[gtfoxy]

Originally Posted by hotlap

Awesome was the OP's term but these cars do have their charm. The density altitude hits -4000 feet in the winter so then engine feels like it picks up an additional 40 HP. This combined with less grippy tires makes for spirited driving. Restrained is needed. Its a hell of a lot faster.

My list of cars isn't complete. Its just the performance oriented ones. I started driving in 1980 and my first car was a like new 1976 Grand Prix SJ with a 400 (6.6L) auto that I paid cash for myself. My second car was the 76 TA.

Longest ownership was the 2004 GTO. It was flawless, 11+ year ownership.

Please don’t feel I was singling you out. You simply posted a list, as did I, I think both to show individual experiences.

I had nothing but RWD cars until my 626, & that thing was awful.

It wasn’t until I experienced AWD capability that I became a believer. My wife was actually the first one to own an AWD DSM. After I saw their absolute advantage in adverse rad conditions did I become a die hard owner of all things AWD.

Any engine picks up power in colder temps. It’s simple dynamics. Almost every one of my DSM’s were modded. The fastest, my favorite DD in all weather conditions had a power to weight ratio to run mid-11’s. That was the Galant GSX. A fully built 4G, 57mm turbo, all the goodies. It’s wheel base advantage, & being a 5spd meant I could go places most cars couldn’t with more control than they could imagine. No restraint really required; where I pointed it, near 90 degrees sideways, popping the throttle, it went. It had more ground clearance than a Talon/Eclipse with an LSD front & rear. With 4 doors to boot.

One can not truly experience snow covered exhilaration until you’ve had something similar.

Just sayin.

[hotlap]

Check out this 3M cavity wax. Jump to the 2:00 mark. It wicks into the seams



The shop that has been doing body work on my cars since 1990 showed me this product. Concours Auto Works Milwaukee. They sprayed every cavity on my Camaro for $500. Inexpensive and effective.

I've not done "rust proofing" since the 80s. Generally a ripoff and not needed. Concours agrees with that. They do like this however because 3M is quality and it wicks into the pinch welds, etc.

They were doing paint correction and I happened to see a door skin removed from a 2015 that they were showing the owner that is traditional rust proofing ($2100) did nothing and the inside was forming rust.

Concours is all about quality so when the owner recommended it I decided to go for it. Cost is low IMO.

[JKSully]

Originally Posted by hotlap

Until the late 80s, all cars were rear wheel drive.

I am not entering into the winter driving debate, but it's not accurate to say all cars were RWD until then. Just sticking to American makes:

1929 Cord L-29
1936 Cord 810
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
1978 Plymouth Horizon/Dodge Omni
1980 Chevrolet Citation
1981 Ford Escort
1982 Chevrolet Celebrity
1983 Dodge 600
1986 Ford Taurus

European and Japanese manufacturers started adopting FWD after the first Mini in 1959 proved it would work well with a transverse engine, and continued introducing more of them throughout the 60s and 70s before the US started shifting towards it in the 80s.

[nates89]

I can attest that these cars hold their own in the winter with a good set of winter tires. I used to have an SS 1LE before my ZLE that I always drove in the winter, because why not. I had a truck for the very snowy days.



uploadimage