Comment by xanderlewis
2 years ago
I'm not sure, but it kind of makes sense as a choice, since acceleration and speed should be negatively correlated and since Bowser and Wario are both massive they should accelerate more slowly than others (given constant force). So they get to have the highest top speeds to compensate.
In a real kart a heavier driver would have lower top speed and acceleration, in exchange for better handling (more body weight means you can more easily shift weight to the wheels that need more traction, unlike a car where the driver's weight is insignificant).
But they seem to have ignored kart physics and made it more like a car, where bigger cars might accelerate slower but can accommodate a more powerful engine.
Why would the top speed be lower? Because of increased friction with the ground due to the weight? Ignoring friction, I think what I said would be true.
I hadn’t actually thought about it before but as an incredibly skinny person what you said lines up with my experience in a kart. I could seemingly go slightly faster than others but more easily span off and lost control.
Given two equal karts I guess top speed would be the same but most courses don't have long enough straights to let you reach full speed.
When I wrote that comment I was thinking one might tune the kart for the driver to make up for lack of acceleration which would reduce top speed.
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