Am I mad for thinking about going back to FwD from 4WD?
Discussion
Before anyone says it, I know the S3 is not 'proper' 4WD...
I currently have an Audi S3 8P mapped to 310bhp.
It's a good car, it can still get the power down when its lashing it down, nice inside, nice badge... But its just missing that fun factor. Its sort of too good at everything...
The steerings quite numb although i'm used to it and the engine sounds strained high up the revs.
I've always yearned for the 2.5 5 Cylinder of a Focus ST. But I do worry about putting the power down in all conditions not just dry!
I test drove an ST, before the S3 in the rain. It was around 280bhp and just spun the wheels. I fear any car with simlar power in FWD will just do the same.
I also drove a non mapped ST awhile ago (summer) and loved it.The torque in gear is awesome. I maybe had rose tinted glasses on as I was 20 and thats 4 years ago now.
I had a test of a new age STi but not for me.
Like the look of the new ST and VXR Astra but both have foibles I don't like!
I contemplated an S6 V10 but thats another story...
Ahhh. Confused!
I currently have an Audi S3 8P mapped to 310bhp.
It's a good car, it can still get the power down when its lashing it down, nice inside, nice badge... But its just missing that fun factor. Its sort of too good at everything...
The steerings quite numb although i'm used to it and the engine sounds strained high up the revs.
I've always yearned for the 2.5 5 Cylinder of a Focus ST. But I do worry about putting the power down in all conditions not just dry!
I test drove an ST, before the S3 in the rain. It was around 280bhp and just spun the wheels. I fear any car with simlar power in FWD will just do the same.
I also drove a non mapped ST awhile ago (summer) and loved it.The torque in gear is awesome. I maybe had rose tinted glasses on as I was 20 and thats 4 years ago now.
I had a test of a new age STi but not for me.
Like the look of the new ST and VXR Astra but both have foibles I don't like!
I contemplated an S6 V10 but thats another story...
Ahhh. Confused!
Edited by babo456 on Monday 8th December 16:00
Edited by babo456 on Monday 8th December 16:05
babo456 said:
Before anyone says it, I know the S3 is not 'proper' 4WD...
I currently have an Audi S3 8P mapped to 310bhp.
It's a good car, it can still get the power down when its lashing it down, nice inside, nice badge... But its just missing that fun factor. Its sort of too good at everything...
The steerings quite numb although i'm used to it and the engine sounds strained high up the revs.
I've always yearned for the 2.5 5 Cylinder of a Focus ST. But I do worry about putting the power down in all conditions not just dry!
I test drove an ST, before the S3 in the rain. It was around 280bhp and just spun the wheels. I fear any car with simlar power in FWD will just do the same.
I also drove a non mapped ST awhile ago (summer) and loved it.The torque in gear is awesome. I maybe had rose tinted glasses on as I was 20 and thats 4 years ago now.
I had a test of a new age STi but not for me.
Like the look of the new ST and VXR Astra but both have foibles I don't like!
I contemplated an S6 V10 but thats another story...
Ahhh. Confused!
Try something RWD.I currently have an Audi S3 8P mapped to 310bhp.
It's a good car, it can still get the power down when its lashing it down, nice inside, nice badge... But its just missing that fun factor. Its sort of too good at everything...
The steerings quite numb although i'm used to it and the engine sounds strained high up the revs.
I've always yearned for the 2.5 5 Cylinder of a Focus ST. But I do worry about putting the power down in all conditions not just dry!
I test drove an ST, before the S3 in the rain. It was around 280bhp and just spun the wheels. I fear any car with simlar power in FWD will just do the same.
I also drove a non mapped ST awhile ago (summer) and loved it.The torque in gear is awesome. I maybe had rose tinted glasses on as I was 20 and thats 4 years ago now.
I had a test of a new age STi but not for me.
Like the look of the new ST and VXR Astra but both have foibles I don't like!
I contemplated an S6 V10 but thats another story...
Ahhh. Confused!
HTH
yonex said:
Try something RWD.
HTH
This...HTH
Or accept that (especially on an open-diff and extra-especially in the wet) putting the power down in a FWD car is difficult; but has the comfort of just being easily controlled understeer as opposed to potentially brown-trouser oversteer. Sometimes I get a little frustrated in my car, especially in 1st and 2nd gear but for my driving (motorway, a little B-road) I'm usually in 3rd territory so FWD isn't really a hindrance on decent rubber. And I must say it's on the motorway that the 5 cylinder Volvo engines tend to come into their own, brilliant mid-range. The extra cylinder is worth it for the sound alone! Just don't drive like a t
t in the wet and you'll be fine. Edited by jimbobsimmonds on Monday 8th December 16:21
The 2.5 Focus is a torquey lump and fairly lazy, so it's not a manic hot hatch in the sense of a higher strung turbo nutter like the VXR, or the revvy Type R - good car though, but it'll drink like a fish around town, prepare for the fuel bills!
They put their power down cleanly and handle well with it being based on the standard Focus, but it'll spin the wheels in the wet if you go mad on the throttle though, no doubt about it, any FWD would - but if you press on to a sensible level it shouldn't let you down in the corners as it's a competent car.
Then again, you'll obviously be driving to the conditions on hand so skidding away down the road shouldn't ever be a problem,
They put their power down cleanly and handle well with it being based on the standard Focus, but it'll spin the wheels in the wet if you go mad on the throttle though, no doubt about it, any FWD would - but if you press on to a sensible level it shouldn't let you down in the corners as it's a competent car.
Then again, you'll obviously be driving to the conditions on hand so skidding away down the road shouldn't ever be a problem,
Renault Sport for the fun factory 
not that im biased as i own a 265 Trophy though....
The Trophy is mapped to 314bhp, 450nm, 350lb ft. Out of the box you get a cracking car to drive, brilliant chassis, good brakes and handling... If your ever at a Sunday service in the future (that im also at) or around Surrey area perhaps you'll have to have a go in the Trophy for comparison.
not that im biased as i own a 265 Trophy though....The Trophy is mapped to 314bhp, 450nm, 350lb ft. Out of the box you get a cracking car to drive, brilliant chassis, good brakes and handling... If your ever at a Sunday service in the future (that im also at) or around Surrey area perhaps you'll have to have a go in the Trophy for comparison.
I fell in love with the Mountune cat back. It just sounds awesome. All hot hatches sound the same, you slap on a Milltek and get roughly the same loudness (I have a res on the S3) but that extra cylinder is so unique. Not many cars in this range can make such a good noise.
In all honesty, french has never appealed. Im not badge snob, I have had a hyundai coupe! The renaults just never lit my fire. That said perhaps its exactly what I need! The proofs in driving I suppose? I cycle everywhere so a spartan interior is probably not too big a deal!
Stevoox How does it handle the extra power?
What would be a RWD recommendation? E46 M3?
In all honesty, french has never appealed. Im not badge snob, I have had a hyundai coupe! The renaults just never lit my fire. That said perhaps its exactly what I need! The proofs in driving I suppose? I cycle everywhere so a spartan interior is probably not too big a deal!
Stevoox How does it handle the extra power?
What would be a RWD recommendation? E46 M3?
Edited by babo456 on Monday 8th December 17:02
babo456 said:
What would be a RWD recommendation? E46 M3?
In the wet can spin the wheels easy, even in 4th. But TC and LSD all do their jobs so...Edited by babo456 on Monday 8th December 17:02
Would probably be better to put it into 'normal mode' or change the throttle mapping down from aggressive but meh..
In the dry its just wow. Good straight line speed and don't need to be braking for corners
From trips to the Nurburgring there seems to be 3 main brands there. Porsche, BMW and RenaultSport. If you are looking at FWD then id highly recommed you take a look at a Meg RS.
Depends on your budget.
If you're serious about tweaking the ST you're going to need an RS clutch fitting. While its out you can have the RS Diff (or other brand) fitted for not much extra. This goes a long way to solving the ST awful low speed handling.
The thing I noticed about my ST, when I went ST > Golf GTi > Impreza STI was just how bad the turn in was on the Ford. The Impreza/Golf are not reknown for their pin sharp handling but they were still leagues ahead of the Ford though.
I enjoyed my ST. Tweaked to around 300ish they're a great car. Beyond this just seems to lead down a path of things constantly breaking (oil filter housing, recirc valve, actuator, boost solenoid, MAF, driveshafts) but at 300bhp/400lbft you can a good car that'll fly through 3rd gear twisties. I'll probably buy another at some point.
If you're serious about tweaking the ST you're going to need an RS clutch fitting. While its out you can have the RS Diff (or other brand) fitted for not much extra. This goes a long way to solving the ST awful low speed handling.
The thing I noticed about my ST, when I went ST > Golf GTi > Impreza STI was just how bad the turn in was on the Ford. The Impreza/Golf are not reknown for their pin sharp handling but they were still leagues ahead of the Ford though.
I enjoyed my ST. Tweaked to around 300ish they're a great car. Beyond this just seems to lead down a path of things constantly breaking (oil filter housing, recirc valve, actuator, boost solenoid, MAF, driveshafts) but at 300bhp/400lbft you can a good car that'll fly through 3rd gear twisties. I'll probably buy another at some point.
babo456 said:
What would be a RWD recommendation? E46 M3?
I had exactly the same situation and went for a 130. The M3 is lovely but the running costs are in a different league to a 'normal' car. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff