[brandonppr]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/due-to-cafe-lutz-declares-rwd-impala-and-monaro-dead/

It's finally (semi) official: RWD cars like a new Pontiac GTO (and Holden Monaro) and Impala are "gone for now." Bob Lutz has been making noises about it for a while, and every announcement gets more and more certain that the front wheels will be pulling more GM cars.

Just a month ago, Lutz told Forbes "That's where the internal debate [on the Impala] is now -- no firm decision at this point, but my guess is that we will come down on the side of the front-drive car." By the time of last week's Detroit Auto Show, Lutz was telling GoAuto "I think the (Monaro/Pontiac GTO) is gone for now.... [T]hat's not the end of the market where we want to stimulate demand. We have to find ways to stimulate demand and desirability in cars that will get us closer to the 35 MPG average."

How will that be done? Perhaps by using the Alpha midsize platform and making CUV's. However, the Alpha still hasn't been signed off on, and won't be until GM figures out what -- and how many -- standards it will need to adhere to when the CAFE tug-of-war ends.

 

[OctaneZ28]

I wonder if RWD could be used more if Alpha is used instead.
Only problem is we still wouldn't see a RWD Impala because Alpha would be for small and mid-size cars.

Sucks.
A RWD Impala on Zeta would've been kick ass.
Thanks alot idiot democrat congress.

 

[CUONCRS]

Man, this sucks. It's not the platform's fault, it's the engine's fault. They can use better technology, and keep the RWD coming. I hate the oil industry, with their billion dollar profits and governmental lobbyists! If it weren't for all of them, we'd be driving cars that get BETTER gas mileage every year, not worse. All cars should be 50 mpg by now.

 

[brandonppr]

On a related note they are also canceling a Cadillac V8

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-confirms-cadillac-v8-program-scrapped-due-to-cafe.html

 

[Camaro Scotty]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Guess the Crown Vic will live as long as the Police Dept's buy it! Prolly get a "governmental use" exemption or something.

Still, BOOOOOO!

Impala SS means nothing now. Other than a pretty decal on the Nascar COT.

 

[OctaneZ28]

On a related note they are also canceling a Cadillac V8

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-confirms-cadillac-v8-program-scrapped-due-to-cafe.html

Yeah, instead of developing a new Northstar V8 line, Cadillac will use LS-based engines like the rest of the GM lineup.

 

[USA1Camaro]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Guess the Crown Vic will live as long as the Police Dept's buy it! Prolly get a "governmental use" exemption or something.

Still, BOOOOOO!

Impala SS means nothing now. Other than a pretty decal on the Nascar COT.

You don't watch that spec car racing league do you?


In another thread we were discussing the CAFE issue and the factoring in of E85 cars. Unless I misunderstood the regulation, there is NO logical reason to cancel a much anticipated RWD platform for a POS platform. I think people buy what they like and not always by the badge on the car. If I want a RWD platform car and GM doesn't have one I'd drive right on past the dealerships until I got to one that did.

 

[Jinx]

Yeah, instead of developing a new Northstar V8 line, Cadillac will use LS-based engines like the rest of the GM lineup.

I hope an LS3, so that its exclusivity to the vette will be gone.

 

[BROOKLYN1]

what a shame

 

[Z28 Autobot]

Why does it matter what wheels drive the car??? really??

 

[brandonppr]

Why does it matter what wheels drive the car??? really??

FWD is supposed to be more efficient. Though I don't see how it can be that much of a loss. Untill lately RWD cars were mostly only availible in the Luxury market. A reason I believe that a lot of people switched to trucks and SUVs. RWD just drives better and has a better cog.

 

[GHOST SS]

Why does it matter what wheels drive the car??? really??

if you have to ask you don't get it:lol::rotflmao:

 

[GHOST SS]

but honestly fwd has a few merits like (better than rwd in rain and snow) but rwd is fun in the snow and rain granted you posses something lacking in most drivers and that's skill.see fwd was devised because any nitwit with 1% of the brain cells alotted to an average human brain can obtain a driver's license and the fact rwd is a simplier drive train layout than compared to awd and fwd it makes it simplier to assemble and maintain

 

[Luwinkle]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Guess the Crown Vic will live as long as the Police Dept's buy it! Prolly get a "governmental use" exemption or something.

Still, BOOOOOO!

Impala SS means nothing now. Other than a pretty decal on the Nascar COT.

The Crown Vic is dying out in a year or two.

 

[Luwinkle]

FWD is supposed to be more efficient. Though I don't see how it can be that much of a loss. Untill lately RWD cars were mostly only availible in the Luxury market. A reason I believe that a lot of people switched to trucks and SUVs. RWD just drives better and has a better cog.

RWD is more performance, FWD is more 'efficiency'.

RWD is also easier to work on.(Just ask my dad about his old 95 Sable..couldn't even get to the spark plugs in the back).

 

[Luwinkle]

You don't watch that spec car racing league do you?


In another thread we were discussing the CAFE issue and the factoring in of E85 cars. Unless I misunderstood the regulation, there is NO logical reason to cancel a much anticipated RWD platform for a POS platform. I think people buy what they like and not always by the badge on the car. If I want a RWD platform car and GM doesn't have one I'd drive right on past the dealerships until I got to one that did.

That's exactly why I **** near bought a Mustang. Sure they're slow, and very uncomfortable, but they were the only decently-priced RWD car from the Big 3. And it had a manual.
I also thought about a Crown Vic, but I couldn't justify paying $25,000 for a vehicle with steel wheels with hubcaps and only 224 HP.
If GM keeps canning RWD, I might still have to look elsewhere for my next vehicle.

 

[CUONCRS]

It used to be that Manuals were more efficient than autos. Not so much anymore. It used to be that manuals were quicker, not so much. I can't imagine that FWD is really that much more efficient. Bad weather handling? Sure, but all the electronic nannies have helped with that.

But for sheer fun, I'll take RWD any day.

 

[brandonppr]

As far as rain and control goes. My CTS with stabiltrac is darn near impossible to spin out of control. I took it out in the snow the other day and all I could do was drive in circles. It would not slide. It was slide, strait, slide, strait, slide...... which made a circle. Too bad you can't turn it off when you want:BangHead:

 

[altoid]

Thanks alot idiot democrat congress.

Why idiot democrat? Because the majority of Congress just so happens to be democrat or because it's convenient they are?

You are less than an inch from insulting me there. You can do better.


On-topic:

FWD in theory gets more mpg because there is less resistance to the driving wheels while turning. I say in "theory" because it doesn't always work out that way.

In terms of the effect on your wallet it's not necessarily better. The front tires will wear out much quicker, and there tends to be increased wear and tear on the brakes and suspension, as well. It all depends on how you drive.

CAFE, however, is emissions-specific, so I see the point. I can't help but wonder if this is more of a "killing a RWD platform 'cause it has high emissions" than "killing a RWD platform 'cause it being RWD makes it less efficient." I'm hoping it's the former, 'cause none of us want to go all-FWD in a few year.

 

[brandonppr]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main&bill=h110-2927

What does cosponsors mean?
Did they all vote for this bill?