Hot FWD cars?

chaparral wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: Clutch and gearbox work on a Corvette! Step 1: Remove entire rear suspension. Step 2: Carefully tilt engine just far enough backwards to be able to remove the transaxle assembly. Step 3: Support engine and wrangle it around enough to get the clutch and driveshaft off the back. Step 4: Reassembly is the reverse of removal.

That only sucks because the trans isn't in the same place as normal.

chaparral wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: Clutch and gearbox work on a Corvette! Step 1: Remove entire rear suspension. Step 2: Carefully tilt engine just far enough backwards to be able to remove the transaxle assembly. Step 3: Support engine and wrangle it around enough to get the clutch and driveshaft off the back. Step 4: Reassembly is the reverse of removal.

That is similar to how to do a clutch, etc in a Porsche 924, 944 or 928. I R&R'd the rear suspension, transaxle, torque tube, etc. from under my 924, in my garage, using hand tools.

A good set of sturdy jack stands helped a lot.

Would it be easier on a lift? Hell yes. Doesn't mean you can't do it.

Most of my FWD cars have had their drivetrains pulled from the top at some point, but I've also done it out the bottom. Both required cherry pickers and out the bottom was typically faster (since that is how they go in at the factory). The trick is to use a HF furniture dolly with a wooden cradle to hold the drivetrain in place and then use the cherry picker to lift the front of the car high enough to roll it out from under the car. We built the dolly fixtures after about the 5th or 6th engine removal. Typically when we did headgaskets the head would go out the top, unless we'd not had the drivetrain out before and we'd pull the entire thing to make sure the wiring, hoses, mounts and engine bay were clean and inspected.

As a reformed Turbo-Dodge fan I really want to like the SRT-4, but many have been destroyed by idiot owners and would likely cause you headaches in the long run. You can find nice ones still, but you have to really like them I think. To that end I'd look at the Focus SVT, a GTI (or anything from VAG with a 1.8T), even an MS3.

As much as I hope you find what you are looking for, I disagree with your logic that FWD=easier to service, or that more servicing can be accomplished from the top.

I have one FWD car at my house, and it requires just as much work done from underneath as the RWD ones.

One of the best-reviewed of the hot FWDs is the Cobalt SS. I've been very pleased with mine, bought new, added only Powell springs and rear bar and tires, tracked a few times a year. It's been bulletproof and it's as quick as any of them, moreso than most.Last made in 2010. There are prettier cars out there, outside and in, but if performance is the thing...

chuckles wrote: One of the best-reviewed of the hot FWDs is the Cobalt SS. I've been very pleased with mine, bought new, added only Powell springs and rear bar and tires, tracked a few times a year. It's been bulletproof and it's as quick as any of them, moreso than most.Last made in 2010. There are prettier cars out there, outside and in, but if performance is the thing...

yeah, I wanted to say this, as its hiiiiiiigh up my wish list, but I was keeping it in the New Car range.

Cobalt SS Sedan wields a considerable quantity of want in my universe...

I tend to disagree that the elise platform is difficult to work on. No different than any transverse front engined front wheel drive car. It's basically just a celica, the only difference is the trans fluid is easier to add to the elise through the speedo block off plate cause the speedo isnt there.

better than an Integra or Neon SRT4?

I raised an eyebrow at that one but im going to stop short of spending my entire post telling you how wrong you are about everything. I think the SRT4 was only exceptional in the drivetrain department, while everything else was mediocre. Basically, the musclecar formula!

On the other hand, the DC3 Integra was, in my opinion, one of the best, most well-rounded enthusiast-y cars ever designed, and ranks even higher if you limit the comparisons to FWDs.

If there anything newer, that good, that's fwd? I think the 8200 rpm Celica GT-S comes closest in many ways. Having said that, i put a clutch in one, on a lift, and was STILL extremely irritated by one bolt that almost made me bust out the sawzall, and keep in mind this wasnt my car!! That's not a dealbreaker for me. It's not the easiest thing to work on but it also shouldnt need much, ever. The one i put a clutch in had 180k miles on the original. Out of the stuff you listed, i would expect the mini and fiat to not be particularly easy to work on, either. Educated guess would say the Focus and Veloster would be easier.

Last november (i dont think it has changed much) i checked out a top-spec veloster turbo and was REALLY diggin the interior, way more than i expected. In fact, just earlier today i compared pics on the internet of the veloster and Fiesta ST interiors and still prefer the veloster. But, the Veloster Turbo doesnt carry any handling upgrades vs the base model other than wheel size, whereas the Fiesta ST SHOULD be one of the best-driving FWDs on the market. I would definitely be looking into those two.

I've never really been excited about the Fiat after checking out lower-spec models when they came out. I just dont think a sport package can fix what i dont like about it, as was the case with the Dodge Caliber and it's SRT4. I was even less excited after i street-raced one in my near-stock SOHC neon and ran even with it through 2nd gear.

I don't see ditching a car for one job that will have to be performed very infrequently.

One forgotten. Focus ST

z31maniac wrote: I don't see ditching a car for one job that will have to be performed very infrequently.

This. If its for a multitude of ease-of-service problems, I'd suggest a more DIY friendly RWD platform (Miata).

That said, on the FWD issue, the only 2 FWD cars made after 2003 I have any desire to own are a 1G Insight or a Prius. Both of those obviously not for performance reasons.

In reply to ProDarwin:

I believe the OP already called out the Miata as a hard to service crawl underneath it all the time car.

difficulties of servicing an FWD vs RWD aside, another +1 for the Fiesta ST here. Went to look at the Focus and Fiesta ST models before leasing my WRX, and was thoroughly impressed by the Fiesta on the road. That much fun for so little money is always good in my book.

Mazdaspeed 3s are great, I would say FocusST but they are good in everything but brakes and that is probably one of the most important aspects of an enthusiasts car lol.

can't resist.

I really can't see dismissing all RWD cars because a clutch job is tough on a Corvette. The Corvette is the exception to the rule, not the norm. I'd say the average RWD platform (Miata, AE86, Mustang, heck anything from the early 90's back is far easier to work on than any modern FWD car.

I don't dis-like FWD at all (see Volvo and Saab in sig), but your premise is broken.

JAhmed wrote: difficulties of servicing an FWD vs RWD aside, another +1 for the Fiesta ST here. Went to look at the Focus and Fiesta ST models before leasing my WRX, and was thoroughly impressed by the Fiesta on the road. That much fun for so little money is always good in my book.

Where did you find a Fiesta ST to drive ?

There's a new FWD V6 Corvette coming out soon.

If it strictly braised on clutch replacement. Then classic Saab 900 has it hands down. No jack needed don't remove the transmission. The clutch assembly at the front of the car. 2 bolts the hood comes off no realignment nessary. Everything pulls out the top.

iceracer wrote:

JAhmed wrote: difficulties of servicing an FWD vs RWD aside, another +1 for the Fiesta ST here. Went to look at the Focus and Fiesta ST models before leasing my WRX, and was thoroughly impressed by the Fiesta on the road. That much fun for so little money is always good in my book.

Where did you find a Fiesta ST to drive ?

Curious about this as well. I have a friend with one on order. His VIN is supposed to be assigned today. I can't wait to drive it.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to ProDarwin: I believe the OP already called out the Miata as a hard to service crawl underneath it all the time car.

If a Miata is hard to service (a clutch is a PITA on any car, to me at least, I hate that job), then OP should just stick to Camry's and dealer service.

The only problem I had working on my Miata was because the driveline/rear suspension parts were accessed from below, absolutely every bolt was rusted solid every time and it took a breaker bar and careful positioning of my body to do anything.

I guess the consensus is "get a Miata that hasn't lived in New England for 15 years".

As I said before, the only car where you rarely if ever need it high off the ground to work on anything is a old beetle. I'm pretty sure you can pull the front beam without going under if you pull the gas tank first, the only thing underneath to play with really are the control arms bolts if IRS and the front trans mount.

The only thing I can do from the top side of my Mazda2 is change the air filter. That's a slight exaggeration, but all cars these days are assembled from the bottom and a very large number of things require taking a LOT of parts off the bottom of the car. Unless you're willing to step back in time 30 or 40 years, this is going to be the general rule. I can't think of a car that I've owned in the last 15 years that hasn't required a subframe removal to change the steering rack. Often on modern FWD cars you need to pull the subframe, or at least loosen it, to remove such things as the front sway bar and the exhaust manifold. I love small FWD cars, but not because they're easy to work on.

Yeah, I think keeping the 'Vette and just farming out the gearbox rebuild / clutch job is the best plan. They lasted 165,000 miles, so the next time they should need work is at 330kmi. Every other repair I've done on this car is easy.

Integra Type-R. Hope you have good insurance and a garage.