new car

[85_Ranger4x4]

My turbo 2.3 ranger scoots along just as good as any old turbo probe! And it's a truck.

I'd be scared of anything that's FWD and fast. It's been my experience that FWD parts don't hold up to the power necessary to go fast.

The CV-joints were clicking on my old Plymouth Laser Turbo, but then it had 170k miles on it when I got rid of it... aside from that and motor mounts (that pretty much held the whole driveline) I had no issues with the FWD part of the drivetrain for the 40k it was in my stable.

Only thing I didn't like was the unequal axleshafts that generated considerable torque steer. It is unnerving to have your car try to throw itself into the ditch when you get on it hard. That is a thing of the past, they have eliminated that on remotely modern FWD's, mine was a 1990.

 

[Deamers87ford]

i have decided no car for me im sticking with 4wd how bout this http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/959420446.html

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

offer him $500...a clutch job is kind of a pain in the butt.

 

[johnsislandranger]

there aint but so much u can do with a car.

 

[Deamers87ford]

i have the cash but im having troble convincing my dad

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

whats his arguement?

 

[Deamers87ford]

im not 16 yet till june and i already have a 87 bronco II im using but dad i wanta get something thats a manual for good mpg and its cheap

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

so why cant you seel the bronco after you get a truck?

 

[Deamers87ford]

but i like the bronco

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

why do you need both? the ranger will tow and haul more than the BII and you can still stuff your friend in the jump seats in the ranger...

 

[Deamers87ford]

thats true maybe i can sell the bronco to my dad

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Then there was the 220HP tauras, 143HP escort, 170HP focus...low poer comparativly, but all factory options.

Like I said, in my experience. I've worked on all those cars that broke the drivetrain parts because they were too weak for the engine bolted to them. Would they have broken if they were an M5OD and an 8.8? Definately not!

Think about it. You're stuffing the clutch/torque converter, transmission, differential, and axle shafts into a space the same size as the transmission alone on a RWD. Therefore all the parts are smaller. As a general rule of engineering, smaller parts = less material = less allowable load before breakage. All I was saying is that I've seen this equation proved true in the "more powerful" FWD's I've worked on.

That being said, would I own a FWD? Yes, in fact I do (see signature). Generally, all the smaller and more fuel efficient cars are FWD (although I'd love to have a RWD car with a 4 banger and weight less than 2800 lbs). FWD's are generally a good choice for basic, cheap transportation. But for performance/big loads/power/etc, you're world's ahead starting with RWD.

Also, on a side note, if you look at the dynamics of car (meaning engineering dynamics), the equation of motion for a RWD is far superior for maximum acceleration and towing than the equation of motion for a FWD.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a FWD transaxle is smaller because it can be. the engine is already facing the line of travel, so the energy doesnt have to make a 90-degree bend before it can reach the wheels. this takes a lot of bulk out of the equation. ive heard of virtually no FWD ring and pinion failures because of this design.

in fact, the only regular FWD platform problems i see are crappy ford automatic transmission. and guess what, those fail constantly in RWD form too. its not at all uncommon for SHO guys to be putting down over 350 HP to the stock 5 speed with no problems, turbo focus guys to put down well over 200 HP.

im not argueing that a RWD handles better than a FWD...thats a given. your talking to a guy that owns 2 torque-steer-loving gen 1 escort GT's. even so, there are FWD guys running 11's or better....but thats just silly.

 

[Ozwynn]

im not argueing that a RWD handles better than a FWD...thats a given. your talking to a guy that owns 2 torque-steer-loving gen 1 escort GT's. even so, there are FWD guys running 11's or better....but thats just silly.

you need a 2.4L from a PT cruiser turbo or a Neon SRT4 ...... equal length axles so no torque steer.



my highschool shop teacher had a black probe turbo like in the original post........ he was also jailed for brutally raping a member of the girl's volley ball team. Also knew a self centered spoiled fat girl that had a 93 probe GT ........ haven't wanted a probe since ........ don't know why but I always associate Probes with those 2 chapters in my life.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

lol, no, i dont "need" a PT looser or a neon....the thought makes me throw up a little in my mouth. newer escorts also have equal length drive shafts

IF i were to blow a wad of cash on a "new" "performance" FWD vehicle (in reality, i wouldnt waste my time...FWD's are for commuting, not racing), it would be a saturn ion redline. 205HP supercharged 16-valve 4 cylinder and the only external indication is a tiny little red badge on the trunk lid (and the ghey fin that would immediatly be ex-ed). why? because its a freaking saturn! noone suspects a saturn