<VV> Modern Corvair vs. mundane FWDs

[Bill Elliott]

Even with an aggressive traction control system and no real torque steer 
issues to speak of, with really sticky tires (Kumho MX)  my Northstar 
Allante was almost impossible to hold in a straight line under a full power 
launch based on the torque and the inherent weight transfer. The front end 
didn't "pull", it just sort of floated, so it was a fight to keep it going 
straight if the road was anything but perfectly level.

I have to assume that Caddy (1) didn't expect people to drive the Allante 
like a sports car and (2) assumed the use of luxury tires which would spin 
quickly and engage the traction control, thereby artificially limiting the 
car's  performance to the point that weight transfer never really came into 
play.

There just was no safe way to use the performance while the Mercedes 500SL 
(similar weight to power ratio, rwd) would turn slightly better numbers 
without much driver involvement... just mash the pedal and hold the wheel...

Bill


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jvhroberts at aol.com>
To: <Chaz at ProperProPer.com>; <airvair at earthlink.net>; 
<virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 15:17
Subject: Re: <VV> Modern Corvair vs. mundane FWDs


>
> There are few high end FWD cars these days. Even Caddy has largely 
> abandoned FWD for this reason. So has Audi and Acura.
>
> One issue is simple. Big power and FWD simply do not get along. Another is 
> most cars are FWD. As such, RWD is a less produced system with fewer units 
> to spread development and engineering costs over. And big power and RWD 
> makes SO much more sense!!
>
>