Why don't most performance cars have a LSD?

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I'm a very big fan of a LSD for the improved grip and the added fun factor, yet Lotus/Porsche/Mercedes don't seem to fit them as standard.

Also you only get a LSD on Bmw's full fat M cars, but I think the M140i/M240i would benefit from one, is it purely cost why manufacturers don't bother with them? Or the fact the most drivers maybe wouldn't even notice if one was fitted.

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Yes and it does seem that traction control has took over and the LSD has gone out of fashion, McLaren don't bother with a LSD either, I've never really liked the feel of traction control because its either too intrusive or unpredictable.

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captain_cynic said:

If they put an LSD into an M240i as standard, who would pay for the M2?

That's a very good point, I suppose you still have the bigger brakes and different styling with the M2, but the M240i would tread on the toes of the M2 too much with a LSD for sure.

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Bill said:

AIUI Lotus prefer the feel of their cars without.

I think McLaren feel that way as well about their cars too.

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powerstroke said:

Because most people can't drive !! cars have traction control ABS and other driver saving aids to keep 99% of numptys who rent these cars safe ..
your average driver will get in a mess with a LSD.. the rest of us have too much fun !!!

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Olivera said:

Sadly most drivers possess minimal car control skills, so ESP + some sort of E-diff usually suffices.

Yes and I do think ESP and the like can mask how a car really feels, I appreciate that the electronics on supercars etc are meant to be awesome from what I read though.

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Porsche911R said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm a very big fan of a LSD for the improved grip and the added fun factor, yet Lotus/Porsche/Mercedes don't seem to fit them as standard.

All 4 of mine do ;-)

Nice one and that's good going.

I only had 4 cars in my car history with a LSD!

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4941cc said:

C63 AMGs from 2015 onwards all have a mechanical LSD (as does the AMG GT), the C63 S (and AMG GT S, C and R) all have the same diff with additional electronic control.

It's available as an M Performance dealer fit upgrade for those who care enough to want one, but the majority don't notice and won't get much benefit for the additional £2.5-3k (or £100pm extra on the lease/PCP...)

Main barrier is cost, but that's justifiable when there's a £15k+ gap between the performance model and the next one down the range, as with M3/4 and 3/440i or C63 and C43 (4Matic renders it unnecessary, apparently - although it's still present in M xDrive on the new M5 and 4Matic+ on the E63/S due to the ability to switch to a RWD only handling mode for maximum fun/driftiness).

I will admit I was pretty shocked that the early C63's didn't get one, because that's just the type of car to really benefit from one for me, I didn't realise it was made standard on the later models thanks.

I do like what Bmw have done with the new M5 making it with a Rwd option as well as Xdrive, the best of both worlds.

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ZX10R NIN said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm a very big fan of a LSD for the improved grip and the added fun factor, yet Lotus/Porsche/Mercedes don't seem to fit them as standard.

Also you only get a LSD on Bmw's full fat M cars, but I think the M140i/M240i would benefit from one, is it purely cost why manufacturers don't bother with them? Or the fact the most drivers maybe wouldn't even notice if one was fitted.

Why fit one as standard when you can put it on the optional extras list as part of the Performance Pack.

That's a fair point and a good way for manufacturers to make more money, the problem is hardly anyone ticks the box, so if you're in the second hand market you can never find one with one fitted.

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4941cc said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I will admit I was pretty shocked that the early C63's didn't get one, because that's just the type of car to really benefit from one for me, I didn't realise it was made standard on the later models thanks.

Standard on 205 series C63s (2015-present), optional on 204s (2008-15) as part of Performance Pack Plus (extra power and upgraded floating brakes with red calipers and bucket seats) or latterly as a standalone option - code 603 if my Mercbeard doesn't need trimming. Added a couple of grand, but worth every bit of it, particularly when temperatures drop and it gets wet/slippy out. Without it, it just spends a lot of time spinning up the inside rear, a waste of all that lovely torque of the 6.2 motor.

I *think* the run-out 507 Editions had an LSD as standard too. Ditto the Black Series.

Quality Mercbeard cheers.

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SuperchargedVR6 said:

The only people who care about the demise of the LSD are the people who like leaving 11s everywhere, or being drifting throbbers on public roads.

A little harsh but maybe fair, and those were the two things I enjoyed doing most in my LSD equipped RWD cars!

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SuperchargedVR6 said:

Electronic trickery is perfectly adequate for road cars.

Or for people who can't drive.