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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#91 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,633
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Quote:
Despite what people like to think, American's aren't / weren't stupid and Oldsmobile put a lot of thought into the Toronado. Until then, most people thought anything over 2-litres as FWD was impossible; a number of Toronados were apparently bought by other (European) manufacturers to reverse engineer what GM had done. Despite it's weight, size a torque apparently it was a good handling car .. only let down my the usual American drum brakes (front discs optional in 1967) |
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#92 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,618
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Funny you mention the 1.3 Starlet, we had a 1.3 5sp Echo and it was a hoot to punt around town. If I do like my fwd, it's in a very compact little manual car. There must be an undercurrent of us around, cos Toyota still sell the setup in the 1.3 Manual Yaris over 20 years later. Get one while you still can! ![]()
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#93 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,618
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Quote:
Great post, longitudinal drivetrain was one of the reasons the AWD Terry is such a good vehicle. These days you have to pay £££ €€€ for the same in a F-Pace, X5 or Porsche.
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#94 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,618
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Quote:
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#95 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,618
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Going back to the longitudinal drivetrain theme, maybe the Americans were onto something - longitudinal FWD does not have all of the compromises of transverse mounting.
This article was fascinating: meet the rare 'Fouranado': https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/1...mobile-a-body/ If you look at cars like the French Renault 12, it was exactly the same, fwd, north south motor and a great reputation for handling, chassis tune and comfort. I should know, as it was my parents car that got the surf track punishment as soon as I had my Ps. Great car.
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#96 | |||
Au Falcon = Mr Reliable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North West Slopes & Plains NSW
Posts: 4,076
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Quote:
cheers, Maka
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Ford AU Series Magazine Scans Here - www.fordforums.com.au/photos/index.php?cat=2792 Proud owner of a optioned keeper S1 Tickford Falcon AU XR6 VCT - "it's actually a better-balanced car than the XR8, goes almost as hard and uses about two-thirds of the fuel" (Drive.com 2007) |
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#97 | ||
Au Falcon = Mr Reliable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North West Slopes & Plains NSW
Posts: 4,076
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A nice read imo (with thanks to Jack Pyefinch & carsguide.com.au) -
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-adv...more-fun-36990 "Rear-wheel drive is pure and unadulterated, it is the balance that God Himself would have given cars" "This ancient and revered set up allows you to get power down out of bends in a far superior manner, and provides better feel and feedback." "Partly, it is oversteer that makes rear-wheel driven cars more fun, because there are few things as satisfying, and heart fibrillating, as catching and correcting an oversteer moment, or, if you're on a track and in possession of the necessary skills holding a rear-wheel slide." A couple of nice reasons why Rwd is more fun than Fwd above, lets see if i can find some glowing Fwd stories to share lol!! ![]() ![]() ![]() cheers, Maka
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Ford AU Series Magazine Scans Here - www.fordforums.com.au/photos/index.php?cat=2792 Proud owner of a optioned keeper S1 Tickford Falcon AU XR6 VCT - "it's actually a better-balanced car than the XR8, goes almost as hard and uses about two-thirds of the fuel" (Drive.com 2007) |
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#98 | ||
Au Falcon = Mr Reliable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North West Slopes & Plains NSW
Posts: 4,076
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Well, in the name of balance & fairness, here's two interesting links giving Fwd the thumbs up lol -
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/why...than-a-rwd-v8/ https://carbuzz.com/news/fwd-cars-ar...-ever-beat-rwd cheers, Maka
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Ford AU Series Magazine Scans Here - www.fordforums.com.au/photos/index.php?cat=2792 Proud owner of a optioned keeper S1 Tickford Falcon AU XR6 VCT - "it's actually a better-balanced car than the XR8, goes almost as hard and uses about two-thirds of the fuel" (Drive.com 2007) |
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#99 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,112
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That Oldsmobile is crazy! Longitudinal AND FWD! How many of those old V8 FWD American tanks were longitudinal?
It's interesting how GM embraced FWD during that era. I remember reading it was in response to the oil crisis and the introduction of CAFE. At the time GM were loaded and pretty much re-engineered their entire range, big block tanks and all, to be FWD, just to gain a bit extra MPG. Ford didn't have the resources to do that though. Once the fuel crisis was over GM were left without any RWD platforms. There was even a Cadillac badged J car. (Holden Camira) More recently though GM learnt the value of RWD with most Cadillac's now based on the RWD Alpha platform. Lincoln are only just getting their RWD act together now. |
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#100 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,429
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#101 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,618
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Glad you appreciated the link guys, I learned a lot yesterday afternoon.
One point i kept coming across was how well engineered the GM FWD longitudinal setup of the 1960s was. They were very good engineers at their company's peak. So it was done well. Second was the driving experience - smooth and powerful, and handling safer for the average motorist. Plus, a lot of the northern US gets snowy conditions and the setup is better for low traction ice and snow. Remember this is before widespread AWD and the 1970 Range Rover. Thirdly, the history - racers in the states in the 1920s pioneered the FWD as one top driver believed being pulled through a corner was better than pushed and the concept was raced successfully. This setup saw commercial light of day as the 1937 Cord. Minus points in owning these longitudinal FWD cars come in front tyre wear and any maintenance on the drivetrain. Cheers
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