Why are 'luxurious' cars still rear drive?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:15

myglaren wrote:So that's why my mate bought his wife a Micra when she passed her test

Either that or he doesn't like her

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:19

addo · Post by **addo** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:43

Micraps here, are sold on the following (advertised) points:

1. Room for your shopping
2. Good for compact U-turns (one presumes of dubious legality)
3. Built-in anniversary calendar (yes, really)

Most sold come with the 1.5 not the 1.2 engine.
The dearest one costs $20500 (£12780).

Back on topic, I've always considered hydraulic Citroëns a "leg" of the FWD tree, as their behaviour when braking in a corner is not the usual FWD characteristic.

While I'm at it, was Loeb's Xsara FWD or AWD?

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:49

Ive found braking in a corner in almost any car only has one result, ditch contact

D

addo · Post by **addo** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:52

Come here and nearly run off the road laughing. If you don't brake in a corner here, you fail your driving test.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 03 Oct 2011, 22:25

addo wrote:Come here and nearly run off the road laughing. If you don't brake in a corner here, you fail your driving test.

Are you sure? If so that's absurd, not only is the vehicle being destabilised by braking mid bend there is the issue of tyre grip trade off between braking and steering plus it encourages drivers to enter hazards at excessive speed, I really hope you've got that wrong.

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 03 Oct 2011, 23:16

addo wrote: While I'm at it, was Loeb's Xsara FWD or AWD?

AWD

addo · Post by **addo** » 04 Oct 2011, 06:06

OK, DG, I was exaggerating slightly.

But - there's no recognition of the idea that successful candidates may be driving other than a Getz or similar. You can brake noticeably mid-corner without failing, or ride the brakes down a long incline. Compression braking is generally frowned upon, too. The whole deal is awesome mediocrity.

Post by **Paul-R** » 04 Oct 2011, 09:29

addo wrote:Compression braking

What's that? Is it what I would term cadence braking?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 04 Oct 2011, 09:43

addo wrote:The whole deal is awesome mediocrity.

Its the same over here with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency), I have to really dumb down the training I usually do if I have someone about to undertake a DSA test. Over here in addition to the practical and theory test learners are given video scenarios where they have to click wherever they identify a hazard, however if you click as soon as the hazard appears you will fail the test as you need to wait until you are relatively close to the hazard, so rather than promote good observation skills it does the complete opposite

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 04 Oct 2011, 09:45

Paul-R wrote:
addo wrote:Compression braking
What's that? Is it what I would term cadence braking?

You'll have to wait for Addo to confirm this but I think he means "engine compression braking".

addo · Post by **addo** » 04 Oct 2011, 10:10

Yes, back when you used to double-shuffle to get second or third gear depending on the present speed and rate of slowing required.

The hazard perception touchscreen tests are here, too. If you are overly cautious, it pings you as well. Does my head in.

Once I had fully qualified, guess what I did on the way from the motor registry? Bought two longnecks.

After all, I could legally drink and drive now...

andy5 · Post by **andy5** » 04 Oct 2011, 10:31

DickieG wrote:
Paul-R wrote:
addo wrote:Compression braking
What's that? Is it what I would term cadence braking?
You'll have to wait for Addo to confirm this but I think he means "engine compression braking".

There's a long downhill bit on the A8 motorway in Germany, where it descends from the Schwäbische Alb.

It's one of the old ones, 2 lanes, no hard shoulder, with quite a few bends, and in fact splits so the two carriageways go different ways around a hill.

In my car, it's easy enough to observe the 80 kph speed limit by changing down from 5th to 4th gear, with just a bit of 3rd on the slightly steeper bits, without using the brakes at all

But other people go down with a foot on the brake pedal almost all of the way, which must be heating the brakes up and adding to the chances they'll fade if really needed in an emergency.

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 04 Oct 2011, 12:21

andy5 wrote: But other people go down with a foot on the brake pedal almost all of the way, which must be heating the brakes up and adding to the chances they'll fade if really needed in an emergency.

One of the reasons there are emergency sand traps at the bottom of severe gradients in the UK !!

Have to admit to indulging in a bit of hooligan driving when I have a clear run down steep, twisty inclines ! Nothing like a bit of gravity to speed things up ! Although I over did it once, coming down the swiss alps in an 80's Alfa Guilietta with my father as passenger ! I placed too much faith in the Alfa's 4 wheel disc's and found myslef with a very long pedal approaching a RH hairpin at some speed ! Engine braking and a clumsy attempt at a Scandinavian flick JUST got me round ! We stopped a few miles later for coffee and a calm down, when we got out we saw the brakes were still smoking !

isisalar · Post by **isisalar** » 04 Oct 2011, 21:32

Believe it or not, there is a Nissan micra SPORT out there!