Front-Wheel Drive Cars...

[terence]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Isn't it called the fortwo because it is for two? It seems you mean the normal smart. For interest they come with a proper tin roof and the one with the retractable roof around the world.

There was a little roadster too (and even a coupe roadster -odd name). These were a hoot. Kind of a modern MG midget. It could be well balanced. Although there was a fun characteristic from the gear change. Pushing on it would tend to have a whisker of understeer., but when it changed up the weight shifted to the front wheels and whoa! Far from ideal, but it didn't diminish the fun.

These are worth quite a bit now as they were discontinued and a little following had developed.

It isn't my idea of a natural sportscar - a silly little thing surely - but for me it demonstrates how with cars it is silly to just compartmentalise. I know these generalisations can make trying to understand a complex subject simple, but it is the crossovers, the things that deviate from the norm that are interesting to discuss. Unless you want to just dismiss others opinion. If your going to do that, why start a discussion in the first place?


Talking of generalisations

But of all the nationalities who come along,it IS true. Sorry.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by terence bower

But of all the nationalities who come along,it IS true. Sorry.

I thought they could only drive auto's !

[pigs fly]

DRAGGER suggest you look at Aussie Holden Commodore importedinto US as a Chevy ss 5litre V8 RWD and if your into Nascar current shaped Chevies are based on them.

[garcon]

The people you are arguing with have plenty of real life experience to draw from. They don't need internet "sources".

And most of them would probably choose RWD if asked. They were arguing with your assertion that all fwd cars are rubbish. Which, to be fair, if you have only driven American fwd cars is a reasonable, if incorrect, assumption.

[Woolley]

I think it was Will Hoy who was asked the difference in technique between the two. He said:

"With FWD you are a hooligan on the way in, precise in the middle and a hooligan on the way out. RWD is the opposite"

[Adam43]

I think a lot of people wonder why you started a thread on this on a discussion forum. Surely it wasn't just to repeat the accepted wisdom of the last hundred years? We're all in this opinion, it's the kind of thing you twig when you're eleven. What do you want? A yes you're right from everyone? It is interesting to hear how it isn't so black and white and the experiences of the good ones that go against the trend.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I think a lot of people wonder why you started a thread on this on a discussion forum. Surely it wasn't just to repeat the accepted wisdom of the last hundred years? We're all in this opinion, it's the kind of thing you twig when you're eleven. What do you want? A yes you're right from everyone? It is interesting to hear how it isn't so black and white and the experiences of the good ones that go against the trend.

For one to spark debate, we're up to 3 pages now, which is better than two people agreeing with each other for 2-3 posts.

For another to see what people, like minded performance enthusiasts, think about FWD.

And third, to bring to light and expose FWD to non-performance enthusiasts as nothing more than a cheaper way to build cars. Up until the 1970's cars were for the most part built by car drivers for car drivers. Now they are built by bean counters, accountants. I don't much care for that. I'm passionate about cars, I don't see them as appliances or accessories, more and more of each generation are moving away from cars as enjoyment.

Some people don't like a brand of car or only like a certain brand of car or cars built from a certain country, to me that's blind ignorance. However breaking down the facts(not opinion) and seeing it for what it is, that's when we see what is actually better(for that purpose).

[garcon]

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Snoopy Debating Society.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by garcon

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Snoopy Debating Society.

Debate? Where?

[BertMk2]

RWD is better for performance (and fun - hence the Mk2 Escort as a rally car ) but for day to day driving there's no real difference. Why? Because you shouldn't be driving a car so hard as to notice the differences on the road. Sure there will be times when it's wet and/or icy that you'll notice which end your car is driving from but on the whole for 'normal' driving it really makes no odds. If you've only driven 'normal' fwd cars then I can see why you'd not like them if you've driven them hard. But I dare say that the vast majority of 'normal' rwd cars aren't that special either. I think we have to face reality - most people driving don't care which end their car drives from (and some probably don't even know) as long as it gets them from A to B and fits all their stuff in. To most people the concept of enjoying driving is alien.

Just to throw something else in - Imprezas are awd but tend to understeer when pushed hard. And I can give you an example of some competition fwd cars that did rock the awd boys - the Maxi kit cars that used to compete in rallying. On tarmac those things could take the fight to the wrc cars - the Xsara and 306 maxi in particular were rockets.

Dismissing fwd as 'awful' is a huge over generalisation (as is declaring rwd as the holy grail - I'm sure there are plenty of 'awful' rwd cars). Just so we know what you're basing your views on what fwd cars have you driven?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

But I dare say that the vast majority of 'normal' rwd cars aren't that special either.

Especially most of the standard Yank Tanks that handled like a jelly on springs !

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Especially most of the standard Yank Tanks that handled like a jelly on springs !

Most of my cars haven't been "yank tanks". So much for that excuse.

[DAVID PATERSON]

I always thought compact packaging was the primary reason to go FWD in the first place.

It is plainly false to suggest that 99% of the racing world prefer RWD. Do some research or stop believing that what happens in the USA is replicated worldwide.

Bert is right, you should not be driving on a public road fast enough to notice the difference between FWD & RWD.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

I always thought compact packaging was the primary reason to go FWD in the first place.

It is plainly false to suggest that 99% of the racing world prefer RWD. Do some research or stop believing that what happens in the USA is replicated worldwide.

Bert is right, you should not be driving on a public road fast enough to notice the difference between FWD & RWD.

99% of Pro racing's fastest series are and have been RWD/AWD and it's obvious, worldwide. No sense in giving into stupid close-minded stereotypes that I only see the U.S. as the whole world. After mentioning F1 and other International racing series. Seriously, this whole "he's just an American must mean he's wrong" attitude is ignorance at it's finest.

You can easily tell the difference between RWD, AWD, and FWD driving on the street. It doesn't take driving at 90% to tell.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

I always thought compact packaging was the primary reason to go FWD in the first place.

It is plainly false to suggest that 99% of the racing world prefer RWD. Do some research or stop believing that what happens in the USA is replicated worldwide.

Bert is right, you should not be driving on a public road fast enough to notice the difference between FWD & RWD.

99% of Pro racing's fastest series are and have been RWD/AWD and it's obvious, worldwide. No sense in giving into stupid close-minded stereotypes that I only see the U.S. as the whole world. After mentioning F1 and other International racing series. Seriously, this whole "he's just an American must mean he's wrong" attitude is ignorance at it's finest.

You can easily tell the difference between RWD, AWD, and FWD driving on the street. It doesn't take driving at 90% to tell.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally Posted by Dragger

99% of Pro racing's fastest series are and have been RWD/AWD and it's obvious, worldwide.

99% - pig's arse!

Do some research, don't just make **** up!

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

99% - pig's arse!

Do some research, don't just make **** up!

Over the past 100+ years almost all of the world's fastest race and sportscars have been All-Wheel or Rear-wheel drive.

I see you're from Australia, Nissan entered the V8 Supercar series with the FWD Altima... did they keep it FWD? Or did they make it RWD? Think about it.

How many FWD Rally cars are converted to AWD to compete in the fastest classes worldwide?

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by Dragger

... Nissan entered the V8 Supercar series with the FWD Altima... did they keep it FWD? Or did they make it RWD? Think about it.

Not the best example - the regulations mandate rear wheel drive.

[garcon]

This purile playground nonsense has no place here. Thread closed.