Bada Bing!

Whether they're tracked or not, they're still going to spin their wheels like a bastard on the exit of tight corners etc. On my daily drive (on twisty bumpy back roads), my little 120bhp Saxo was on the limit of grip sometimes, with the back end squatting under power the amount of grip the front had was rubbish, meaning the wheels would spin or batter up and down off the ground.

I raced a 270bhp Fiat Coupe in my VTS a few years ago, and he spun his wheels going into 4th (in the dry) due to the squatting thing.

Nick Graves

It is a matter of commonsense that a tyre has a given coefficient of grip (mu)

The more of that used in cornering, the less that is available for power transference, or vice versa.

Why on earth would one have two of the tyres doing all of the work, whilst the rears are merely stopping the rear end dragging on the ground? Illogical, other than it's cheap.

Four wheel drive and four wheel steering would make a far better prospect.

moff

The Fiat Coupe didn't have a traction control system. The Cupra R has a very good ESP where it kicks in gradually. The wheels don't spin hard coming out of corners.

All modern hot hatches now have a decent TC (except the Type R of course, but I am 100% the new will).

moff

4WD is good, but its usually heavy and expensive. Traction is amazing though - I loved it on my Audi S3.

Bada Bing!

Apart from the 4WD bit. The transmission loss, additional weight and tyre wear are my reasons why.

I like having 2 wheels steering and 2 wheels driving. Then all 4 only have one job to do each. Which makes much more sense.

Nick Graves

Indeed I agree; for lighter, sportier cars 4WD is unnecessary.

I rue the day that Honda gave up with active 4WS and pursued 4WD instead. No-one would but it, because they were too lazy to understand it.