Free company car vs. Dat torque steer

"Team6.1" (Tagsrover)
08/20/2014 at 20:09 • Filed to: None

For real. I haven't driven FWD in maybe...6 years? But on the other hand, free gas, free insurance, free everything? I can jive. 2013 Ford Escape with 20k. Who else has company cars? Who has the best company car?

Possible Oppo review coming

DISCUSSION (18)

KylesPerGallon > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:10

Do regular cars actually still torque steer or just hot hatches?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 20:19

I drive a bunch of different cars for my jerb. Lots of them still torque steer if you get on them. I can think of -

Manual Jetta 1.8T

Nissan Maxima (although the CVT helps quite a bit)

Any Ford with the 1.6 EcoBoost/auto

Cadillac SRX FWD (disappointingly noisy at full throttle for a $45,000 luxo-mommy-mobile. Not like "you're driving a powerful luxury car," noisy but "This thing is so heavy it's making a 300-hp Direct-injected v-6 struggle)

Mitsubishi Lancer 5-speed manual

Mazda 3

Chevy Cruze 1.4t/Auto

4-speed auto Nissan Versa hatch.

Jayhawk Jake > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:19

I wish I could use the company vehicles...

http://textron.vo.llnwd.net/o25/CES/releas…

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:19

I wish I had a company car. that way I could just have one nice car to use on weekends and the company car for everyday use. I can only afford to have one car for everything so fuel economy is really important so I have to find a balance between practical, fuel efficiency and style.

Right now I'm driving a 2013 1.6L Ford Fusion.

Team6.1 > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 20:19

Driving as a responible adult the Escape is fine. But I stomped the gas on a corner to see what would happen, and I could definitely feel it, as well as the slightest loss of traction. Not actually something I would consider an issue unless you want to autocross your crossover/small suv

cbell04 > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:29

Been with my company 10 years now and have been given 1 aztek and 4 dodge grand caravans. I consider myself lucky for the perk but minivan life gets old.. At least my new one has the 3.6 pentastar good for 282 horseys.. The other 3 had the 3.3 good for 175.. They were dreadfully slow but the new one keeps up with traffic like a champ.

akant > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:32

Is that the 1.6L? I have a 2.0L FWD escape, and that thing can torque steer even in 3rd gear on dry pavement. It hits when the boost comes on, around ~2500 rpm. I don't feel like its an issue, since it adds at least a little excitement to an otherwise everyday CUV.

Leadbull > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 20:33

Yes, but it shouldn't be bad at all if you, like, keep your hands on the wheel.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/20/2014 at 20:39

Crazy. I must not beat on the FWD cars I drive enough. I can honestly only think of one time that i've experienced torque steer, in a saab 9-3 viggen. It was actually kinda scary. That was over 10 years ago, and not once since.

sellphones2493 > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 20:46

I had a Captiva 'Sport' (if you wanna call it that) for a out three months for work. I mean, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. It pretty much was the most emotionless driving experience I've ever had, aside from the 2014 Corolla LE Rental I had a few months back.

It was FWD, but you would have to have some 'torque' in order to have 'torque-steer'. Unlike your company car experience, I had to document everything . Gas, trips, you name it - I had to make a diary about it.

I'm actually pretty happy I not longer have it.

KylesPerGallon > Leadbull
08/20/2014 at 20:47

I do tend to do that most of the time. I think I'll survive

HoosierSpeed > Team6.1
08/20/2014 at 21:10

All oilfield. I have had a 2012 F-250 (Diesel) and a 2013 Chevrolet 2500 (Diesel) while working in the oilfield. Everyone drives diesels, and fuel, insurance, etc. are all gratis. I got offered a job at Google, but couldn't do the move to San Fran nor the fact they were offering up a CHOICE Prius lol.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 22:03

Anything FWD without equal length axles can torque steer. "Cheap" things don't have equal length axles typically.

blacktruck18 > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 22:11

Mrs. Blacktrucks s60 torque steers every time I look at the gas pedal. I think it is the tires though. They are in no way performance tires.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > KylesPerGallon
08/20/2014 at 22:24

I've never encountered a FWD car that didn't to some extent.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Team6.1
08/21/2014 at 01:39

But on the other hand, free gas, free insurance, free everything? I can jive.

I'm okay with the Escape to begin with—don't love it but don't dislike it—but with free everything it would be pretty excellent as a practical transportation appliance.

j.davism5 > Team6.1
08/21/2014 at 04:24

When I worked for Lexus full time, I had them all. Best was the IS-F. Loved my LS460, fond memories of dropping black lines out the back of that one. But beating the shit out of the IS-F daily was great. IS350 was lots of fun, and I loved GS460. Also had an x5 4.4 for a few weeks and an e46 M3 as well. M3 was only for 2 weeks and smg fail. But yeah, I've had some decent company cars.

DanZman > Team6.1
10/07/2014 at 00:01

company cars are great! I've had company trucks/vans/cars for the last 7 years. Now that I own my own thing its very different :-(