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#1
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I really hate FWD cars...why why why are they so popular
I had to drive a 07 Impala at work today. The car had somewhere near 5,000 miles on it, but I was ever so glad to get back into my 1983 Mercedes. I had to feather the pedal to take off so it would not spin the front wheels. Who would want something like this. The interior felt cheap. The uphostery was cheap and unacctractive.
I know that I have had three cars from 1983 a 1983 Volvo 244 turbo, a 1983 Mercedes 500 SL AMG and a 1983 BMW 633 CSI. I would rather ride a motorcycle everday then drive one of these soalless fwd econoboxes. I know that I'm talking about high end cars but hey they are 24 years oldr then this other stuff that some refer to as cars. No wonder GM is in trouble. I think that the 1994 -1996 impala SS was actually an interesting car, I woudn't buy it, but for what it was it was decent. So now they have taken that same name and turned it into a Camry. I guess the camry is not a terrible car, I would just fall asleep at the wheel drving it. Again I ask why the move to FWD. and Furthermore, why do people go for it? |
#2
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People buy them, mainly because they don't know anything about cars, and more importantly, they don't care... Your average consumer/econobox driver could care less about the performance of their car...just so long as it gets them from Point A to point B, and gets good mileage.
Oh, and they're cheap to buy. |
#3
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I almost prefer FWD and AWD cars now, over RWD cars, the biggest factor here, is that they go better in the snow, and in nasty weather conditions. My 300CD did ok in the snow, but not as well as my Corolla, and my truck was worthless in the snow, unless I had it in 4-Lo.
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1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine) 2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's) 1979 300CD (sold) |
#4
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Without traction control FWD is definitely easier on snow or ice. You just have to watch out for understeer but that's easier to manage than oversteer on RWD vehicles. FWD is also easier to maintain since there's no differential or driveshaft (old splitting flex discs come to mind). Drive the vehicle with the configuration you like and quit whining. I have one of each and I have no complaints (my RWD MB has traction control).
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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual) Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL |
#5
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Quote:
After the last RWD Volvo (the V90) ceased production, at that very moment I mentally drew a line through the world "VOLVO" as a car company from which I would ever buy a new anything again. I sure hated to do that. So far as GM is concerned, they haven't made passenger cars for YEARS that I would even think of buying. If I brought a new one home one the neighbors wouldn't even wonder "where he got that new car" They would wonder why he rented one..... Besides that, who wants to drive a car that sounds like a vacuum cleaner with a leaky cannister when you stomp it into passing gear?
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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold) Last edited by Jim B.; 02-22-2008 at 04:33 AM. |
#6
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I dont mind some FWD cars, they can still be made to handle well. There are a ton of fat, bloated RWD cars that understeer about as badly as most FWD cars (stock W123 300D turbo comes to mind.. plus it doesn't have enough torque/power to power-oversteer).
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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi |
#7
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I had a couple of Saabs. I liked them ok but the rwd car with good balance like a benz is much more pleasureable to drive and safer in snow in almost all conditions. The fwd will get you out of a parking space with a lot of snow or your driveway but in every dynamic driving condition the well balanced rwd is safer and more controllable especially in the hands of a driver who understands the difference and drives accordingly.
FWD is more space effecient and cheaper to build, but more difficult and more expensive to service. Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#8
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Tom pretty much said it all. I would just add that in low-traction situations, FWD is just safer FOR MOST PEOPLE. Having the front wheels pull, as opposed to the rear wheels pushing ( often at a tangent to the intended direction of travel), makes for better directional control.
The argument initially raised regarding the soulessness of FWD is rather misdirected; Most modern cars either FWD or RWD are souless, and appliance-like. Such is what "the public" evidently wants.
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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags |
#9
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Quote:
The majority of people just want transportation, and are not obsessed with getting to 60mph 0.1s sooner at each traffic light. |
#10
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We've "been there, done that" on this issue here several times.
FWD, great for snow, I don't care what anyone says. 30 plus years of driving in both FWD & RWD, so I'm far from an inexperienced driver. On Seattle hilly-snowy-icey roads, I'll take FWD anyday. Period. My Lexus has all that traction control crap and it's RWD, I keep it out of the snow! Normal, dry road driving, I don't really care which I drive. How the hell can you tell, unless you're dumping the clutch everytime you take off? If you're doing that, go back to driving school.
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past MB rides: '68 220D '68 220D(another one) '67 230 '84 SD Current rides: '06 Lexus RX330 '93 Ford F-250 '96 Corvette '99 Polaris 700 RMK sled 2011 Polaris Assault '86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper) |
#11
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Tires, tires, tires. My wifes' 400E with 4 studded, narrow, snows is positively awsome in the snow and ice, as is my wagon. She would never go near as well in a front wheel drive. What you grew up with driving has a lot to do with it.
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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K 07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K 02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K 05 F150 Silver 44K |
#12
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The difference is at the limit of traction. A nose heavy car whether FWD or RWD will plow off the road on the outside. A car with equal balance like most benzes will just begin to slip sideways and will tighten its line if you let off the gas.
For my self, I much prefer it. The other thing about fwd is if you happen to find yourself on glare ice and you just let off the gas in a turn the car will lose traction. This effect is probably negated at least to some extent by modern traction and skid control devices though. For most folks if the above situation occurred would not know how to regain steering (put the car in neutral). Tom W
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#13
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Tom,
MOST people have no idea how to counteract a skid in any kind of car. They also do not know how to use the brakes--thats why we have anti-lock braking systems. Cars are designed for the "least common denominator" type of driver. i.e. a driver who does not know how to drive. Then the ad guys go to work, and tell people that the car SHOULD do all the work for you.
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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags |
#14
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For winter driving conditions I will stick to my Subaru. I am considering an Audi A8 as a replacement though.
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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions) '08 Chevy Tahoe '93 Ducati 900 SS '79 Kawasaki KZ 650 '86 Kawasaki KX 250 '88 Kawasaki KDX200 '71 Hodaka Ace 100 '72 Triumph T100R |
#15
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I can't fathom why they are so popular. I hate them.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century OBK #55 1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles 2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles 2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles |
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