( X == xDrive == all wheel drive == total awesomeness )
unfortunately, afaik... they don't make a 6 series X
Posted on 03/26/2010 7:34:53 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
When BMW AG Chairman Norbert Reithofer declared last week that his company would start making front-wheel-drive BMWs, there were screams from Stuttgart to Sacramento. BMW, after all, had built the Ultimate Driving Machine franchise on rear-wheel-drive cars. Now Mr. Reithofer appears to be chipping away at what made luxury cars so luxurious.
Auto enthusiasts—including many automotive designers and engineering executives, as well as wealthy car buyers—generally prefer cars to have the driving wheels in the back. It makes a difference in the way a car handles and steers. That difference is instantly recognizable but hard to define.
A rear-drive car is "livelier, it's more direct-connected to the road," says Dave Leone, global vehicle chief engineer for General Motors Co.'s rear-wheel-drive and performance cars, including the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette.
Mr. Reithofer's challenge is fueling the debate over what makes a luxury car special. It's a question that luxury-car buyers and luxury-car brands have been struggling with ever since volatile oil prices and environmental regulators began pressing car makers to evolve away from the "bigger is better" approach to marketing premium vehicles.
The advantages of front-wheel drive are mainly practical. Because the drive train, engine and steering gear are all packaged together under the hood, it's easier to give more space to passengers or cargo inside.
Front-wheel-drive cars are usually better in snow, because the engine weight is located over the driving wheels. And they typically get better fuel economy and thus emit less carbon dioxide than similar-sized rear-drive vehicles—although thanks to technology, today's rear-wheel-drive cars are closing the gap.
Still, front-wheel-drive cars suffer from being pegged as relatively unexciting to drive.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
More recently, Acura has promoted all-wheel drive, which resolves the debate by asking a different question: Wouldn't you rather have driving power from all four tires?
BMW drivers can always try reverse...
You are right I have owned several all wheel drive vehicles and without a doubt all handled better under all conditions.
Thank goodness I shifted to Benz! After the Bangle fumble, now front-wheel drive BMWs? What next ...a 5 series that is also part SUV! (Oops, I guess so, with the 5 Series GT).
I had an Acura TL (6 speed manual) that was the worst car I have ever had in the snow- too much torque over the wheels. But it was beautiful when the roads were fine.
My current is a BMW 328xi; handles like a dream no matter what the condition. RWD much of the time, computer calls in all 4 wheels as needed. I have a job that requires I get out no matter what the weather- I agree, I’d rather have all wheel drive; can’t see going back to front wheel only.
” That difference is instantly recognizable but hard to define.”
Not really hard to define: FWD pulls the car, RWD pushes it.
Besides, burning off the front tires is lame.
It's really easy to define on snow and ice. With rear wheel drive you slide around, fish tail, and get stuck a lot; whether it's a 2009 Beemer or a 78 Monte Carlo. With front wheel drive you have no trouble. The only advantage I can think of for real wheel drive is if you really like doing donuts in the school parking lot. There's also the drive shaft taking up space in the passenger compartment, if you consider that and advantage.
Or, to put it more scientific terms, they don't have bad juju.
</sarcasm>
I have an SH-AWD Acura. It's awesome. The system applies torque to the correct wheel for best handling -- for instance an accelerating left-turn will apply torque to the right rear wheel.
I don't think I'll ever go back to two-wheel-drive, unless I can't afford another AWD car.
Uh huh. I much prefer to be driving a RWD 1970's barge during bad weather so I can worry every second about fishtailing into a ditch.
In my experience, the hype about rear-wheel drive cars handling better is apparent only when you are driving near the limit of tire adhesion, i.e., the ability to throttle-steer. I have only (willingly) experienced this on the skid pad or on the track.
However, a good driver in a high-performance front-wheel drive car can out drive a mediocre driver like me in a high-performance rear-wheel drive car any day of the week.
My sports cars have always been rear-wheel drive; my daily drivers have, since 1974, always been front-wheel drive. As a person who lives in a hilly area of the snowy Northeast and who skis in Vermont and Quebec, I have always appreciated the combination of traction, handling, and interior space afforded by the front-wheel drive platform.
My yuppie friends can keep their Bimmers; I’ll continue to drive my VW’s, thank you.
Owners of MazdaSpeed 3's, VW GTI's, Mini Coopers, Audi A3's, and Honda Civic Si's might argue the point. And there are plenty of RWD and AWD drive cars that are crushingly dull to drive.
( X == xDrive == all wheel drive == total awesomeness )
unfortunately, afaik... they don't make a 6 series X
Rear wheel drive cars are generally easier to work on. The engines (generally) sit fore and aft as opposed to sideways giving you a lot more room under the hood. It's easier to do transmission work because you can remove the transmission without pulling the engine also. If you've ever tried to change out an alternator or air conditioner compressor in a front wheel drive car, you will appreciate the difference when the stuff you have to work on is at the front of the car instead of next to the strut on the side.
How stupid are these people?
BMW made some of the best looking cars ever made, the 328,503,507 and (my favorite all time car) 3.0 CS.
I owned BMW’s over the years 501, 700CS, 1800, 1602 and 3.0 CS.
I lost interest in BMW with the introduction the 5 series in 1974. The were just an ugly box.
“Owners of MazdaSpeed 3’s, VW GTI’s, Mini Coopers, Audi A3’s, and Honda Civic Si’s might argue the point. And there are plenty of RWD and AWD drive cars that are crushingly dull to drive.”
These small FWD cars are incredibly competitive on the autocross course.
I’ve never owned a front drive car.
Everybody missed all the key differences.
Rear drive cars with front engines have separate bodies mounted on top of the frame, thereby making it easier to isolate the driver and passengers from noise and vibration.
Front wheel drive cars have the same advantage rear-engined cars have: the driving wheels have the weight advantage of the engine on them when they need more traction.
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