[DeTomaso] Pantera Handling 101

[sean mundy]

Soliciting thoughts on quirky Pantera handling.  I've had my Pantera for 3 
years and have pretty much drove it a total of 7k miles like an ol lady on 
the way to church. I recently took it out during a break in the floods and 
snowstorms here in the PNW and drove it pretty fast on one of the freeway on 
ramps.  I was feeling pretty aggresive but I wasn't racing just taking the 
onramp at "slightly" over the posted limit.   I always knew about and have 
experienced understeer in my car but I haven't until recently really started 
pushing the Pantera handling envelope. I've driven other mid engine cars and 
know of their handling characteristics.   I discovered that my car will 
really start to understeer if I apply any throttle mid corner so much so 
that I have to make a severe steering correction and of course remembering 
not to lift throttle abruptly.  Also, when applying any throttle mid corner 
the car will push bigtime but also the car will lift significantly.  This is 
hard to describe other than it seems the car is jacking itself up underneath 
whatever side of the car is on the inside of the corner.  So applying any 
throttle mid corner I get an extreme push and simultaneous lifting/tilting 
of the car.  The car just sets itself at that jacked up attitude and never 
really settles back down until exiting the corner.  Does this sound 
familiar?  I have stock sway bars, new poly bushings all around, adjustable 
shocks purchased from PI and 225/45 and 315/35 tires.  I guess I'm just 
looking for you guys to maybe tell me "Hey dummy, its a mid engine car with 
a big lump of V8 back there. Whaddya expect!"   Or maybe my car is just 
setup all wrong.

Thanks for any thoughts

Sean Mundy 72 L