RWD - FWD - LSD - No of Cyls. Can You Really Tell?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Another thread got me thinking about how many people really can tell the difference in a car's performance based on what fuel they put in it. Does the expensive stuff really make a difference; can you honestly tell? Really?

Furthermore, can most people genuinely differentiate between a rear wheel drive and a front wheel drive car in normal use? Is the difference that marked that people with average driving ability and experience - which by definition is nearly all of us - could tell by themselves, without having done research or asked? I suspect most people know what ABS is, but not necessarily what it does, but what about a LSD? And as for cylinders, can the average driver honestly tell how many cylinders are under the bonnet: 3, 4, 5 or 6? Maybe he might be able to tell an 8 from a 4, but from a 6? Could most tell the difference between 8 and 12?

I realise that many here will claim they can. I'd like to think I can. I suspect that the collective 'PH-we' might be better than most, but I bet we're not as discriminating or knowledgeable as we like to think we are.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

fred bloggs said:

Is this a serious question ? Has anyone here ever got in a car without knowing which wheels are driven ?

If in an alternate universe,I ever got in a car without prior knowledge of the drive line configuration,Id need just to pull away to know what the driveline is like.

This is exactly my point. I bet the vast majority of people get in a car without knowing - or caring - which wheels are driven. Or how many cylinders it has. For many of them, even which fuel it uses.

And whilst you will undoubtedly be able to tell the driveline configuration the moment you pull away, my proposition is that nearly every one else won't have a clue.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Interesting responses. Most - but by no means all - claim they can tell; I'm not so sure as many can as claim it.

I guesss the road to automation suggests that manufacturers see clear financial proof that most drivers don't care either way.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

TameRacingDriver said:

rxe said:

Problem is, you're describing situations that most drivers don't ever get into, or want to get into. Most people get in to their little box, and drive to the shops or work. They probably use about 40% of the car's capabilites, these features only become apparent when using the other 60%.

Without wanting to sound like an arse, but I thought I was on Pistonheads. I would pretty much expect most people on here to have even a slight interest in driving and/or cars.
If the same post had been made on a non enthusiast site, then I would agree.

That is really the premise of the thread though, and I think you might be surprised. Even some of the responses indicate that many people, even here, don't know or care.

I also think that whilst we clearly have some extraordinarily experienced and well-informed posters here, there are also some dreamers who have a somewhat inflated idea of their driving and technical abilities. Just like most of the rest of the population in fact.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

CABC said:

DoubleD said:

It's only car bores who care what wheels are driven and what engine is powering it. Non car bores care about their own dull things, they are probably amazed that people don't know about this that or the other of their hobby.

yep, but this is a car bore site?

All true. Doesn't mean the car bores know what they're (we're) talking about though.