>>>>>>This is the vehicle that I want!!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2006-Carver-One.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>>21st Century - the Future - actually HAS arrived!
>>>>>
>>>>>Regardless of any gimmicky "banking", three-wheeled vehicles have inherent handling and stability problems. Using one in a "performance" scenario is foolishness. If you want safety with performance, stick with 4 wheels; if you want cheap thrills, get a motorbike.
>>>>
>>>>But this is a new invention - not long got its international road-worthiness cert's. I saw it demoed from inside and out the cockpit and there seemed to be no such problems. I don't know how you can make this statement.
>>>
>>>1. Poor response to single-wheel transients: vertical (bump or pothole) and/or horizontal (puncture, road cracks, mud, snow/ice, hydroplaning, puddles/standing water etc.) To visualize this, imagine a 3-wheeler in a steady state turn, then one wheel encounters one of the above conditions. With only 2 effective wheels, you're now statically unstable (like a motorbike). If a 4-wheeler "loses" the use of a wheel to a transient, it still has 3, which are always in a stable, triangular configuration.
>>>
>>>2. One wheel does not follow in the tracks of the other two. This may seem like a minor point but it has significant real-world consequences. Even paved roads get "crowned" over time, there is a hump in the middle and two ruts where 4-wheeler tires run. A 3-wheeler's steering wheel runs on top of the crown, and tends to "hunt" from side to side, seeking one or the other of the "ruts". This condition is exacerbated on unimproved roads, which often have major ruts. Even on improved roads, in snow or ice conditions the "ruts" may be melted or otherwise clear due to other traffic, while the center/crown is not - and the center is where the steering wheel in delta designs like the Carver must run.
>>>
>>>These arguments may seem a little esoteric - but consider this:
>>>
>>>- Due to safety concerns, production of 3-wheeled ATVs ceased in 1987 (http://www.injuryboard.com/view.cfm/Topic=428). As it happens, the best friend of a former work-mate of mine died in a 3-wheeler ATV accident - during his honeymoon.
>>>
>>>- You will never see a competitive dirt/unimproved road 3-wheeled rally car. You will probably never see them raced on paved tracks, either because even under these more "ideal" conditions race cars still have to handle transients such as running partially off the track, tire puncture, being bumped by other cars etc.
>>>
>>>There's a big difference between seeing a "demo" under sunny, dry conditions on the flat pavement of an aerodrome, and real-world conditions. If you think the Carver is somehow "new & improved" - ask them about rallying one; they won't be encouraging.
>>>
>>>In short - if you're thinking of actually driving one of these on public roads, make sure your life and/or medical insurance is paid up.
>>
>>You've obviously mads a study of this, Al. Did you go into any of the details an FAQs on the Carver website (I didn't do THIS level) - I'm not sure it's covered. Anyway, the innovative, articulated front of the vehicle may have some implications for your reservations - I don't know. And - it seems like a hoot to drive. :-)
>
>They do look like fun, but practically speaking, I'm still trying to come up with a good reason for needing to 'bank' while going in a straight line.

There IS no need to bank. I just recall the demonstrator (and these 3 guys on the TV prog have driven just about everything there is worth driving, at breakneck speeds, through rough and/or mountainous terrain, along race tracks, etc.) doing it for the sheer joy and thrill of it, whooping and cheering and obviously delighted with the sensation. He likened the ride to being in a military jet. Have you never noticed leather-clad bikers weaving in and out of traffic, banking unnecessarily low, just for the thrill of it? Well in the Carver you can do that without fear of falling off or scraping the knees.