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Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally posted by mamisano:
Hmmm, yeah Traction Control...
I had to TRY and push a Mercedes SLK-230 in the snow a few years ago. The TC kept on kicking in to the point the wheels would simply not move. If you have NO traction, all the TC in the world will NOT help.
Why did you have to 'push a merc' in the snow ?
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,397
b0x @dm1n
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b0x @dm1n
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,397 |
Originally posted by ODC:
Originally posted by Andy W.:
Originally posted by ODC:
You have the best throttle control with RWD....
Really, enlighten me!
-Andy
Well that sure answers my question.
It's not better, just different. FWD can give understeer, RWD can give oversteer. And for the untrained driver, understeer is notoriously safer. Granted TC has made a difference, but guess what, FWD has it too.
-Andy
Andy W.
The problem with America is stupidity.
I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment
for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety
labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,760
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Very valid points, but your speaking of pickups with light ass rear ends. I know my truck is going to be a PITA this winter, but its very do able, and I prefer RWD over FWD in the snow because its more predictable. Also, If your pushing things out of parking spots I could almost gurantee that if it was FWD it would be stuck as well. Originally posted by Andy W.:
Bull [censored]! I have a rear wheel drive pickup. And in snow or Ice with winter tires, It doesnt move with out 4WD. I try it allt he time.
My roommates brand new 350 handled like dick in the snow. While slowing around a corner and then going up a hill it would not move. Traction control cannot put more weight on the rear of the car for the tires to grip. Not to mention the wide tires of sports cars are worse than the thin tires.
You wanna know the cars I pushed out of parking spots last winter, a BMW 3 series and an RX-7. The wieght advantage over the wheels on a FWD cars is obvious.
-Andy
Ryan
Trollin!
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by mamisano:
Originally posted by ODC:
You have the best throttle control with RWD, and it shows in the snow -- besides, all modern RWD cars come with some form of tc so driving a rwd car should be no more difficult than a FWD.
Hmmm, yeah Traction Control...
I had to TRY and push a Mercedes SLK-230 in the snow a few years ago. The TC kept on kicking in to the point the wheels would simply not move. If you have NO traction, all the TC in the world will NOT help.
That's why it comes with an "off" switch.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Dec 2003
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I've driven just about everything in the snow/ice (3-16 inches of it) and FWD is easily the better choice. Any RWD (no matter how many sandbags) is going to have the disadvantage. FWD's will pull, RWD's will push as most of you know, and in the snow, I don't see how a RWD is more predictable.
Try this maneuver (One that comes up often in CO): You're slowly braking for the next red light, all of a sudden you've lost traction and are slamming on the brakes.
FWD: You slowly accelerate, tires regrip, and you point yourself away from the car ahead of you.
RWD: You slowly accelerate, attempt to get the tires to regrip, and point yourself away from the car ahead of you, only to find that your tires will again lose grip, and you'll be sliding into that car 9 times out of 10.
Hope this makes sense, but simple thing is.. Around here, if you've got a RWD you just don't drive it once snow has any chance to ice. With the hills/unpredictability of the roads, you have GOT to have a FWD/4 or AWD for the heavy winters.
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I don't know what to make of the 500. On the one hand it has TONS more space than other midsizers, Volvo-engineered chassis and crash protection, offers features that other midsizers don't like AWD, CVT transmissions and 6 speed auto. On the other hand it's extremely  looking, lacks power or any sort of inspiring qualities. Other than the features and space, why would you "lust" after this car? IMO Ford should have made the styling more appealing and that would draw more people. About power, isn't a 3.5L Duratec going to be offered in the future? Lets hope it sells, Ford needs it's new products to be well recieved. I wonder if they can have the quality to back it up for once.  A friend of mine who has done some electrical work for the 500 program didn't have very nice things to say about some of the engineering decsisions made.
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Posts: 2,580
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Originally posted by RogerB:
Ford 500 =
Many auto writers have said that about the Contour, too. Especially if you got a GL.
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8 SE, Code Red. '00 Tropic Green Ford Escort SE [Contour's little cousin]
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I hate fwd in snow, thats my preferance..... I crashed my old golf into MANY snow banks a couple years ago because of DAMN oversteer! where I would just go straigt into the snow bank.. or down an incline.. when I had my 240 RWD... nissan, I felt much safer in the snow, even tough thats probably not true to people who can't drive! lol its just different, with my 240, I could always AIM where I want to go.. pop the back end out and always keep her steady... I do admit RWD was more fun in the snow to! FWD my mx-3 sucks.
1997 Civic CX (lsvtec,el frontend,fast, nuff said)
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
Originally posted by 2000GreenTour:
Originally posted by RogerB:
Ford 500 =
Many auto writers have said that about the Contour, too. Especially if you got a GL.
Where?
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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