dbd33

And not much grip. Maybe one of the above for the summer and something dull for the winter? The something dull might be pressed into service in summer for moving rims around.

G77

I agree with Iain - an Evo 10 with its snow mode has me drooling at the prospect

dbd33

I confess to having enjoyed rocket econoboxes in the snow. I had a Suzuki Forsa Turbo which, if you stomped on the gas and moved the left foot sideways, would turn completely around from a standstill (after a tantalizing wait for the turbo, of course). Still, it would have been a great deal more fun to be able to do that al fresco.

iaink

Isnt more power than grip one of the allures of a sporty car? To be able to stomp on the gas and have the back end step out?

Most modern cars have the traction nanny option to keep you on the straight and narrow in the winter anyway, especially with a sensible tire selection and a bit of care how you plant your foot.

I think both the Evo and STi allow you to dial in exactly how much stability nanny is engaged and how much RWD bias the AWD operates with, so in effect, other than having a roof (which is kind of essential if you want a roof rack anyway I guess) they might be the best of both worlds, unfettered fun when you want it, and secure winter transportation when necessary.

dbd33

Absolutely and that means RWD, the opposite of a sensible arrangement for winter.

iaink

At least somepower to the rear is probably more fun for sure.

Modern stability systems have largely taken all the more interesting RWD winter characteristics out of play, no one complains about the big chrysler 300s and its dodge clones handling poorly in snow, and they are RWD. The Cops crown vics and the newer Dodge pPolice interceptors are RWD, and I see a lot of beemers in the winter. They all seem to get by. With modern Snow tires of course.

AWD can also be pushed to drift, my Subaru can be encouraged to break free if the traction is low...and thats only 165HP as it has no Turbo.

Maybe you should try one before knocking the whole idea?

Steve_P

Add to the above, front wheel drive didn't exist for the most part in North America before 1980 and we all got around just fine before then, without modern stability systems.

bodgerx

Not ideal though is it? Things have moved on. Although (as stated earlier here) rear-wheel drive is still the thing for driving feel. BMW hang on to it for this reason.

The thing about modern stability systems is that most manufacturers say they should be switched off in the snow! Very strange..maybe the software can't cope...

Best car I had in deep snow was a 205 Diesel. It would plough through snow drifts on the North York moors without any issue. Heavy diesel engine over the driven front wheels. Lots of engine breaking from the tourqy diesel. Nice. Well, not exactly nice, but practical.

dbd33

1. You can turn the stability systems off. You have to be able to do that in order to spin the wheels when you're stuck and that's what makes them fun.

2. I regularly drive an AWD drive vehicle and a 4x4. And a 4x4 tractor! I drove a Subaru wagon last time we were in Colorado, from Grand Junction to Ouray and then offroad to look at the ice climbers. It had squeaky brakes as they do. Very practical, a Birkenstock of cars.

G77

When men were real men eh?

Steve_P

No argument there, but rear wheel drive is not as bad a it is being painted in some of the above posts.

Each requires its own type of driving.

Steve_P

You said it, not me.

Butch Cassidy

If only you could return to those days, hey Mr P

iaink

As we were proposing checking out the hotrodded motorsport enabled STi, thats rather like saying "I've driven a Silverado and it wasnt very sporty" when discussing the Corvette. Both are Chevies, have two seats and a big V8, but hardly comparable.

Steve_P

No way in hell would I want to do that as tempting as it might be.

That would mean I would have to go back to work.