From: Justin Hughes <ka1ult@channel1.com>
To: autox <autox@autox.team.net>; Phil Ethier <pethier@isd.net>
Date: Monday, April 12, 1999 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: Neons- Quality
>I'm willing to bet that the ability to overcome
>the inherent understeer qualities of FWD is a big reason for the Neon's
>popularity in our group.
Understeer is not an inherent quality of FWD. The fact that most FWD cars
DO plow like a farmer causes folks to think that it is. The understeer is
caused by dismal mass distribution and suspension design. It appears that
there is not a lot of perceived market for a FWD car with
better-for-high-traction-surface performance mass distribution, since the
nose-heavy layout helps low-traction-surface performance and is also a
product of the search for passenger-space efficiency which can be an
advantage of FWD design.
There have been some FWD cars with decent mass distribution, and they have
been praised for their handling in their time. The Cord, Miller and some of
the Citroen cars spring to mind.
A properly-balanced RWD car will be faster in the dry, and a nose-heavy FWD
car will be faster in the slimy. To have one car that excels in both
probably requires a properly-balanced AWD car.
Phil Ethier Saint Paul Minnesota USA
Lotus Europa, VW Quantum Syncro, Chev Suburban
LOON, TCVWC, MAC
pethier@isd.net http://www.visi.com/mac/
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