FWD v RWD v4WD

[wlscullion]

I currently drive a standard Mark 5 GTI with DSG and am generally very pleased with it.It is almost 3 years old and I have had it since new with no problems. I am getting round to thinking of my next car and my thinking is that I would like something at least as powerful but have read in various places that 200HP is about as much as FWD can cope with and I feel at times when accelerating hard out of a corner that the GTI is asking the front wheels to do too much. I am therefore considering RWD possibly BMW 135i Coupe or possibly 3 series. Another alternative would be going 4WD with Golf R32 but I feel like more of a change .Last 3 cars have been VW and slightly reluctant to change but very tempted to go down RWD route. Am I overestimating difference RWD will make or anyone got any comments ? I will obviously testdrive BMW before deciding but I feel you often dont get chance to drive in an "enthusiasic " manner during a test drive to really judge the handling capabilities of a car. BMW are currently selling any 1 series Coupes they can get no problem so unlikely to give me 24 hour test drive.

[topher]

1 series vs the R32 on topgear, just incase you haven't seen it already

http://youtube.com/watch?v=O9rFQPg0kbk

[stevieC]

I had a 330 MSport before the gti and handling steering feel and engine were superb,also thought interior quality was far better than the gti but running costs just to high,the gti costs £30 a week on petrol the BM was £70 -£80.but as an all round package the gti was more fun.

[JonnyG]

R32 & AWD for me....anyday 

You sound like you love the Golf, and the R32 will be different enough to a GTi

[SiGibbo]

Hi

I think the comment no more than 200bhp through the front wheels was true about 10years ago but with developments in tyres and suspension cars can take a lot more these days, especially with developments in front diff's.

I can vouch for this as I have 2 FWD cars with more than 200bhp.

1. Saab 9-5 Aero 250bhp the design is about 10years old now and you get torque steer, the wheels just light up out of tight corners, to much turbo lag so difficult to adjust power through corners etc.

2 Golf GTI 240bhp i get no torque steer to talk of, very good traction out of corners and with virtually no turbo lag the car is very adjustable as well .

So I wouldn’t worry about having up to 260bhp without diff up to 300bhp with.

But hey that’s just my opinion.


Simon

[wlscullion]

Thanks for replies , certainly given me food for thought and possibly now leaning more to R32 but cant help thinking this is the more sensible choice (esp cost wise) where as 135i might be more fun. ? Life too short for sensible choices. Also think 135i coupe looks great but dosent feel anything extra special when sitting behind wheel. Not in any hurry to change and will continue enjoying my GTI meantime.
Had not seen that Top Gear clip before so that was very useful , did however see comparison between 135i and Porsche Cayman (on Top Gear I think) which came out in favour of 135i altho that was mainly on track performance

[Hurdy]

If you are considering the 135i coupe (good car) then you could easily afford the Audi S3 or the TTS. Both are 4WD and have over 260bhp. Both are easily tuneable to over 300bhp and IMO both are a better option than the Beemer.

As for FWD, it depends what you want out of the experience. I'm enjoying mine and could afford much more expensive exotica if I dipped into my savings. I just like the feeling of a FWD car and having to feed the power in and adjust the control and turn in. Sometimes 4WD can be a bit to anaestatising to the driving experience and RWD can be a bit too loopy (especially in the wet).

[Neaty]

heres some food for thought......the front wheel drive 2.0 turbo Audi TT was faster round the top gear test track than the Mazda RX-8 (RWD), which is more powerful than the TT too.

[R32UK]

Get the R32.... You will love it!! So heres what to do..

1. Go to the showroom and get the sales guy to let you start her up

2. Ask for a pen and directions to the dotted line.

3. Enjoy..... And you will have many many miles of petrol money left in your back pocket

[Phil mcavity]

dont forget the massive tax hikes coming for band G cars very soon.