Spec me a cabriolet...

As can quattro, which was my point!

The quattro system can only do this because it uses the same sensors as the RWD to move the power around the driven wheels, which can also be made redundant if you take your foot off the power mid crash.

Personally i'm in two minds about ESP / ASR / TCS / EDL / EBD and whatever else my car has, mainly because i know how to correct my slide but i think its saved my ass once however i'm not sure how much of that was me or not, i could have actually been fighting against the system which made it worse.
 
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Jesus, everyone driving 15+ years ago with kids must have been 'driving gods' or just extremely lucky w/o all these driver aids ;) :p
 
[TW]Fox;14611816 said:
Why, are the non driven wheels on an FWD/RWD car fitted with racing slicks or something? 4 wheels grip whatever the drivetrain is surely?

Of course, but 4 wheel drives do grip better in bad conditions. Surely your not arguing that?
 
Of course, but 4 wheel drives do grip better in bad conditions. Surely your not arguing that?

Of course but to the extent that in normal driving you'll be much less likely to have an accident! I wouldnt want to climb an icy road at 10mph in an RWD car but this isn't really a safety thing is it?
 
Just how much grip do you need at 30mph?

As much as i can get, but id rather have a bit more than a bit less, especially on motorways.

Anyway im not arguing, but if the OP feels better with 4 wheel drive, then he should go for it.
 
As much as i can get, but id rather have a bit more than a bit less, especially on motorways.

Anyway im not arguing, but if the OP feels better with 4 wheel drive, then he should go for it.

I think a RWD car will have the same level of grip as a AWD car if you are just driving along in a 30. Unless you want to fly off at the lights and plant it round bends when its raining. :confused:
 
I've done a 4WD skid pan thingy and tbh - once you've got a certain angle on - there's **** all the 4WD system can do to get you out of it, once it's gone - it's gone! To me 4WD is all about keeping the car straight in the first place when on the limit, rather than getting you out of a messy situation.

Also bear in mind as Fstar has said - 4WD once you're off the gas is worthless, and let's face it - the first instinct of most people when you get a wobble on is to come off the gas!
 
[TW]Fox;14611841 said:
Of course but to the extent that in normal driving you'll be much less likely to have an accident! I wouldnt want to climb an icy road at 10mph in an RWD car but this isn't really a safety thing is it?

No i would agree that in most cases if you are going to have a crash you are going to have one, 4WD or not.

But if being a bit more sure footed makes him feel better then thats good.

I personally like 4 wheel drive cars too.
 
realistically, 4wd will make absolutely no difference to the OP.
unless you live in scandinavia or the alps, 4wd is completely useless unless you've got über bhp

now that i'm back in belgium, all my 4wd does is put more strain on the drivetrain, use more fuel and make my boot slightly smaller :p
 
realistically, 4wd will make absolutely no difference to the OP.
unless you live in scandinavia or the alps, 4wd is completely useless unless you've got über bhp

now that i'm back in belgium, all my 4wd does is put more strain on the drivetrain, use more fuel and make my boot slightly smaller :p

It isn't really useless - the OP is looking for a diesel. Diesel generally produces a lot of torque. Pipe that through FWD and you get some nasty torque steer.
 
FWD/AWD is better in the snow because the turning wheels have power which means you can change direction easier, you're pulling the car.

RWD obviously relies on the fronts to steer passively and the rears to push the car forward. Lack of grip at the front translates into lack of turning ability.

Outside of Snow/Torrential ice conditions there is no real reason to favour AWD over RWD in normal non extreme driving conditions.
 
FWD/AWD is better in the snow because the turning wheels have power which means you can change direction easier, you're pulling the car.

RWD obviously relies on the fronts to steer passively and the rears to push the car forward. Lack of grip at the front translates into lack of turning ability.

Outside of Snow/Torrential ice conditions there is no real reason to favour AWD over RWD in normal non extreme driving conditions.

In all my time driving we have had a reasonable amount of snow twice.
 
For the love of god whatever you do, don't get a diesel convertable.

The arguments about 4WD are all missing the point, if you're really that concerned about the cargo in the back, you shouldn't be getting a convertable, you should be getting a tin top.

Convertables are considerably less safe for rear seat passengers, not least because of the risk of getting hit by flying stones, or other debris that may be heading towards the car. Despite roll over bars they're also going to be a lot less safe should you roll it.
 
I like it when people have unreasonable expectations and needs based on no real reason. It makes for good reading.

As Muncher so rightly put it, if you are THAT concerned about the little ones' safety, why are you buying a convertible considering that convertibles are not as safe as tin tops. What you need is a tin top with five million airbags, twenty different driver aids, constant AWD, 60bhp and the worlds biggest 'I GOT KIDS ON BOARD, KEEP THE **** BACK' sign.
 
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