Front Wheel Drive?

Front wheel drive. I think that everyone has owned and/or driven a front wheel drive car. They push (understeer) which is safer. They’re easier for the car companies to build. They offer packaging options that rear drive doesn’t offer. They seem to be a little better in inclement weather. Why don’t I like front wheel drive?

I’ve owned some pretty good front drivers; CRX Si, Integra GS-R, Jetta Gli 16V, Scirocco 16v. I didn’t love them. Of all of them, the CRX was the most fun. I think the Scirocco was a close second, but mine was tired when I had it and I didn’t own it that long.

So I got to thinking about which cars are the best classic front wheel drive cars. When I think of classics, I think of anything made before 1980.

I know that people have their favorites, but I don’t think I’ve driven many of them, which is kinda sad. Some of the better ones were not imported to the USA. So what’s the best classic front wheel drive car?

In pondering this topic, I came up with a list of cars that might be considered good handling front drivers. There are some obvious choices, others maybe not so and some that we’re good platforms that just needed some tweaking.

Austin Mini

Lancia Fulvia

Saab 99 (at the time, Saab advertised that the 99 Turbo was faster in the slalom than the 928!)

Saab Sonnet (I drove one of these once, but went easy on it)

VW Scirocco Mk1 (My best friend had one. I drove it many times, was a lot of fun)

Alfasud

Ford Fiesta

That’s about all I can think of. Sure the Rabbit/Golf/Jetta all shared the same platform as the Scirocco, so you could include those. But it seems to me that there’s a dearth of classic, fun, front drivers.

I always liked the Austin America/ MG 1100/1300 platform. A little bigger than a Mini, but same running gear. A few years ago people would literally give them away. Now it seems you never see one. Cheers, Scott

Austin Americas and MG 1100s became engine donors for under-1275 Minis. I have a 1098 from an Austin Princess in my garage for mine. A large number of Americas were cursed with autotragics, so once the gearbox ground itself to bits they were junked. A bigger, heavier Mini is really all they are, so there isn't any advantage to them over a 'true' Mini IMO.

Fiesta Mk1 was a great car. I had 4 of them, and it was like a Super-sized Mini. Great handling, simple pushrod engine and inadequate brakes, just like the BL version.

A1 VWs were very nimble. The A2 is actually my favorite, though. I liked our 16v Jetta GLI but it was a PITA to work on. VW definitely made the fwd, transverse engine mainstream.

Haven't driven a Fulvia, but sure would like to. The hp/weight ratio on those is impressive.

Drove a Saab 99. I like it far better than the 900 which is just heavier and more ponderous. Never drove a V4 or stroker Saab but would like to try one.

My folks always wanted a DKW but there was never a dealer around us. Remember, 3=6!

My Audi GT was one of the best cars I've owned. A bit underpowered but a very forgiving chassis, really liked track days and basic bolt-on suspension mods really made it come alive.

FWD is great for smaller horsepower cars. Once you learn how to drive it and get the back end to pivot the way you want it, they are every bit as quick as a rwd car...to a point. Past a certain HP level I think there are definitely diminishing returns. Having finally gone to a RWD car with decent HP (BMW), I wouldn't likely go back to FWD even though I defended it for years. RWD is simply more fun, at least in a track environment.

A FWD comparison test in CM would be a neat idea.

A couple of big FWDs

Olds Toronado Cord 810, L29

Dave

Renault 5 / Le Car - surprisingly good handling and a boulevard smooth ride. I think they've all returned to the earth now, though.

VClassics wrote: Renault 5 / Le Car - surprisingly good handling and a boulevard smooth ride. I think they've all returned to the earth now, though.

There's one DD in York PA. Although, to be fair, I've been past his house and he has a couple parts cars...

I would think that the CRX and Shelby GLH/S would be my 2 Favs.

KaptKaos wrote: Saab Sonnet (I drove one of these once, but went easy on it)

Sonett, not Sonnet.

Add the Fiat 128 family to the list of great handling FWD classics. Especially the SL coupe.

Chris H.

Not imported to the USA, but, the Peugeot 205 GTI had famously good handling.

Sticking with '80s hot hatches, there's also the lesser known Citroen BX 16V

Really enjoyed my first generation Honda Civics, 1973 - '76. Rallied one, raced the other. They were underpowered but agile. Big grin factor.

Found that the 1990 FWD Subaru Loyale was the most stable car on snow and gravel that I have ever driven. Earlier versions from the '80s were called the DL, as I recall. Slow.... But you could drop in the turbo motor from the 4WD RX to remedy that issue.

CRX (never owned, but was whipped by then constantly) Mini (still have) Fiesta (still have) Audi GT (never owned, but wow!)

Ones where the FWD isn't so great: Original Toro (okay, so it's better than a RWD with the same chassis, but it's nowhere near "good") Berkeley (lacks CV joints, enough said) SAAB Sonett (owned more than 1, daily drove for years, autocrossed... just not an optimal setup) SAAB 99 (yes better than a 900, but still not good except in sloppy weather) Northstar Allante (Cadillac assumed an overactive traction control combined with luxury tires would solve the issues... strap on a set of Kumho MX's and the car was unsafe to do full throttle launches in) LeCar (Okay, maybe the FWD wasn't that bad... it was just the car itself) Trabant (but better than any other fwd option the East Germans had)

Bill

What got me started on this rant was the realization that I won't own a Fulvia any time soon. Being the pragmatist (cheap son of a bitch or CSOB) that I am, I started looking for an alternative.

The Alfasud was never imported to the USA, so that was off the list.

I don't want a sedan, so that eliminated the Saab 99.

Since I live in Kalifornia and want to avoid smog checks, that left two cars; the Saab Sonett (Thanks Chris!) and the 1975 Scirocco MK1.

Oddly enough, there seem to be more Saab Sonetts available compared to 1975 Sciroccos.

The nice thing about the VW is that engines and transmissions are plentiful and there is a huge aftermarket community. Having owned a few water cooled VWs, I know my way around them fairly well. And the VW has a small, but kid usable back seat.

I think I have fixed my mind on the Scirocco. I don't think that I will pursue the Sonett. Now to start the torturous research to make sure I understand the model year quirks.

Of course, this could all go to hell should I come across a deal on an 1800S. =D

IMO it's the rear suspension on a Sonett that ruins the handling...

If you change your mind and go the Sonett III route, drop me a line as I have a lot of experience there; not so much on the two strokes.

In CA a lot of the negatives that befall east coast cars (chassis rust) won't be nearly as bad...

Bill

What about the Traction Avant? Supposedly it was the car of choice for French resistance getaway cars. It certainly had a lower cg than almost anything at the time.

You know what they say about French cars.....

What do they say?

Never own a French car unless you live in France.

Bill Elliot, you would like an Audi GT. I think I know you well enough to say that. Too bad you missed out on mine, it was incredibly nice with a euro-spec engine. It got purchased by someone totally incapable of dealing with something not stock, and last I heard languishes in his driveway with the clearcoat peeling off waiting for someone to pay him what he paid me.

Yeah, I've never figured out why the Audi FWD formula worked... on paper it really doesn't. But it's the only larger car (you'll see my other "postives" were small light cars) where I felt it really does. I've driven them a lot... just never got around to owning one.

But after my UrQ's and 4000Q's I'm done with Audi for a bit... ;-) Unless my '85 UrQ comes up for sale again anywhere near to the price I sold it at in which case I'll be back in....

In reply to KaptKaos:

If you go the Sonett route, let me know. I happen to have a bit of experience with them, and know a couple guys (stepdad Jack and stepbrother Mark) that make a living on V4 Saabs. They are located in Southern Oregon, I'm in Chico. So we're not that far away.

In fact, they just got a 95 Wagon in the shop for a full mechanical restoration, and I heard a Sonett III will be making its way up soon for a full mechanical too. I'm hoping to get involved with documenting both builds for them.

Chris H.

I'd probably do an early VW Golf/Rabbit myself, but here are some other ideas (some may be a few years too new for you).

Dodge Omni GLH. Crude and fast.

Renault 9 (Alliance) GTA. A surprisingly decent car for the day.

Dodge (Mitsu) Colt. Not the original (rwd) version. I ran one with the Twin-Stick in ITC racing...not too bad.

X-11. Better than its peers and has aged well (I think).

FIAT 128. Bonus if you run Yugo stickers on it.

I raced this Escort GT for a few years...a great car with lots of spare around (and cheap). Older Mazda Protege shares lots of of parts with these too. I sold it to focus on vintage racing, but if I had the space and time, I'd have kept it.