This winter I decided to drive a FWD car for the winter. I feel so disconnected from the whole driving experiance. All my vehicles in the past have been RWD, even in winters. I am starting to hate the whole feel, it just isn't right.

Anyone else stuck on FWD this (unusually warm) winter?

 

Still driving the S2000, although with winter tires that suck almost all the fun out of the driving experience.

Meanwhile I have to look at my summer rims and Star Specs in the corner of my garage every time I come home. It's worse because there hasn't yet been a single day with enough snow/ice that I would have actually needed my winter tires this season. There have been multiple 50+degree days though.

 

It's the way your car is set up and failure to adjust driving technique. You do know that the popular ice racing platform is FWD, right?

FWD can be ridiculous amounts of fun if done right. It's different than RWD for sure, but not something to gripe about.

 

Took the words out of my mouth.

 

Took the words out of my mouth.
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Its a bottom of the line (roll up windows, no power locks) 2002 5 speed 2 door cavalier. Of course it is set up wrong . I am still waiting for the day I can drive a proper setup FWD car.

And I thought ice racers used AWD, learn something new every day.

 

AWD = heavier and more expensive when you destroy it.

You can get a FWD hatchy down to 1700 lbs even with a cage. Less weight, better on ice. Plus, you can have someone crash into the rear of your car and still continue driving.... lol

Also, the spec ice racing tire ("Menard") only comes in 13", 14" and 15" sizes. Perfect for old Civics and other random cars.

Your original post should really be:

I'm Winter driving a Cavalier... well known to be one of the worst handling and unsatisfying cars ever produced. The steering feel is horrible and it's just painful to drive. Anyone else drive a crappy beater and hating it?


It has nothing to do with the drivetrain platform. It's the vehicle you chose for Winter driving. Don't equate a Cadavalier with a fun "hot hatch."

 

Well, it sort of does. Because in the winters, I am used to just tapping the gas with the snow on ground to make it go sideways . I dont like carrying that much speed, RWD platform makes it much more fun and easy.

One day I will get the chance to drive a properly setup FWD platform, Ill see how it really is.

Edit: Also, to say it is one of the worst handling cars ever produced... I dont know about that. I was able to take a highway onramp from work nearly the same speed as my s2000. At the mid point of the ramp I was almost the same speed. To say this car is terrible at handling, I would disagree. I have driven other cars that are worse. Such as my parents Impala, now THAT is horrible. I bought this cavalier as a cheap winter car anyways, oh well.

 

My parent's 1999 stock 4DR LX Civic is pretty fun to drive around corners =O... just boring in straight line, though I don't know about Cavalier. Our 2009 LX 4DR Civic is horrible at cornering and has so much understeer feel so I guess that's closer to what you feel? haha.

 

An ITR would probably be a good not-so-disconnected FWD car to drive around. Get a GSR if it's going to be a winter beater. Those cars are damn reliable and fun to drive!

 

We had an 02 Cavalier for about a year. It's really bad. Static cornering is just one small fraction of "handling."

Please come out and do some track days and / or autocross and we'll show you the light.