Front drive manual or rear drive automatic?

Kinja'd!!! "BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter)
06/11/2014 at 13:46 • Filed to: None

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If you had to choose only one, which one? Which is more fun to drive? Anything without a third pedal is an automatic. All wheel drive excluded. Not which is faster or quicker but which is more involving and fun to drive for everyday use.

I vote manual for driving enjoyment. Sure I'd rather have a flappy paddle 458 than a Focus ST, but there is no denying that a gated manual 458 would be more fun. For comparable mainstream cars I'd take the front drive understeer with a manual transmission versus rear drive automatic.

Fortunately we still have a few options for manual rear drive fun.


DISCUSSION (41)


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:47

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Have you DRIVEN a Fiesta ST??

There is only one choice here.


Kinja'd!!! mcseanerson > Brian Silvestro
06/11/2014 at 13:48

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This guy


Kinja'd!!! mr_gofast > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:48

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what surface are you driving on? RWD is great for roads where you can toss cars around - even if it is slushbox. FWD manual is better when youre carving corners on smooth roads.


Kinja'd!!! RazoE > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:48

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If the rear drive auto is a V8 (Chevrolet SS, Dodge Charger SRT), then I'd have to go for the auto. As much as I love manual transmissions, I hate FWD. If it's a shitty V6 Charger, then nooooooooo.


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > mcseanerson
06/11/2014 at 13:49

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If only I wasn't at work, I'd have the perfect response to this.


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:50

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to throw a wrench in the mix, and if it is as fast as the other, see fig. A

RWD autostick


Kinja'd!!! Audi-os, Amigos! > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:51

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Do you want to carve, or do you want to toss?

You can't toss a FWD, not really, not like you can a RWD. They're much harder to get sideways, and much harder to guide once there.

That said, it's also hard to get sideways when you can't downshift. I know you said < 3 pedals = automatic, and that's true. But you can downshift in a Tiptronic, and that, coupled with RWD, might be enough to have a great time.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:51

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Front drive manual. Front drivers are great rally cars ;)


Kinja'd!!! The Real Dacia Sandero > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:51

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Well, I already have a Miata. I'll take an E38 BMW 740i. It's auto and rear drive. I want v8 grunt and something with nice highway manners.

If I don't have the Miata, I'll take a Fiesta ST.


Kinja'd!!! RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:51

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Weight is critical. Absolutely critical. For a very heavy car, RWD auto, but for any car approaching light: FWD stick all the way.


Kinja'd!!! llamaguy > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:52

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So Focus ST or Mustang GT? I think the manual would be more fun for normal use than the extra weight and slushbox for nothing.


Kinja'd!!! mr_gofast > Audi-os, Amigos!
06/11/2014 at 13:52

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what i said.


Kinja'd!!! mcseanerson > Brian Silvestro
06/11/2014 at 13:54

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Know that feeling. I hope the IT guy doesn't look at my google image searches for comment material.


Kinja'd!!! Audi-os, Amigos! > mr_gofast
06/11/2014 at 13:54

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what he said.


Kinja'd!!! KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:54

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Hmm...Front Drive Manual

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Or Rear Drive Auto

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Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhhhh...................


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > mcseanerson
06/11/2014 at 13:55

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That's the reason I use my phone while at work. They watch EVERYTHING


Kinja'd!!! Jayhawk Jake > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 13:55

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For every day use it doesn't matter which wheels are turning IMO. I'd rather have the manual.


Kinja'd!!! feather-throttle-not-hair > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:01

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Christ....I'm pretty rwd biased. But if I'm totally honest with myself I think fwd manual would ultimately be more fun more of the time. I'm excluding crap I won't ever be able to afford. I think I'd rather have an integra type R than say a mustang gt auto.


Kinja'd!!! mcseanerson > Brian Silvestro
06/11/2014 at 14:01

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Our cell signal is so horrible I have to use the wifi so they still watch EVERYTHING.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > feather-throttle-not-hair
06/11/2014 at 14:11

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That's what I'm saying. This is not as clear cut as it seems. It does depend on the cars, certainly. Fortunately we still have options for rear drive manualness.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > The Real Dacia Sandero
06/11/2014 at 14:12

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a car for every purpose! But if only one car then FWD manual. Unless it's a V8 auto...


Kinja'd!!! KirkyV > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:13

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Front drive manual for me, no question.

A lot of my all-time favourite cars are front-drivers.


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > mcseanerson
06/11/2014 at 14:13

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That's a tragedy. They're probably watching this very conversation.

Luckily the cell tower for this area is also the building I'm in.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > mr_gofast
06/11/2014 at 14:14

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I'd rather carve corners with a RWD auto, but it does depend on the cars


Kinja'd!!! feather-throttle-not-hair > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:20

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yeah, really what it came down to is this: I don't think I'd ever buy a car with an auto. Whereas I'd try to avoid buying a car with fwd, generally speaking.

Thankfully, I already own a car, sans those two particular sacrifices.

Great question though. Made me think.


Kinja'd!!! KirkyV > Audi-os, Amigos!
06/11/2014 at 14:21

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You can definitely toss a FWD, if you pick the right car. All the best hot hatches, from the legendary 205 GTi to the current RS Megane 265 have been known for their tossability, and inclination toward lift-off oversteer.


Kinja'd!!! Audi-os, Amigos! > KirkyV
06/11/2014 at 14:23

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I see the weight shifting forward as he enters the turn due to braking. I would assume, given that the front wheels are driving, that this would be a necessary step towards tossing a FWD car?


Kinja'd!!! The Real Dacia Sandero > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:23

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If my current setup stays the same, then RWD auto. I want a different experience from what I currently get from the Miata. An old german Autobahn stormer is exactly that.

If I could only have one car though, it would be the FieSTa. It's the perfect single car for me. Just the right amount of power with awesome handling, and room for my gear.


Kinja'd!!! jalopanon-yow > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:29

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Assuming plenty of torque in both....so RWD auto but banging thru the gears manually like we all should do because auto doesn't know best.


Kinja'd!!! KirkyV > Audi-os, Amigos!
06/11/2014 at 14:30

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Well, I drive a - smaller engined, non-rally prepped - version of the car in that gif, and I've typically found that just yanking the wheel and coming off the throttle hard is enough to make it slide. The car's just set up that way. The front wheels gain grip, and the back comes loose. I imagine though, that to get the sort of incredibly smooth slide that guy managed, you'd need a lot more finesse.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
06/11/2014 at 14:32

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That's a lightning! I'd hoon the rears off that thing while towing my boat.


Kinja'd!!! Audi-os, Amigos! > KirkyV
06/11/2014 at 14:32

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Huh!


Kinja'd!!! KirkyV > Audi-os, Amigos!
06/11/2014 at 14:35

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Watch this. (Same car again.)


Kinja'd!!! TheCraigy > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:44

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I'll take a rear drive "automatic" if that means I can get a good dual clutch box.

I would not order a manual on anything that's offered with a good DCT, and neither do most buyers ;)


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 14:56

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Front manual, no doubt. Handbrake is more than good enough for dorifto goodness, and I love the feeling of being pulled along by the engine.

I'd probably have a chevy sonic RS after riding in JayhawkJake's, which was way more fun than an FF car that gets 30mpg city has a right to be.


Kinja'd!!! KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 15:04

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And I have an F150 from the same era, without the Lightning headers on the 351W.

You really don't enjoy driving it, even when it progressively steps out, it's not fun because the steering rack is off an old municipal bus. Wheelspin is fine, but with a live rear axle, you will get axle hop under hard acceleration (worse if you add weight like a boat).

Also, the Lightnings had a 4.10 PosiTrac rear axle. This means your gas mileage is even more in the toilet than a standard F-150 with the 351.


Kinja'd!!! NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 15:13

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FWD Manual, after some deliberation. Great question!

I think I could have more fun day-to-day with a FWD manual car than I would with a RWD automatic car, is all. Much as I'd want RWD, a zippy FWD car with a manual can be plenty of fun, especially when you're commuting in traffic, etc.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > TheCraigy
06/11/2014 at 16:02

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no doubt the market prefers autos. But the question was asked because an auto is, by definition, less involving and therefore less fun, than a manual. Ive driven good DCTs and they are still automatics. You don't have to pay attention to what gear you are in or practice the skill of perfect rev matched down shift. I think 95% of DCT drivers leave it in auto anyway.

If I were handed the keys to a random Gallardo I would be praying for a gated manual and not e-gear...


Kinja'd!!! TheCraigy > BadMotorScooter
06/11/2014 at 16:18

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I disagree with your definition and supposition.


Kinja'd!!! gc8foreva > BadMotorScooter
06/13/2014 at 00:16

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What's our budget limit? I'm probably going with FWD manual because ITR.


Kinja'd!!! BadMotorScooter > gc8foreva
06/13/2014 at 21:32

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No budget limit, just comparable cars. Focus ST versus Mustang GT auto, for example. Or FRS automatic versus GTI. Once you move out of hot hatch range there are no front drive sports cars, so the question starts to lose focus.