Wednesday 26th November 2014

All-wheel drive, half the fun? PH Blog

Is a four-wheel drive sports car really the soft option? Dan ponders the apparent attraction of traction

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Somewhat provocatively I asked James to write a blog suggesting, as per the standfirst, 'real men don't tuck the overpowered RWD weekend toy away just because winter has arrived'. And then ducked while he copped all the flak for it.

Grip or grin? Will 4WD ruin the fun?

But when a sports car manufacturer offers both two- and four-wheel drive variants of the same model is there any shame in admitting you'd prefer the traction advantage over the supposedly more heroic RWD option? Confirmation of a four-wheel drive F-Type brings this dilemma to the consistently sideways Brit bruiser and Porsche has offered such a 911 derivative since the days of the 964. Meanwhile AMG has bowed to market pressure and now offers 4Matic versions of many of its models, if not necessarily in the UK thanks to the complexity and expense of engineering them into RHD. Meaning we're among the few to get the chance to experience an E-Class attempting to put 585hp and 590lb ft through just its rear axle. If you'd asked me in July whether this seems a good idea or not I'd have probably nodded and grinned. Ask me the same question today and I might be a little more thoughtful.

I can buy the argument for all-weather confidence in a monster estate like an RS6 or E63. But walking into a Jaguar or Porsche dealership at the weekend with a fictional (sadly) £80K or so in my pocket this weekend would there be much of a pause for thought over whether or not to go for the four-wheel drive version? And would this latter choice be somehow less manly?

Are you feeling lucky, punk? This with PSM on...

I seem to have been driving rather a lot of 911s recently (in no way connected to managing the press car bookings ... honest ... oh, OK) and mainly in fairly awful weather. The 991 Targa we had in the other week was four-wheel drive and the one outside today is a GT3. Do I feel any less confident about driving the latter because it only has two driven wheels? Frankly at road speeds and given the modern developments in tyres and face saving technology not really. If you'd asked me at Silverstone on Sunday you might have had a different answer - I drove a Turbo there in similar conditions and, spray aside, you'd swear you were on a dry track. The GT3, meanwhile, was less duck to water and more like one trying to walk across a frozen pond.

But when I browse older 911s in the classifieds I immediately discount anything with a '4' in its badge as quickly as I would a Tiptronic. And back in the fictional Jag dealership, even with the rain pouring outside, I'm not sure I'd even consider a four-wheel drive one.

This isn't out of some misplaced sense of heroism or delusion that I'll spot the exit of every roundabout I encounter via the side windows. More for me that I put weight pretty high on my list of priorities in a sports car and, especially for older ones, the idea that fewer parts means less to go wrong appeals to the budgeting. Uncorrupted steering and, for new cars, a typically cheaper asking price also appeal.

Nobody ever complained GT-R is dumbed down

This isn't to say I don't enjoy four-wheel drive sports cars - the way that Targa would do delicate little four-wheel drifts under power and the sheer explosive power of a Nissan GT-R's corner exit traction are wonders to behold. Nor would I criticise Jaguar for finding ways of expanding its market for the F-Type.

But I'll maintain a slight suspicion that, where a choice is offered, the four-wheel drive one will always be the perceived softer option. And with that I'm off to go and drive a GT3 in the pouring rain. Meaning if you shortly encounter a big white wing sticking out of a hedge and me clambering out of the wreckage with twigs in my hair you have every right to point and laugh.

Dan

Lead photo: Roo Fowler, GT3 photo: Anthony Fraser

[anonymous-user]

I've never owned a 4WD 'car' but I can't see it would be more 'fun' but probably more 'efficient'.

[anonymous-user]

JaseB said:

I see you've had a Caterham, still have mine and when it's wet I wish I had a 996 Turbo...

I had many a good drive in the wet, even one in the snow in my old Caterham, shame it had to go really. Wasn't the fastest way to get from A to B in those conditions but it was an exciting drive. Spinning tyres in 2/3rd in a straight line does things to your mind

Almost the last drive was a year ago. Heading down a local road there was a 'lake' across it. I pulled up to it and behind was a chap in a new XKR who realized that there was no way that a 70mm high Caterham was going sailing. I motioned to him I was turning around and he shouted out the window "I'll back up" Full lock, dropped the clutch and somehow completed a neat spin. Pulled back up to thank him and he was cracking up, asked what it cost to build etc.

The best thing about owning a Caterham is that they are one of the few cars that are universally accepted.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 26th November 13:04

[anonymous-user]

nckr55 said:

After the horror winter we had 4 years ago - and two useless, stuck Focuses (admittedly on not very good 'summer' tyres)

A focus on winter tyres is a very good car in the snow, ours got most places. You want to try an S60 in the snow if you want to experience 'useless'