FWD vs FWD
I registered to this site since I just learned about this new FWD Merc. I note with interest this particular thread whether FWD can be a turnoff. Personally I would probably not buy a FWD car again, with all due respect to those with their opinion I will explain why. My current car is a '12 335i which of course is RWD, and my previous car was a '08 135i (also RWD).
Living in NE WI we typically have snow from Dec through the middle of April. Regardless of the car you drive, I do believe in having the right tire for the job. All seasons, are usually not very good in the dry, rain, or snow as they are a compromise. Having snows in winter (and performance summer tires the other months) is crucial. So equipped a car with a near 50/50 weight balance can be amazing in the snow.
As an auto enthusiast (why else would you be here?), would you agree that when given the opportunity to have control over the rear with your toe and opposite lock (steering) in a RWD car in an evasive maneuver when sliding is better than plowing straight ahead with perhaps a jab of the brakes to get the rear end out on a FWD car?
Someone sited FWD is safer? How exactly (all things being equal in terms of tire tread)? I submit FWD can be unsafe; let’s say you are doing 65 mph and you hit a patch of ice. The first thing people do is let off on the throttle, with FWD the rear of the car is not geared, and as soon as you lift and the tires loose grip - its hang on we are going off the road backend first! The most common type of car I see in the ditch is small FWD cars. Why? Light weight and probably bald read tires since most people think it’s all up to the front, true until you are doing highway speeds.
Of course most cars are now equipped with all speed traction control that can mitigate this FWD dynamic flaw. I defeat most of my traction control on my car in the snow, as I prefer to control the slip in the rear. Both of my teenage sons drove in the snow in a basic 2wd Ford Ranger p/u.
My company has a corporate Buick GS (270 hp FWD) that I drive in FL. In terms of dry handling, it sticks better than my BMW (Buick has wider stickier tires) and is a FTD car. However, the torque steer and general un-composed feel of the car in low gears at WOT fights me as the electronic control of brake bias and throttle does its best to maintain order of an overburdened front end. It feels inferior to RWD which allows me to have more fun with smoother control.
AWD is unnessesary IMO; its a bandaid for FWD based cars.
I registered to this site since I just learned about this new FWD Merc. I note with interest this particular thread whether FWD can be a turnoff. Personally I would probably not buy a FWD car again, with all due respect to those with their opinion I will explain why. My current car is a '12 335i which of course is RWD, and my previous car was a '08 135i (also RWD).
Living in NE WI we typically have snow from Dec through the middle of April. Regardless of the car you drive, I do believe in having the right tire for the job. All seasons, are usually not very good in the dry, rain, or snow as they are a compromise. Having snows in winter (and performance summer tires the other months) is crucial. So equipped a car with a near 50/50 weight balance can be amazing in the snow.
As an auto enthusiast (why else would you be here?), would you agree that when given the opportunity to have control over the rear with your toe and opposite lock (steering) in a RWD car in an evasive maneuver when sliding is better than plowing straight ahead with perhaps a jab of the brakes to get the rear end out on a FWD car?
Someone sited FWD is safer? How exactly (all things being equal in terms of tire tread)? I submit FWD can be unsafe; let’s say you are doing 65 mph and you hit a patch of ice. The first thing people do is let off on the throttle, with FWD the rear of the car is not geared, and as soon as you lift and the tires loose grip - its hang on we are going off the road backend first! The most common type of car I see in the ditch is small FWD cars. Why? Light weight and probably bald read tires since most people think it’s all up to the front, true until you are doing highway speeds.
Of course most cars are now equipped with all speed traction control that can mitigate this FWD dynamic flaw. I defeat most of my traction control on my car in the snow, as I prefer to control the slip in the rear. Both of my teenage sons drove in the snow in a basic 2wd Ford Ranger p/u.
My company has a corporate Buick GS (270 hp FWD) that I drive in FL. In terms of dry handling, it sticks better than my BMW (Buick has wider stickier tires) and is a FTD car. However, the torque steer and general un-composed feel of the car in low gears at WOT fights me as the electronic control of brake bias and throttle does its best to maintain order of an overburdened front end. It feels inferior to RWD which allows me to have more fun with smoother control.
AWD is unnessesary IMO; its a bandaid for FWD based cars.
