my son and I would love it..

but my wife wouldn't be too impressed..

 

It's torque through the front wheels, so a torque limiter in the lower gears may be built-in, which makes teh 300BHP a bit pointless.

The rule of thumb has to be 200BHP. The Prelude has that, and on a slippery road, traction/hop can be an issue despite the double wishbones. The 4WS does wonders for teh handling at higher speeds in higher gears.

I would probably trust an old double-wishboned real SAAB more than a cut'n'shut Vectra one, TBH.

300 is good, but you'd want a Saabaru IME!

 

The T5 does ok with 250 through the front wheels. Has to be dry though. And tyres just go within a few K.

 

You don't have to use full throttle all the time.

Traction could become an issue in my 200bhp FTO, but that just tought me good throttle control (something that came in handy when I got the S).

 

that's true..

and most cars have fly by wire throttle links.. so you would think they just trim any excessive foot movement..

 

My improved Corrado G60 had 195bhp and 250lbft through the front wheels.

Oh and just about a ton in weight, the supercharger lump already in as standard.

It was a handful and, as someone else said, you had to learn to control the right foot.

(wingnut: the Impreza has Subaru all wheel drive not just front I think?)

 

I hated my CTR.

In the axle tramp and wheelspin were unbearable!

Even in the dry, exiting a tight bend, the inner wheel would light up. So I fitted a JDM LSD and it improved traction, but made it a real handful.

Eurgh!

I never want a powerful FWD car ever again...

However, in the mrs' Cooper S (with TC) I never really found the fact it is FWD to be a problem!

 

I had a 9-5 Aero estate for a while not long ago

Utterly pointless imo

What's the point of power you can't use in a chassis that can't handle it?

Car would have suited a diesel much better, or a lazy V6

 

I agree - a real PIA to drive, if the ground was even slightly damp.

That's shitty old Macpherson struts for you.

Soo different from the older Civic, 'Teg & Prelude.

There is an odd break point at 200bhp; you really need 4WD therafter, which means you suddenly need nearer 300, in order to overcome the mass, inertia & friction.

Or buy a lighter, RWD car and around 250 will suffice!

 

I found left foot braking would help. If you brake and use the throttle at the same time in FWD you cancel out the front brakes and just brake on the rear, which means on exits of corners you can get the car turning more and cancel out the terrible exit understeer you get when trying to get the power down in FWD.

Not so good for your front brake wear or temperatures.

No doubt Nick will now say something about RWS.