Most power for a FWD car.

[waynne]

There must be a practical limit for a FWD car. So what do you think the maximum usable power is on a FWD car. I did see a Type R do a 10 sec 1/4 mile but it had really wide tyres on the front and looked quite silly! I would like to start the bidding at 225bhp based on experience with a Rover Tomcat turbo - fairly heavy engine block and fitted with a LSD - torsion diff!

[StevieDB9]

I think Alfa Romeo made a car a few years ago that had about 270bhp. dont qoute me on that tho

[Freddie]

Are you joking? I'm sure there are 500BHP+ FWD Golfs?

I agree that 250+ is really silly, but I'm sure it's been done.

[waynne]

It is why we are talking "practical" limits. For a daily runaround there must be a sensible power limit for a FWD! I have seen FWD with silly power but they wheelspin so badly in my opinion have ceased to be a practical proposition.

[Freddie]

Oh right, yeah sorry; missed at word in your first sentance!

There is a 300BHP Citroen AX running a charged VTS/GTi engine, but he complained of wheelspin in 3rd gear!

With the right traction control system big power able to be put down well, but never as well as an AWD car..

Never too much torque.. Only not enough grip! I blame the tyre manufacturers personally..

[waynne]

The roads should be made of rubber!

[BAD63R-V6]

I'm at the 240-250 area with my V6 and it doesn't wheel-spin that much for the power and I haven't even got it lowered or put a LSD on it. But i reckon for a FWD Calibra 280-290bhp is about the most with out changing loads.

[waynne]

I guess then the contact area is a big factor. What tyres are you using?

[BAD63R-V6]

215/40/17 but they arn't that much of a good make. I want to stick some Toyo Proxi's on the front for the winter. I think it's 50/50 on the car set-up and the driver. I've had many a good pull off's against other cars from not reving the balls out of it on the startin line. I just put the revs 500rpms above the power band (3500 is the power band on mine) and then deck whilst letting the clutch out. Works loads better and you don't get as much clutch slip.

Only problem is on mine I have to fight with the steering wheel sometimes due to torque steer lol. Nearly gone over to the other side a couple of times.

[billyo]

Depends on weight over the front wheels cos more weight means more traction.