Hi, I have been researching what car to get for a long time, and it has always been a criteria for the car to be RWD. When I saw the Coupe for the first time though, at a random car dealer I visited, I fell in love with it. I had kind of already decided to go for a 200sx s13, because of the FWD "issue" with the Coupe. I still kind of want the Coupe more, but I have a problem with the FWD. You might wonder why its so important for it to be RWD, well thats all about the driving physics for me. I feel that if the front wheels have to handle turning, most of the braking and all the power then its going to be to much, and there is going to be a lot of understeer.
Is it still worth it buying the Coupe in stead of a RWD? I do love the car, but I wish that it was RWD, or at least AWD. I have heard of people making it AWD using the original engine, but making it RWD would involve turning the whole engine, and that im not going to do. Is AWD a very big procedure, or is it a possibility?
I hope you understand my general concern, and are able to help.
Is it worth it dropping the RWD for the Coupe? Is it possible to make it AWD for not to much money?

All answers are appreciated,
Paul.

Hi,

You just need to try one. Obviously, rwd is technically the best solution for applying drive to the road but the coupe does one of the best jobs of applying the power to the road of any front drivers, especially with a couple of mild tweaks (springs, dampers, rear arb, strut brace) and on the road do you really drive at the limit of adhesion? If you do, fwd is safer anyway.

You will never be braking and applying power hard simultaneously so that's not an issue. The coupe doesn't suffer from torque steer, however if you want to you can abuse it into power on understeer. But, it uses a form of LSD which allows you to put power on hard out of corners with no wheel spin.

Seriously, try one and think about how much of an issue it really is. 99% of your problem will be in your head, in the 7 years I've had mine I've never suffered because of fwd.

There's a handling thread somewhere in the relevant part of the forum which is excellent and helps totally eliminate understeer! Bear in mind the coupe has won the best fwd handling class in TOTB - it can corner!

Just try one!

Regards,

Toby

P.s. 4wd is big money and/or time! RWD has been done using a bmw engine but case will be the same!

Thanks to much for the answer! Do you happen to have a link to the handling thread?

Thanks again,
Paul.

Here it is;

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1417653#Post1417653

I'd start with refreshing anything tired (wishbones, drop links etc), then get good tyres, then strut brace, springs and shocks and 22mm rear arb - you'd have a really sweet handling car. Add an uprated intercooler (pace smic replaces original and is neat but not as effective as a front mount), exhaust, panel filter and get it remapped and you'll have the power to complement it at ~250bhp.

Go try one or get yourself to a meet!

What would uh use the car for? Fast road use then fwd is fine.....

It also depends on how much power the coupe has, with 220 - 260 it copes pretty well, above that and you will get torque steer if the front breaks traction, or as yous come on boost on an uneven or damp road.