Hard call to make. . . I've ben choosing the FWD manual because it's what I had. "Run what you brung" mentality. . .but I loved my 9C1 and the way is would tear up a corner and the ability to step the tail out controlably. . . Can I just have one of each?
steverife wrote:Black Stig wrote: I don't hate FWD at all, I love the way it handles in rally ^_^ But . . .That's what I call a mistake. ;)
That depends on whether you meant to do it 
P71 wrote: Man those boring automatics. They are just no fun! Because you can't actually do the shifting it's just not sporty! I mean sure, you can select the gear in most of them, but that's not the same as using your feet! And RWD! Ugh! Those don't handle! Plus they're soooo stogy and old and boring and soulless! I mean who in their right mind would want a RWD/auto when FWD/manuals can be had?
All tongure in cheek aside, my first car was an "automatic", but it was ONLY shifted manually. So is that an automatic or a manual?
The state of the art in racing transmissions is essentially fully automatic operation of a manual trans. A paddle shifter is used only if the rules say the trans must be manually shifted, but that's a software issue not hardware. Is that an automatic or a manual?
And of course the CAR is a big issue. I am just picturing "You have two choices, FWD/manual or RWD/auto". "Oh man FWD sucks, i want RWD!" "Okay, here is your slant-6 powered Grand Fury. The speedometer has been covered over with a rear view camera so you can see who's going to run you over."
Or... "Automatic sucks, I want FWD/manual!" "Okay, here's your Rabbit Diesel, and here's the hotline for the little shifter bushings that you have to replace every other month if you want to actually get the thing into gear when you want to..."
All things perfect, it depends on what the car is used for. In a nutshell, I feel that anything over 200ft-lb of torque is best served by an automatic transmission, because you end up accelerating so quickly that you waste a lot of time shifting. (I am assuming that the automatic can be manually controlled, like all good automatics do. No OEM made good automatics...)
"Do it most"? Either works
"Do what I like"? FWD Stick
"Do it all"? Make it a RWD Auto
"Do it all" to me includes letting the wife or kid drive it on occasion. While they CAN drive stick it's easier on me for them to drive automatics.
"Do it all" includes all traffic situations and loads. Clutches are a PITA in stop and go creeping situations.
Autos can be controlled, but it may take some tinkering and/or finesse to get the control you want.
noisycricket wrote: "Okay, here is your slant-6 powered Grand Fury. ."
Hmmm ... C or R body? 
RWD auto. P71 may apply for this position.
Autolex wrote: yeah, but column shifters are awkward...
True. Shifters belong on the dash.
FWD/manual...Acrua RSX in fact.
How many big heavy cars do you see with a manual transmission? On my mercedes a used manual is very rare, I saw one on CL for 1200$ and you still need all the stuff to go with it.
Some cars were never optioned to have a manual so are you going to say they all suck? I think it might be a lot of work to control a large car with a manual, but I've never driven one.
The manual shift auto tranny I have tried was lame. It wouldn't hold gear above 5000rpm. The automatic will lose in short small turns where gearing is important but the difference is negated at higher speed. Sure a manual can hold each gear to redline, but with a auto kickdown I can bring my car to 6500rpm in 3rd and come into 4th doing 85mph so at high speed a manual tranny loses some of it's appeal.
If you are going to truly compare FWD manual vs. RWD auto you have to give some parameter. One such would be they both have the same engine and number of gears.
Man those boring automatics. They are just no fun!
Sorry P71, but stalling up an auto and doing a burnout is for sissies. Real men brake stance it after getting the rubber churning with the clutch AND gas. THAT, takes talent I am KIDDING... sorta
derekshannon wrote: I've mentioned at least twice that we should compare apples to apples. We could even make up a car that you could order either way and post which one you'd buy. For instance, a P71 has been brought up I don't know how many times (and with good reason). Would you rather drive it as a 5spd FWD or as it is?
I know this sounds like what you're getting frustrated with, but I think it depends on the car, even comparing apples to apples.
Okay, bigger car with more power (like a P71 or... Altima), I'd go RWD/auto.
Lightweight and low powered car (Civic and... E36 318i) I'd got with FWD/manual. CRX Si/Manual vs. Miata/Auto... tough, but I'd go with the CRX.
Hitempguy,
Oh don't worry, I can do that too! 
I have similar pictures of the RX-7 and of the Turbo Coupe before that.
derekshannon,
On your P71 thing, I'd stick with RWD. It's just too damn heavy to make a good FWD! Let's do other cars, how about an ITR? I'd rather keep the FWD and the stick then do a RWD/auto conversion. GTP? RWD auto over being able to slap in a FWD manual trans. SHO? RWD auto! Sure the greatness that is the Yamaha-modded mill feels sluggish behind an auto, but that car handles like so much crap! Miata? I'd rather have it go FWD and keep a manual then be saddled with a traditional auto in one (not enough torque to be fun).
So really, it still depends on the car! I'd prefer RWD>FWD about 60% of the time and a manual>auto about 60% as well, so it's really a wash.
Just for grins, here's what we have now, and I REALLY like all of them: 01 Grand Prix GT - FWD/Auto 01 P71 'Vic - RWD/Auto 83 RX-7 - RWD/Manual
Isn't the grand marquis FWD?
As far as auto RWD cars go, my BIL's old Grand National was as fun as you could imagine.
However, I really like the mix of fun and practicality that my Focus has. It fits five average sized in... well, it fits five people, and I'm comfortable, which is what really counts. Fold down the back seats and I have a nice big geometric space. It has served me well as a do-it-all.
A Grand Marquis is a Crown Vic with different badges... So, uh, no, it's not FWD...
The only FWD Mercury that used to be RWD was the bizarre Cougar thingie from a few years ago, that may be what you're thinking of.
It would have to be FDW/MAN, a SAAB 9-3 hatch in fact.
FWD/Manual. C900 Turbo.
Oh I thought the vic was the only large RWD car ford still made, but I must be thinking of cadillac or someone else. The mercury is basically a ford with fake chrome. Thanks for the clarification!
G8 is the only RWD Pontiac still made. Caddy has the CTS, STS, and XLR. Mercury has the Grand Marquis as it's only RWD left but Ford still has the 'Vic and Mustang and Lincoln still has the Town Car. Come to think of it, if the Panther chassis dies (CV, MGM, TC) the only RWD Ford car left is the Mustang!
If i could only have one (and have to live with it everyday) .... FWD Stick ... I have snow and a severe adverse reaction to autotragic.
I daily drive a protege5 ... weekend drives include miata amoung others.
In reply to littleturquoiseb: Off topic but; For the life of me I can not figure out why so many people prefer fwd in the snow over rwd. I absolutely cannot drive a fwd car in the snow, I guess I don't have the skill set for it, plus it scares the hell out of me not being able to steer the car when the wheels slip. I've had no problem with f-bodys, Impalas, 2wd trucks and vans in the snow and ice in Ohio but couldn't even get around the corner from my house in any fwd car I have ever driven. For me fwd in snow is totally unsafe, and if we ever get any snow down here in Knoxville I will not be driving my Grand Prix in it.
nicksta43 wrote: In reply to littleturquoiseb: plus it scares the hell out of me not being able to steer the car when the wheels slip.
A big thing with FWD cars in the winter is weight transfer. Say it with me now: LEFT . FOOT . BRAKE
In all honesty, I find rwd to be alot more natural in how I expect a car to rotate. Having said that, I find a FWD car to be alot more "predictable" in the winter simply due to the fact that the rear end isn't stepping out all over the berkeleying place all the time!
I thought that was half the fun of drif . . .driving in the winter
If its a 4 cyl I would go FWD manual, but with larger engines RWD auto becomes more atractive. I am not sure of any 6's that I would like as FWD, but there may be one some where. If its a V8 than RWD is a no brainer even if a slush box is mandatory.
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