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      03-13-2007, 12:42 AM   #1
Alchem
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Ugh, this is why sports cars should not have AWD.

Top Gear Lambo LP640 review:
Clarkson blasts the AWD system.
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle1492551.ece
It’s fitted with a four-wheel-drive system that feeds the power to whichever axle is best able to use it. Fine, but it’s such a dim-witted set-up that you’re usually going backwards before it’s noticed the rear has lost traction and that it might be a good idea to shove some oomph up front.

Or, it decides that the rear could well lose traction due to the angle of the steering wheel and the speed, and feeds most of the power to the front. And any attempt to unstick the back with a boot full of power just means more and more understeer.

I couldn’t help wondering what this car might be like if it had a basic, rear-drive set-up. Lighter, for sure, and therefore faster too. Yes, in the rain, there might be a smidgeon less grip but, to balance that, it would be a lot more predictable. Better, in other words.
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      03-13-2007, 01:13 AM   #2
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Lambos are suppose to handle ridiculous. That's what makes them fun
Only reason I'd buy one is for eye candy and straight line performance
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      03-13-2007, 01:25 AM   #3
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I guess the AWD setup in the LP640 isn't that great....Jezza liked the RS4...a lot.
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      03-13-2007, 02:07 AM   #4
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Sports cars should not have AWD? That's a pretty bold statement. Just because there is one with questionable handling doesn't mean they all shouldn't have AWD. There are plenty of RWD sports cars that handle poorly. Go drive a Porsche 997 Turbo or an Evo and comes back and tell me there should be no AWD performance cars.
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      03-13-2007, 02:27 AM   #5
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Add the Audi RS4, R34 Skyline and WRX STi to that list.

You just need clever diffs that will properly sort out the power...
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      03-13-2007, 03:35 AM   #6
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remember his review of the Prodrive P2? there's one hell of an AWD machine
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      03-13-2007, 09:58 AM   #7
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Doesn't he have one on order?
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      03-13-2007, 10:36 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 010101 View Post
Sports cars should not have AWD? That's a pretty bold statement. Just because there is one with questionable handling doesn't mean they all shouldn't have AWD. There are plenty of RWD sports cars that handle poorly. Go drive a Porsche 997 Turbo or an Evo and comes back and tell me there should be no AWD performance cars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spacedogg View Post
Add the Audi RS4, R34 Skyline and WRX STi to that list.

You just need clever diffs that will properly sort out the power...
+1 on both comments.

You can't just make generalizations like "all RWD sports cars are great." or "sports cars can not have AWD".

There are some great AWD sports cars, as well as some not so great RWD sports cars. As BNR32 said, part of what makes a Lambo a Lambo is it's over the top character. If it drove like an A4, it just wouldn't have the same attraction.
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      03-13-2007, 04:06 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spydrz View Post
Doesn't he have one on order?
No...Jezza just bought a Lambo Gallardo Roadster.

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/06/1.html
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