > >>From: Roman Ansonov
> > >>Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Is the Honda 600 fun to drive?
> > >>To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > >>Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:08 AM
> > >>I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good,
> > maybe if they are
> > >>comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > >>I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while
> > my N600 had 4.5
> > >>inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other
> > car I've driven
> > >>before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles
> > I've driven and
> > >>owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start
> > driving one everyday
> > >>and you will fall in love...

[tloch220]

I fail to see what tire width and horsepower has to do with the quality of the handling.  So many people are obsessed with acceleration, lap times, G forces, and other stats that have no bearing on road driving in a real (not race) car.  The percieved quality (e.g. good) of the handling can be based on agility of the vehicle, tactility of the controls, response of the chassis to the road surface, etc. and should not be confused with simple quantitative measurements.
Jon

On 3/24/2011 5:08 AM, Roman Ansonov wrote:
> I'm not sure why people are saying that this car
> handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 > wheeler?
> I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks,
> while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It > understeered worse than any other car I've driven before.
> Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles > I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll > just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall > in love...

[Roman Ansonov]

Jon,
�
I agree handling is handling, but the way N600 understeers made me say that the handling is horrid. I don't mind driving 100 HP cars that handle good, but I was surprised at how bad N600 handled the very first time I almost understeered into a ditch ;)
�
�

On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:45 AM, Jonathan Mistchenko and Sarah Reeves �
> I fail to see what tire width and horsepower has to do with the quality of the handling.� So many people are obsessed with acceleration, lap times, G forces, and other stats that have no bearing on road driving in a real (not race) car.� The percieved quality (e.g. good) of the handling can be based on agility of the vehicle, tactility of the controls, response of the chassis to the road surface, etc. and should not be confused with simple quantitative measurements.
> Jon
> On 3/24/2011 5:08 AM, Roman Ansonov wrote:
> > �
> > I'm not sure why people are saying that this car handles good, maybe if they are comparing it to a 18 wheeler?
> > �
> > I'm used to racing my 560 HP racecar on 315 mm slicks, while my N600 had 4.5 inch wide trailer tires. It understeered worse than any other car I've driven before. Having said all that, N600 is one of most fun vehicles I've driven and owned that I will not forget ;) You'll just have to start driving one everyday and you will fall in love...