In Defense of the FWD Coupe

"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit) 01/20/2014 at 22:37 • Filed to: Front Wheel Drive, FWD

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Ok, so I perfectly understand where fellow Opponaut !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is coming from. Many of the FWD coupes that have been passed off as consumer products are legitimately terribad. The Altima coupe he has as his opening pic is a pretty good example - Nissan still played with the structure a bit to get a car a good deal smaller than the sedan but at the end of the day it's still bloated, still too large. The so-called Monte Carlo was an even worse offender, especially in its very last iteration - not necessarily any smaller than the Impala, the exact same engine options (granted, even if those engine options included a V8 and a 300-HP V6) and perhaps maybe some lightly tweaked suspension. But I still very strongly feel that there is a place for the FWD coupe. They are a thing of beauty.

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The above image taken directly from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Yeah, you can buy a Barrett-Jackson Rabbit!

FWD Coupes can be small

< Hey, remember that thing?

The success of the Mini was, of course, based largely on its size. Size that was possible thanks to its transverse FWD arrangement.

There are actually many performance advantages to a FWD setup: because the drive wheels have a more direct connection to the engine, it's lighter and smaller as you can forgo a long drive shaft and transaxles are actually pretty compact.

The closest modern equivalent would probably be (no, not the Mini Cooper unfortunately but) the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which manages to shave a few pounds off the four-door's weight. Unfortunately it will be a European-market only car as Ford doesn't see enough of a market here to bring it over.

FWD cars can be cheaper

The Scion tC can be had for as low as under $17,000 depending on how it's optioned, which significantly undercuts the FR-S/BR-Z, the Genesis 2.oT, the Mustang/Camaro V6, Miata, etc. Hell, it even undercuts the Fiesta ST, though with nowhere near the performance. That said, it's still a very affordable "sporty" option.

There's still a place for low-cost coupes - kind of, sort of

This is more grounded in personal belief than market forces, but a very cheap FWD coupe makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. The above tC may be lacking in performance or amenities but for your typical high school or even college student, that's half the fun. It's a car unencumbered by technology and a little cooler than a sedan, but won't punish young, inexperienced drivers with too much performance. The fact that it's so small is a nice boon for parking too (if you don't understand how this is useful for a teenage driver, you've never had to deal with high school student parking).

FWD doesn't mean sacrificing performance

I can explain this, but... !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Reigntastic > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 22:41

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Scion TCs fall apart, and I don't know if I'd call it sporty. I can think of lots of better ways to spend 17k.

Sn210 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 22:45

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A couple FWD coupes that I'd like to own someday...

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 22:49

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Hatch=Coupe?

Bandit > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 22:53

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Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise > Sn210 01/20/2014 at 23:00

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I'd love to own a clean, second generation Prelude. Those are really awesome.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 23:07

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The simpelst rebuttal to his argument is that 15 years ago, nothing was RWD below 25k or so besides the mustang and the miata. The camaro was dead circa 2002 or so and nothing even attempted to come out to fill the gaps left behind by the 240sx, the F-body, and MR-2 (at the low end). So they used FWD chassis to inject some style and looks into their lineups. FOr better or worse, lots of people (myself included) liked them thanks to increased legroom and space for the driver while also being more stylish than the sedan counterpart. But after the recession, it seems like the market for these cars dried up as evidenced by the lack of sales. So now it's all about the ~25k RWD sports car with a pretend back seat (if the FR-S is to be believed) so that's what they're building. The market decides what lives and what dies and doesn't give a damn what a non-purchasing group thinks. If enough people buy it, it will be made. If not enough people buy it, that's it.

Tom McParland > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 23:07

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Milky...I love you man (in an internet bro kinda way. But your argument is invalid.

Justin Young > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 23:07

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The Good...

The Bad...

The Ugly!

CobraJoe > Reigntastic 01/20/2014 at 23:09

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The '08 my friend's wife had was pretty responsive, and it had some pull when you pushed the thin pedal. I'd say it was pretty sporty compared to the average car, and I'd certainly choose it over most midsized sedans.

offroadkarter > Tom McParland 01/20/2014 at 23:10

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I am always skeptical of any ITR I see in person, because most real ones have been stolen and stripped of the parts.

CobraJoe > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 23:11

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I'm all for FWD coupes and performance cars....

as long as not all coupes and performance cars are FWD.

Gotta have some variety.

Milky > Bandit 01/20/2014 at 23:42

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So the good ones are few and far between?

Bandit > Milky 01/20/2014 at 23:44

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And generally from before the 80s...

Milky > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/20/2014 at 23:45

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I feel I need to clarify that I was NOT talking about hot hatches aka GTI's to Mini's. Those are practical, and the reason why I don't like FWD coupes.

Milky > Tom McParland 01/20/2014 at 23:46

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Aww thanks!! But until Honda/Acura makes something actually like this during this century I think its a moot point.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Justin Young 01/21/2014 at 00:09

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That Hyundai sure is hideous.. I'm glad they fixed the design on later models.

Tom McParland > Milky 01/21/2014 at 01:12

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OK I'll give you that the current crop of FWD coupes leave a lot to be desired.

Tom McParland > Milky 01/21/2014 at 01:12

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OK I'll give you that the current crop of FWD coupes leave a lot to be desired.

Reigntastic > CobraJoe 01/21/2014 at 10:52

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I've ridden in both the automatic and the manual equipped TC, and I'd agree with the MT, but the slushbox in those is awful. Comparing it to midsized sedans doesn't make sense to me though, they're completely different segments. When you compare it to cars it the same class, it's pretty lackluster.

CobraJoe > Reigntastic 01/21/2014 at 11:15

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Well, look at the competition for entry level compact FWD coupes then:

Kia Forte Koup

Hyundai Elantra

Honda Civic

Not much competition there... Sure, the SI is an option and likely more fun, but it's also noticeably more expensive. And you can open it up to RWD cars too, but again, they're noticeably more expensive.

In 4 door FWD compacts you start getting some other options, like the Dart or the Fiesta or Focus or Mazda 3, but all of those (except the Dart) are better as a hatchback (personal opinion I know), and all are still lower on power than the tC.

Of course, if I was spending a under $20k on a car, I'd go for something older and more interesting, but I can't fault anyone for going for a tC, they're near the best for "fun to drive" amongst the competitors.

Reigntastic > CobraJoe 01/21/2014 at 11:50

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That's true, when comparing to new cars, it's pretty evenly matched. I've heard really great things about the Kia Forte Koup, but otherwise everything is basically the same.

Would definitely agree that I prefer hatchbacks, much more practical and attractive.

Comparing it to used cars is really where I'd be disappointed by that purchase.

rig_pig > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/21/2014 at 12:32

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How is the Fiesta you link to a coupe? It's a 3 door hatch, same as the Golf at the top of the screen. Coupes are 2 doors with either a fast back or a boot.

MountainCommand > Sn210 01/22/2014 at 20:44

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Buy the prelude. you will not regret it. Aside from an ITR, its one of the top fwd models available in that span of time.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > Milky 01/28/2014 at 17:28

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As I always say when I post this, forgive the crappy lawn I hadn't gotten to mowing it in awhile when the pic was taken.

Produced this century, last in 2006. That's a 2006 Acura RSX-S and while it's not ITR legendary, I still think it's a lot better than most people give it credit for. I definitely think it was Acura's last really great car. Still, I admit that your point isn't too far off the mark.

Superdave312 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 01/29/2014 at 00:04

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Any defensive Audi owners posting here? Wait for it...