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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,481
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With all of this talk of the Falcon nearing extinction it has got me thinking.
There are a lot of people devastated by the replacement being FWD, and I have also noticed a lot of people thinking that it wont be as good because it is not going to be a RWD straight 6. I have driven & owned my fair share of different model Falcons & still own a RWD Cortina. But when the time came for a new car I had no problem buying a FWD Focus because it suited my needs better & was & still is a good fun car to drive (on & off the track) despite being a 4cyl FWD. I understand that for certain uses a car needs to be RWD, but as a daily driver that you load the family into & even an occasional track car if you are that way inclined, is a FWD car really such a bad thing? |
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#3 | ||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 2,602
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No Falcon, no ute. The Ranger will probably take over there.
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#4 | |||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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It depends on the type of car. It makes sense for certain types of car but for others hell no.
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#5 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,481
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Totally agree that its a shame that ford has pulled out of building cars here & you are spot on saying that we will probably not know for sure for a while what will be available come 2016. But it would be a pretty safe bet to say the after 2016 if your choices of RWD cars will be very limited. The question I was asking was, will it really matter if future family cars are FWD as opposed to the traditional RWD like the Falcon & Commodore |
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#6 | ||
FAWD - No Boundaries
![]() Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 8,129
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FWD has it's merits... that's why I added it to my RWD I6 Falcon !!
![]() Truth is... the average punter wouldn't know the difference as they sedately drive to & from work, the shops, etc.... It helps to have RWD on boat ramps or for towing large trailers/campers... but for everyday driving, FWD cars have been doing the job successfully for years ! RWD is better for the enthusiast.... but a lot of new cars come in AWD now, to cater for them... I, for one, will be very sad to see the traditional I6 RWD Falcon go... but lets wait and see what the future brings, before we get too upset at it's replacement ! There's always Mustang for the fun times !!?? ![]() Dhru
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View My Build thread 22 DJR Shell V-Power Mustang Eskymobile (my first EV) 07 BF2 AWD Falcon Wagon (Daily driver) 04 BA Falcon 1Tonner Ute (New Project) 03 BA Falcon Wagon (Spare) 98 NL Fairlane Ghia V8 (Weekend cruiser) 70 VG paddock racer (Cain it til it breaks.. fix it.. Cain it all over again !)
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#8 | |||
!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 332
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FG XR6T 50TH anniversary with ZF auto Sold Current car 2018 Mustang GT 10r80 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlHqV...yer_detailpage |
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#9 | ||
Cruising...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,819
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Yep. Because i tow stuff and carry heavy things.
And because theres nothing like sliding the tail out and hearing the mighty Inline 6 roar.
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FBT '98 BA XT '04 F100 4x4 '82 Subaru Outback '02 |
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#10 | ||
#neuteredlyfe
![]() ![]() Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 10,541
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Road Warrior is right - we are getting plenty of exercise at the moment jumping to conclusions in regards to what Ford is going to do.
In regards to in-line 6 RWD cars? Generally, it comes down to personal preference. I, myself prefer the in-line 6 cyl RWD. BUT that is only my preference. As a matter of fact, I used to drive Commodores and only swapped over to Falcon when Holden went to the V6 in the VN. I have read on some other threads that the in-line 6 is a big lazy thing that will not rev. I personally prefer the big lazy in-line 6 and the fact that I do not have to generally rev it past 2500rpm to get it going - I just love the low-down torque. Once again, I used to drive Commodores and loved the VL for the same simple reason that the motor was a big lazy in-line 6. I hate having to rev the guts out of cars to get them to go - except of course for V8s. |
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#11 | ||
I was correct - AGAIN
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Third rock from the sun
Posts: 1,801
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FWD = no throttle on power slides
RWD= throttle on power slides (more fun) |
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#12 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
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Exactly, you can have so much more fun in a RWD car, unfortunately today your classified anti social though for having fun in a car.
Drove my mum on a 100km return trip to the doctor in her 2010 Mazda 6, when you take off from an intersection where you have to turn left or right, you feel everything in your feet from the pedals to your hands from the steering wheel, kind of a shuddering feeling (hard to describe) but it just feels horrible. |
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#13 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central Vic
Posts: 3,724
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Quote:
To me THE difference is in the tactile steering feel, not being corrupted by torque.
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#14 | |||
Barra Turbo > V8
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,796
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#15 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central Vic
Posts: 3,724
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Wherenoshockjocksfly Facts or the twitterverse, your choice! M3SR+ .......MG ZS EV |
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Rowville Vic
Posts: 692
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Except as mentioned above most of us have only driven little BUZZ boxes FWD and the are buzz boxes. Maybe a larger car FWD will be better!! any one driven the large yank tank FWD?
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#17 | ||
Call me 'Al'
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: On a flattened-out cardboard box out the back behind the wheelie bins.
Posts: 940
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#18 | ||
BANNED
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,886
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central Vic
Posts: 3,724
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In Europe the Mondeo can be had with the 1 litre EcoBoost !
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Wherenoshockjocksfly Facts or the twitterverse, your choice! M3SR+ .......MG ZS EV |
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#21 | ||
_Oo===oO_
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,305
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I love my RWD XR8, but my Fiesta (merely a Zetec) is just as much fun on my favorite stretches of road. Yes its a different type of fun, but it comes in the same amount, I can only imagine what the ST will be like (I'll still keep the AU though, I love it too much)
My experience with WQ and WS Fiestas has taught me that you should never ignore a car based on its drive configuration. In the future I'll happily consider FWD, RWD, or AWD as long as its well sorted and does what I need it to do. |
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#22 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,223
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Those who use their cars as A to B appliances will obviously not care which wheels are driven, but anyone who has an interest in cars and a passion for driving will know that fwd just doesn't cut it in terms of feel, handling and driving enjoyment. Then there is also the fact that rwd is far more robust, easier to work on and superior for towing and carrying heavy loads. You don't see any fwd trucks out there and there is a simple reason for that.
Lastly, when I was growing up, the general concensus was that small fwd cars were for women, or men who bat for the other team. So for me it will be rwd till the day I die. |
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#23 | |||
Trev
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Was Perth, now country Vic
Posts: 8,017
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Trev (FPV FG II GT-E thus the fully loaded burger with the lot as standard +Alpine/Dynamat fitout - 2 of only 4 ever made GT-E factory 9" rear rims - Michelin Pilot Supersports - Shockworks Suspension) |
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#24 | |||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,221
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Have you driven a Focus RS, ST, Fiesta ST, Renault Clio Sport, Megane RS265, etc? All are FWD but will shame many more powerful RWD cars around a track. When you were growing up people used to start their car with a winch, lighting was provided by a candle and wheels were made of wood. ![]()
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"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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#25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,051
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yet oddly, FWD hot hatches, marketed squarely at those with a passion for driving, do appear to cut it in terms of feel, handling and driving enjoyment.
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#26 | ||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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I think less than 5% of sedan drivers 'need' RWD to be honest. I mean, really need it, perhaps for towing and any other genuine reason RWD is needed over FWD.
I have loaded up my Focus to the hilt, inside, on top and behind - regulary towing a full trailer or a 15foot boat and can't think of a time I was ever stuck, or left thinking that RWD would have made any of those driving situations any better. Same could be said if it were a full sized sedan..... Car companies spend millions upon millions in R&D to lower the fuel consumption figures with each new model, while cramming more tech, features and safety in at the same time, which adds weight. It's a financial decision. Easy weight reduction, less parts, more compact drive train = reduction in consumption... saving money.
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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#27 | |||
Parts Interpreter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: In a cloud of tyre smoke
Posts: 2,605
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Quote:
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BFMKII XR6 Turbo Sedan
6sp Manual Pedders Coilovers Short Throw Shifter |
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#28 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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Quote:
In my Focus, towing 600kg added exactly 2l/100 to my freeway consumption. If the car would have been RWD I'm sure the figure would have been around the same under the same circumstances. If you were towing heavy loads on a regular basis, you would drive a car more suitable to the job, if you were not, then again, there is no reason to go RWD.
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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#29 | |||
Parts Interpreter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: In a cloud of tyre smoke
Posts: 2,605
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Quote:
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BFMKII XR6 Turbo Sedan
6sp Manual Pedders Coilovers Short Throw Shifter |
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#30 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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Quote:
A FWD car will feel.. well as you describe if it's towing above its limit of if the load on the back isn't set up correctly... simple as that. I tow my boat with no issues, I tow my loaded 5x7 trailer with no issues. Car feels no different in terms of how safe it is. I drive to the conditions, as anyone towing should do by default. Brake a little early, take off a little more smoothly. These are things you do with any car. You don't need to treat a FWD car any differently if you drive to the conditions and actually know what you are doing. Don't overload the ball and the car will sit flat much the same as if it were unladen. Things get sketchy when some tool puts 150+kg weight on the ball then wonders why the nose of the car is raised 2 inches higher than normal. I have done a lot of towing with my dads old XF, his newish RWD petrol Hilux and my brothers new 4x4 diesel Hilux and the only difference I can feel to be totally honest is driver comfort. If I had to tow 800kg the Focus would be first on the list... the Diesel Hilux is reserved for when I get to pull a really heavy load / car trailer and I can't stand using dads Hilux for anything as it's his farm hack and he grows prickly pears...... Cheers ![]()
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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