Re: lotsa 300hp fwd cars!

[William Elliott <CN=William.Elliott/OU=MKE/OU=CORP/O=MMS#064#MMS%lngw@wtgw.corp.mei.com>]

A good design can help to limit the problems, but the basic physics remain a 
problem.  I last autocrossed a
SAAB Sonett and continuously had traction problems.  Much slower cars were much 
faster around the course (even discounting my lack of FWD autocross skills).

The older FWD American cars are horrible to drive fast.  Though we sold the '79 
Seville(ex-diesel with a '69 Rocket 350), Dad still has his old Toro.  Even 
though they're heavyweights, you simply can't use the available torque.

My now-deceased '87 Allante was the best American FWD I've driven, but with 
only 170hp in a 3800lb car, excess power wasn't a problem.  The '93 Northstar 
Allante (always on my wish list) is also a winner thanks to low torque but high 
hp and a nice chassis.

My '89 SAAB 900T (heated up via Group6 to about 200hp) is horrible to drive 
fast and/or hard.  Again, you can't use the available power (complicated by 
turbo lag) in the low gears.   On the highway, it's not too bad.   It's a 
compromise for the WI winters... otherwise it would be a 325/328.   Audi: how 
about a turbo quattro convertible?

My favorite FWD car?  A tie between the Coupe GT and the (new generation) Lotus 
Elan.  Both have a nicely developed chassis, but IMO neither comes close to a 
quattro.  (The Elan even pales in comparison to its Isuzu Impulse RS AWD 
stablemate).
 
Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI
85 UrQ

BTW, on the Gremlin thread... I once test drove a Gremlin "X".  304 V8, 3sp 
manual.  Purple.  VERY FAST (for the mid-70's).