Can you name any FWD sports cars?

[paulca]

People take race tuned FWD and RWD family cars to famous race circuit. Your point is?

By the way the ring wont last much longer, it's losing the battle and financing against building houses on it.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by paulca

Based on the stated principle that it has to be a sport car at inception, not by rebranding and tuning a "family car".

Where someone actually set out to make a sport car and choose FWD.

In anything less than 200bhp, it just requires a different driving style, I gather.

So in fairness I personally wasn't totalitarianly excluding FWD cars from being sports cars, just that when designing a "sports car" one seldom chooses FWD if there is a choice.

Indeed. Very few FWD cars. The Elan and the CRX are the two that circle my head.

In the past I would have agreed about the 200hp mark but we are seeing today, with suspension design, improved Diffs etc, that threshold is increasing and now FWD can handle 300bhp on some cars. But yes, they definitely require a different approach to driving.

It makes sense that they wouldn't make a dedicated sports car with FWD often but primarily from a Cost-benefit- standpoint. Because they can make a FWD car serve several purposes. Like a 3 versions of the Focus, Civic, Integra etc. That's what made the CRX so cool is that it wasn't the Civic or the hatchback.. It was unique. That was cool. But if I were the financial analyst I would never let a company make a one off if FWD is part of the equation because it simply makes way more financial sense to multi-platform the thing.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by stugray

Great! - So you agree that FWD is a downgrade from RWD from a pure engineering standpoint.

Not really. It's only a downgrade above certain power threshold. Below that, IMHO, it's just different.

However, above that threshold, I'd like to see an advanced engineering team make an ultimate FWD car with an unlimited budget, like an F1 budget. I think a major engineering detractor may be making CV joints work with 800hp and 4Gs of lateral grip.

What would a 500 million dollar FWD formula car look like? It would be radically different but then again the Delta Wing is radically different too. Unfortunately I think this engineering exercise will never happen.

[rice_classic]

Yes I know, I'm quoting myself.

Originally Posted by rice_classic

1: Sideways. This is understandable. If driving sideways makes you horny, you're choices in drivetrain are narrowed.

I may have been wrong about the sideways comment:
http://www.carthrottle.com/this-fwd-...g-at-its-best/

[jebuwh]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Yes I know, I'm quoting myself.

I may have been wrong about the sideways comment:
http://www.carthrottle.com/this-fwd-...g-at-its-best/

Oh wow.

I dunno how to feel about that.

I do love the cold air intake though haha

[Captain Snooze]

"As the 1990s progressed the 2 litre [fwd] cars proved to be exceptional tarmac rally cars. With more engine freedoms and lighter weights they could match, even beat the turbo 4WD Group A and WRC cars."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_2-L...orld_Rally_Cup

[SomeoneWhoIsntMe]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

"As the 1990s progressed the 2 litre [fwd] cars proved to be exceptional tarmac rally cars. With more engine freedoms and lighter weights they could match, even beat the turbo 4WD Group A and WRC cars."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_2-L...orld_Rally_Cup

...because of loopholes in the rules.

a rulebook designed primarily for snow and gravel would absolutely give 2WD an advantage on tarmac. I don't know what the rules were then, but now in Rally America, 2WD cars get to run with no turbo restrictor. Basically they don't care how much power the cars make because they're so traction limited anyway. On tarmac where they can hook, it's easy to see how FWD or RWD with an open rulebook could be faster than a highly restricted AWD class.

[SomeoneWhoIsntMe]

Originally Posted by paulca

As OP, the point wasn't to start a thread war FWD vs. RWD, allow it amusingly did just that, but it was to find, select the few examples of true FWD sports cars.

Based on the stated principle that it has to be a sport car at inception, not by rebranding and tuning a "family car".

Where someone actually set out to make a sport car and choose FWD.

In anything less than 200bhp, it just requires a different driving style, I gather.

So in fairness I personally wasn't totalitarianly excluding FWD cars from being sports cars, just that when designing a "sports car" one seldom chooses FWD if there is a choice.

I think it's pretty rare these days that you'll find an automaker will do ANYTHING from scratch, unless it's a $100k car.

the FT86 is basically a shrunk impreza chassis with RWD, I don't think that makes it any less of a sports car.

I would say the E36 M3 is a classic example of a great sports car, despite the fact that there exists a 318i. Why can't the ITR be a sports car if there are base model integras?

[NWFRS]

Lancia Fulvia coupe
Mini Cooper

Those are the only two I can think of that I wouldn't mind owning.

[airjonny]

Renault Magane RS 275

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SomeoneWhoIsntMe

I think it's pretty rare these days that you'll find an automaker will do ANYTHING from scratch, unless it's a $100k car.

100k is probably too low a threshold heh. The 911 is almost 100k now, and the engine and I would guess most of the front end is shared with the Boxster/Cayman, along with all of the interior (with the Panamera and Cayenne, which use VW engines). The GTR is the only "bespoke" car I can think of around 100k.

[Reaper]

I stopped following this thread after I think page 5, but did anyone ever mention that fwd lotus thing? I think it was the lotus elan?

[WolfpackS2k]

Yes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I stopped following this thread after I think page 5, but did anyone ever mention that fwd lotus thing? I think it was the lotus elan?

Ive driven one, it was awful. Do not recommend.