Can you name any FWD sports cars?

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by gymratter

how about an IS, Q50, or 3-series :p

No, see, you don't get it. I bought it for practicality. I don't give a shit if people go "LOL YOU DRIVE A CAMRY" because I drive it because it's a great appliance to haul my kids and their stuff around. All of the above are more expensive, less practical, and/or less reliable. Ultimately I left it to be my wife's decision because it's the family car, and she doesn't care about cars.

Lemme twist this knife in a bit further. We're thinking about replacing the Camry with a Prius. With an unlimited budget we'd have a Tesla Model S as the family mover.

Originally Posted by gymratter

any real enthusiast would pick RWD over FWD...

and TopGear agrees and a majority of enthusiasts would also agree

if everyone loves FWD so much let me see you trade in your FRS/BRZ for a Si :p

Ultimately I picked FWD for myself. Four times in a row actually after owning a RWD car, not counting the family vehicles!

And didn't Clarkson pick the FWD GTI over the RWD BMW 1-series?

[stugray]

Originally Posted by CoupedUpSubie

So by the RWD elitist's definition wasn't my impreza a sports car? And yes, between 93 and 95 Subaru did make a FWD Impreza.

No - according to the insurance companies it is a "4 door sedan"

The definition of "Sports Car" is: (Automotive Engineering) a production car designed for speed, high acceleration and manoeuvrability.

I tire of repeating myself: An Automotive engineer would not choose FWD if the primary purpose is for "speed, high acceleration and manoeuvrability" Period.
If you question this line of reasoning, answer this "How many FWD cars were ever tested for use in F1?"

If a Car is FWD it was primarily built for the purpose of cost & fuel economy.
Are there VERY FAST FWD cars? YES.
Are they "Sports cars" by the definition? NO

Just because something can fly does not make it a bird....

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

No, see, you don't get it. I bought it for practicality. I don't give a shit if people go "LOL YOU DRIVE A CAMRY" because I drive it because it's a great appliance to haul my kids and their stuff around. All of the above are more expensive, less practical, and/or less reliable. Ultimately I left it to be my wife's decision because it's the family car, and she doesn't care about cars.

Lemme twist this knife in a bit further. We're thinking about replacing the Camry with a Prius. With an unlimited budget we'd have a Tesla Model S as the family mover.




Ultimately I picked FWD for myself. Four times in a row actually after owning a RWD car, not counting the family vehicles!

And didn't Clarkson pick the FWD GTI over the RWD BMW 1-series?

I think his primary reason for doing so was the $/performance.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by CoupedUpSubie

The ratio does not matter. Why?

RWD was around for a long time before FWD. It is simpler to design a tranmission with a single output using a drive shaft going to a differential versus a compact engine/transmission design like used in most FWD designs. The only vehicle's I know of that are FWD and use a "conventional" transmission behind engine design are pre-1996 subaru's. These were basically AWD transmissions with no rear output.

because we will get a better idea of which is superior :p

yeah everyone knows that

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by CoupedUpSubie

The ratio does not matter. Why?

RWD was around for a long time before FWD. It is simpler to design a tranmission with a single output using a drive shaft going to a differential versus a compact engine/transmission design like used in most FWD designs.

1898 The French cycle firm La Société Parisienne introduced a small front-wheel drive voiturette called the Victoria Combination. It consisted of a lightweight two-seater trailer of the pattern known as a Victoria and this was combined with the back axle and running gear from a motor tricycle placed in front of the trailer and tiller-steered.

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/La_Societe_Parisienne

In the Paris-Rambouillet-Paris event of October 1899 a Victoria Combination with two people aboard covered the hilly 100 kilometre course at an averaged speed of 16 mph and won its class.

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20165/lot/482/



Looks like a production FWD car won it's class in a race 115 years ago to me.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by stugray

The definition of "Sports Car" is: (Automotive Engineering) a production car designed for speed, high acceleration and manoeuvrability.

So what many people consider the world's best selling sports car, the Mazda Miata, is not a sports car after all? You could make a pretty strong argument that it was designed for only one of your three criteria (maneuverability), and not for speed or high acceleration...

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

No, see, you don't get it. I bought it for practicality. I don't give a shit if people go "LOL YOU DRIVE A CAMRY" because I drive it because it's a great appliance to haul my kids and their stuff around. All of the above are more expensive, less practical, and/or less reliable. Ultimately I left it to be my wife's decision because it's the family car, and she doesn't care about cars.

Lemme twist this knife in a bit further. We're thinking about replacing the Camry with a Prius. With an unlimited budget we'd have a Tesla Model S as the family mover.

Ultimately I picked FWD for myself. Four times in a row actually after owning a RWD car, not counting the family vehicles!

And didn't Clarkson pick the FWD GTI over the RWD BMW 1-series?

i know you are looking for practicality. but there are so many better choices IMO. i mean even a TL or Nissan Max is better :p

thats cool. i had a few FWD cars to start with. in the end RWD for me to each their own.

idk, do you have the video?

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by chrisl

So what many people consider the world's best selling sports car, the Mazda Miata, is not a sports car after all? You could make a pretty strong argument that it was designed for only one of your three criteria (maneuverability), and not for speed or high acceleration...

isnt the Mustang the best selling car in the world?

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by stugray

No - according to the insurance companies it is a "4 door sedan"

The definition of "Sports Car" is: (Automotive Engineering) a production car designed for speed, high acceleration and manoeuvrability.

I tire of repeating myself: An Automotive engineer would not choose FWD if the primary purpose is for "speed, high acceleration and manoeuvrability" Period.
If you question this line of reasoning, answer this "How many FWD cars were ever tested for use in F1?"

If a Car is FWD it was primarily built for the purpose of cost & fuel economy.
Are there VERY FAST FWD cars? YES.
Are they "Sports cars" by the definition? NO

Just because something can fly does not make it a bird....

I think this is very dated way of thinking.

In the definition used by you, there is no mention of drive train.
You applied your tangent on that definition to come to your conclusion.

Are they sports cars by the definition you provided? YES.

By your OPINION. NO.

Just like people in the 70s 80s and the 90s would scoff at the idea of an electric sports car.

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by gymratter

isnt the Mustang the best selling car in the world?

I think more camries are sold in the world than mustangs. :P

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

I think more camries are sold in the world than mustangs. :P

Yeah, but we're talking Miatas and Mustangs. not sure what Camries have to do with this.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by gymratter

isnt the Mustang the best selling car in the world?

The mustang might beat it - I just looked up the actual record, and the Miata is the world's best selling two seat sports car (I forgot about the "two seat" part earlier). That doesn't change my point though...

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by gymratter

Yeah, but we're talking Miatas and Mustangs. not sure what Camries have to do with this.

You said mustangs are the best selling car in the world.

That is a very generalized statement which is incorrect.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

You said mustangs are the best selling car in the world.

That is a very generalized statement which is incorrect.

come on now, we all know the topic is sports car.

And no the Camry isnt. that honor goes to the Corolla