I've stumbled across a couple of really spectacular new cars over the last few days. They're affordable, practical, comfortable, high quality, safe, good handlers and they're exceptionally fast. Sounds like a dream come true, eh? Certainly, most people are bursting with anticipation when I lead them on like that. That is, until I tell 'em I'm talking about the new Toyota Avalon and Mitsubishi Magna Sport! And that's when you see their faces drop and the eyes roll heavenward. Well, sorry people, I'm here to tell ya that these are bloody brilliant cars!
It seems to me that a lot of folk instantly turn off when it comes to large front wheel drives — and this bias is really holding a couple of manufacturers back. It reminds me of the once-common perception of turbochargers. "Wooo, you wouldn't want one of those things, they cost the earth to maintain," was the old story. These days, a fair whack of people have taken onboard turbocharger technology. Large, front wheel drive cars haven't yet been so lucky...
To everyone out there that bags FWDs because of their rampant torque steer, wheelspin and understeer - go and drive something like an Alfa 156, Peugeot 405, or the aforementioned Avalon. Something current and semi-decent. You'll soon realise that modern front-wheel drives aren't at all like some of their earlier counterparts, which were devised purely for economic reasons.
Even (in an extreme case) the sizeable 160+kW hit of the Magna Sport arrives with only the smallest trace of torque steer - and you really have to be on the ball to pick it. Plus, don't forget, most of today's high power front wheel drives come equipped with very well sorted suspensions and complex traction control systems. Their overall refinement has improved markedly.
FWD cars ploughing uncontrollably into corners is just an image that people conjure up in their heads. A good FWD won't do this on the road unless you absolutely provoke it (by entering a bend way too fast, or being too ham-fisted with your driving technique). Drive the car realising that they like a balanced throttle and a "slow in and fast out" approach and you won't have that problem ever again. That is, unless you accidentally overcook an entry so badly that all is lost! And, if you really can't be bothered trying to adapt, auto stability control has recently arrived on the scene to nip any sliding (any sliding at all) in the butt. You can't get any more neutral than that.
Another concern people have with FWDs is that you can't really tow anything with them. And I do have to agree with this - to a point. But how many of us ever tow something that's big enough to warrant needing rear wheel drive? Mr Joe Average's 6x4 trailer that's loaded up for a trip to the dump certainly isn't going to worry a Magna, nor will the typical sized trailer boat. A big fibreglass craft (over about 20 feet in length) might need the grip of something like a Commodore with an LSD — but when you get to that stage, you're already pushing the suspension and brakes of a normal sized family car. Of course, if you hook something like a 23 foot Bertram or 24 foot SharkCat onto the back, you're gonna need a vehicle like a big 4WD F100 anyway. Something with a really chunky chassis. As you can see, when it comes to towing, the window through which a RWD family car has a true advantage is very small.
A lot of people also don't realise that a FWD has significant benefits over a rear wheel set-up. For a start, a front wheel drive delivers a greater portion of engine power to the wheels. It's widely generalised that there's a 30% power loss through a RWD's drivetrain, while a FWD loses only 20%. Needless to say, 10% is a big difference. That's the kind of power gain you get when you go
out and install a high flow exhaust. And, with reduced drivetrain loss, you're also talking improved fuel economy as well. There are also benefits in terms of weight savings and interior room to go with it.
Okay. Now having said all that, I think there are some factory front wheel drives that are pushing the boundaries of their chassis a bit too far. The current manual Magna Sport does (just) fall into this category. It's got so much power, it's difficult to blast out from an apex without smoking the inside front rubber. And, in the wet, the big Mitsu will buzz a tyre till the cows come home. But you'll note that I'm only talking about the 5-speed manual version — the Tiptronic-style automatic comes with traction control as standard.
And then, of course, there's those high-powered turbocharged Swedes: Saab and Volvo. I'll admit I've never driven one of these things, but it's obvious from some photos I've seen that the Saab (especially the extra-powerful Viggen) will melt its bags with ease. But, of course, if this were a rear wheel drive, just the same behaviour would be considered cool...
Contrary to some people's belief, it's obvious that FWDs can be good performers. You're only really starting to push these hi-po modern FWD chassis when you're delving deep into the high-6 low-7 second 0 to 100 km/h bracket. And that's certainly quick enough for most people.
So don't write off good cars just because your perceptions are way out of whack.
In stark contrast to this, I frequently come across people over-rating cars that are genuinely steaming piles of junk. Some of the most high profile automotive names out there are often equally as large letdowns. For example, an early 90s 5.0 litre Mustang that I recently drove was a major, major disappointment. This was supposed to be an American super hero — the mighty Mustang. I tell people I drove a late model V8 Mustang and they nearly wet themselves. But I just couldn't believe how bad it was.
This thing (with only 70,000 kilometres on the clock) drove like my very first car — a 1977 XC Ford Falcon V8. Just like the big Falc, the Mustang's steering was appallingly vague at the straight ahead position (you had to feel for where the wheels actually started to turn), the ride was a basic "stiffen it up an' she'll be right" and the engine was well, out of an F100. The only thing sporty about it was its looks and the way that it slurped through fuel!
A most graphic display of how pumped up this particular Mustang is, was dealt out by — wait for it! - the aforementioned FWD Toyota Avalon. A car that many people think should only be used to transport lamingtons to the local bingo club! From a standing traffic light start, the Avalon got a half car length jump (probably due to a slightly poor start in the auto Mustang) and the by the time we'd hit 120 km/h, it was neck-and-neck. Oh, how embarrassing - the "awesome" Mustang couldn't even muscle its way past a plain ol' Avalon! Lucky no one else was watching...
It all just goes to show how much of an emphasis we put on a car's reputation... rather than the driving reality.
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