I just recently sold off my Datsun 510 wagon to get an 88 Mitsubishi Starion- rwd with limited slip, 2.6L turbo power!!! I had forgotten how fun donuts are! I love my 'box, but there are times that I yearn for a bit more "fun factor" out of it... I'll just have to wait for someone to swap a Subaru STI drivetrain into one!

-Phil and Vicki

 

Hey guys, I'm sure you have noticed that there is a LOT of discussion (begging) for a new RWD car to come along. I can GAURANTEE you that at least one of the Japanese mfgs is going to come through with this request in the near future. They would have to be blind to ignore the demand.

The question is, who will be the first? I hope Toyota!

Darren

 

Make sure it has LSD! Drifting will slowly pick up like the whole import racing scene. What I know will happen is you'll have a punk driftin during high traffic and taking out pedestrians.

 

One of the biggest reasons for me buying an xB is the fact it is FWD with traction control and VSC. Heck of alot more traction in the snow and You dont go anywhere fast by sliding or spinning tires.

 

it seems everywhere i go someone is hating on drifting....who cares if it isn't faster? thats not the point. sure its more expensive, doesn't mean because you can't afford it that you should talk smack about those who can. ridiculous. and btw, i can't afford the new tires either. but, yeah i would like a rwd car by scion, or anyone who makes a half decent product....fun car, not the drive in the snow car.....

 

That would be neat if auto makers offered a low-cost RWD nowadays. My current ride ('90 Volvo Wagon) is RWD and although underpowered it is fun to drive. Snow is another matter, I've gotten used to it though. Newer cars that offer RWD should come with push-button stability control. Offer that and your set. :D

 

although i understand some of your arguments, you can't forget that this car IS an economy car and has to use what platforms and equipment that is already available out there from Toyota and Scion.

Besides the fact that RWD would really offer no real-world advantage over FWD other than drifting and drag racing, i can hardly think it would be financially worthwhile for Scion and/or Toyota to develop/use that. If you want to learn or practice drifting, there are plenty of mid 80's japanese boxes out there to buy and tear into. (and add to that early 90's.) But thats my opinion. If drifting is becoming THAT big that the demand is there, well.... maybe i'm just old and didn't realize it. The reason that most economy cars changed from rear-drive (as in the 80's and early 90's) to front drive is due to better handling and less expensive to build. If Scion was to make one car rear wheel, i'd have to cast the vote for the tC..... that is the only car they make that would make sense to offer RWD.

otherwise FWD works for me in this car and price range

-ABT-

 

They already make this car, more or less.

There is a Lexus IS200 2.0 liter sold in Japan and Europe. It's not "basic" but it's decontented from the IS300 and considerably less expensive.

 

I'd love RWD, but maybe not in a scion. Scions are fun, cheap, well built cars. RWD is more of a luxury in this day and age, like the list of new RWD cars from the major makers.

Drifting is fun. The skill level is very different from road racing, but the cars are set up very similarly. If its not your thing, then its not your thing. I think drifting is tremendous fun and look foreward to one day when I can buy my own RWD car to knock over cones with =)

 

If you live in California or Florida that's fine and dandy, but anywhere with any sort of winter whatsoever won't find RWD practical. There's a reason RWD is so rare these days.

 

Drifting is one thing, but "balance" and the "fun to drive" factor is a completly different matter. I race SCCA. I race a RWD vehicle. It has a small, underpowered 4 cyl, but it is a blast to drive! It is light, tossable, revvy, and is so completly balanced at speed. There may not be a lot of power on tap; but that doesn't matter! I don't drift. I don't think the wear and tear (as well as chance of breaking a car) is worth it. But I think there is a market for a budget, 4 cyl, RWD vehicle.

Don't get me wrong, I live in New England. I know what winter is like in a RWD car (or truck, minus an LSD, for that matter). It is a small price to pay for a car that is truly that much more fun to race (and drive). Some others have mentioned stability control (VSC), TRAC, and others; these are features that a budget Scion already have!

Scion may not be the first to the first to the RWD market; but from the minds of those who built the JZ chassis Supra would come another hot vehicle. I've heard rumors of Nissan bringing back the 260/280 on a 350Z style chassis. It would be interesting ... everyone thought that the Miata was a chance in the dark before it revived an extinct niche.

Just my thoughts; share yours ...

 

I think RWD would be pretty cool to have, but it would drive up the cost of manufacturing.

 

Drive up production costs? Not necessarily. In fact, in certain situations fwd has caused extra cost to build. When the PT cruiser was first rolling off the line, the engine took 4 hours to install; evidently installing the engine was an afterthought. It took awhile for Chrysler to design a process to install the engine w/o having to take it apart first.

Rwd would effect fuel mileage and decrease hp seen at the wheels compared to a fwd layout. But isn't it worth it? Engines have gotten so much more efficient ... maybe it is time to bring back SOME rwd vehicles in some niche markets ...

 

Its true, RWD costs more to product.
Manufactures switched to FWD becuase its less expensive.
You might think: "So why old RWD cars are less expensive(or same price) than todays FWD cars?"
When technology like ABS and other electronic stuff showed up they had in away or other to make the car less expensive so people can afford it.

I am sure soon or later one of the car manufacturers will come up with a nice looking RWD car but not luxury of course so people can afford it. But there is an small obstacle which is FWD cars are safer than RWD cars. This problem would probably solved by electronic things like TCS and VSC, and it will cost a little bit more.

I think that even a RWD car came up, people will still complain about different things, like luxury or weak engines.

Its just my opinion.

 

RWD requires more raw materials=higher production costs.

 

Raw materials ... ok, so RWD might take more metal to produce. There would be higher drivetrain losses, so some might complain that a 140hp engine is anemic. But these RWD vehicles with lower HP are the cars that are have a resurgance in the market right now. I race a RWD vehicle in a modified class, and it only has a 50hp engine w/ RWD. It is a blast to drive.

Besides, the RWD vehicle would be for a niche market, not the mainstream. They made the xB for a niche market, and it has been a success in those markets. Why not make and sell a RWD tC-like vehicle (even if it ONLY had the wonderfully torquey 2.4L 2AZ)?

Just a talking point; what do you think?

 

A 50HP engine?! What is it a go-kart?

 

It has more than 50hp; I was just saying.

RWD 1983 Toyota Starlet with a built 4K-E EFI 1.3L engine. TRD close ratio trans gears from Canada, LSD from NZ, 4.30 rear end from NZ, full roll cage, custom short stroke suspension, AE86 front brakes, racing seats ... fun ride.

 

PS- May not sound impressive, but it is 3-4 seconds off a BMW 3 series raced by a national champion.

You don't need a super-high-hp engine to have fun!

 

a RWD tC would simply be ****... if they could keep the price point around the same they would more then likey not only completly capture the drifting scene, but more highway races as well

i used to run a 1990 240sx hatch with tien suspension 18 in rims and strictly bol on power. i would often win many races simply because i would drift and scare the hell out of the other racers... thus they would back off trying to avould a possible wreck... silly people doubting me...

though a change like that at this point in the tc's model life now would be suicide. but if they release on in 3 or so years...you would my tc on the market faster then i could put a new one on order. if the scion line is marketed towards young gen "y" with money to spen on after market mods, how can they ignore this aspect of it.

adn just so you all know, you can drift in a FF car, its just 10 times more dangerous and you have a lot less controll. e brakes are no substitue for a good lock and and gas to take a 90 degree plus turn...