My Impala rental was the same. It felt "rubbery" everywhere - the steering response, brake feel, seat padding, interior trim. Its like they managed to isolate the driver from the road, but in a cheap bubble-wrap sort of way. I guess to some people that vague rubbery feeling is a good thing. I couldn't stand it day to day.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

It all makes sense now...FWD cars are so popular, because they allow for a cheap way to get around while keeping your "real" car nice for that sunday drive. ^_^

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

I think most of you guys just haven't driven a proper handling FWD car Not every FWD car is built to drive like a Toyota....

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

I've enjoyed ice autocrossing on a couple frozen lakes in eastern Wisconsin over the years. Aside from a few Corvairs and original VW Bugs (who drive on racing studs), the cars in attendance are almost exclusively AWD and FWD.

I drive an FWD car on the ice. Under such low-traction conditions, a friend of mine likes to say that "the steering wheel is just a suggestion box." FWD permits a driver to help straighten a car out by applying throttle and turn it with left-foot braking. The process is basically "power on, power off." Handling a RWD car requires a much more subtle touch on the throttle with near-zero traction, IMO, and sharp turns often require handbrake input. BTW, left-foot braking will stop a RWD car from rotating -- the opposite of an FWD car.

I also drive a 40-mile commute, often on snowy roads, in winter. To me, the ability to keep a car tracking straight is the most valuable attribute of FWD on a snowy or icy road, especially while passing another vehicle. If I feel the car lose grip, I give it a little gas and it recovers traction.

I always use Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires in the winter. Tires make a huge difference when it comes to keeping a car under control in severe winter weather. Again IMO, I find that the Nokians outperform the most aggressive Blizzaks in deep snow, while Blizzaks seem to have a slight edge on ice.

But is front wheel drive to blame for that cheap 'rubbery' feel, or General Motors?

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I've never had an issue driving either platform. But I think if you know how to drive it's a non-issue. Most people don't.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

If you have a fully functioning FWD car for under $10, I'll buy it. Otherwise, they can keep their TRANSVESTITE engine to themselves.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

They both drive differently in certain situations. I don't think it is so much of knowing how to drive as being comfortable with it. Even if you know how to drive but you drive FWD cars all day long, you might not be as used to a RWD car and the way it behaves. That little bit of being unsure can be dangerous. I can shoot with any of my guns. Just so happens that I am more partial to one. As such, that is my gun of choice in a pinch. Less thinking and more action.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Again, an argument with no real data to back it up. What's wrong with transverse mounted engines? It makes service easier. It makes engine removal and instillation easier. Is it quite as good in the NVH dept? No, probably not. But I appreciate being able to get at all the sensors, injectors, and transmission linkages easily.

Next thing you're gunna tell me CV axles are a bad idea

Sorry, the cheapest fully functional transverse mount car I have cost me $180.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Huh? Like the time I had to pull off a wheel and then a CV axle to change an alternator on a FWD Mitsubishi? Or the ordeal of trying to get the starter out from between the firewall and the engine block of a K-car? Ever change spark plugs on a transverse mount V-6? Not easy. I will concede that 4-banger Hondas with the sideways motor leave most things easy to get to, but I consider them the exception rather than the rule.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I guess I am used to how RWD cars handle. As such, I don't want to have to try figure out what I am driving when it goes into a spin. I already know what will happen. Also, while I have snow, it is hardly an every day affair. Therefore, how often will I need that slight edge in handling during snow times? Can I compensate for it with snow tires? Absolutely. So, since I drive on dry pavement for the most part, the take off is better on RWD cars. Therefore, my preference is RWD cars. So, to make a FWD car appeal to me, it has to cost less than $10 otherwise, I can't see how it is worth it for that few days of possibly good handling.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

My FWD Audi had the engine mounted it the 'normal' front-rear direction, like a RWD car.
Otherwise, with some transverse FWD designs, especially V6s, space is pretty tight for jobs like timing-belt & waterpump replacement.
At least my '98 Altima has a timng-chain, instead of the belt used on contemporary Camrys and Accords.
And our Benzes do have CV-joints, though being in the rear they tend to last much longer without the stress from having to bend with the steering.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I drove my friends sisters new Acura, its a 2010 TL, it did pretty good for a FWD car.

Modern cars drive nice.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Since when? I prefer about 3 cubic feet of space on the exhaust side of the engine bay to having a procedure for lifting, lowering, then relifting the engine to remove one engine mount to do a timing belt. Or removing the front subframe to pull the transmission to change the clutch, that then requires the front wheels get an alignment. Much more trouble than it should be. I don't even like this new Quattro system. Bring back the transfer case and front diff, move the engine back about a foot and a half!

That said, I've driven some VW's that were pretty fun, the 2003.5 GTI 24V being my favorite. New one was too stiff. Took them long enough to update from the 12V head, but it was well built, handled decent enough, pretty good power I suppose. My Audi was always faster hands down without breaking a sweat, but the dub was more fun, honestly.

Acceleration better than a RWD Car?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow