FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 11

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

Its Advantages and Disadvantages.

Studying the specifications of modern cars one finds little justification for the cry that went out from manufacturing circles a few years ago that front wheel drive was likely to be adopted for the popular form of transmission. True, since then, a number of cars have adopted it -with satisfactory results, but little popularity has been achieved. “ Magneto ” has had personal experience of front-wheel drive, and while it has certain big I advantages, they are not sufficient to warrant an expensive change-over on the part of manufacturers. A controversy has been raging in one of the English motoring journals on the respective merits of the two i forms and so far rear-transmission seems to be winning the fight. Under certain conditions the front-wheel drive will outperform the older type, and under a set of entirely different conditions the position is reversed. There , is one thing that designers of frontwheel drive cars have never been able to overcome, and that is wheel-slip on loose surfaced hills. The balance of weight with a rear-driven car, when travelling on a hill, is moved lo the rear axle, and consequently the tyres are assisted in their traction. It is not hard to see what happens in the case, of a front-wheel drive car. On the other hand. I believe it is possible to transmit more efficacy to the wheels under normal conditions, and I do think that there is something in the theoretical contention that it is more correct to pull than to push. Stability, with a front-wheel-driven car compared with a rear-driven car of even type, seems to be in favour of the former. Cornering, despite the driving of the steerng wheels, does not seem to be ■ hampered, although the corners must be tackled in a slightly different way. The champions of front-wheel driVe are perfectly entitled to claim that the most successful American racing car the Miller —is sufficient proof of the efficiency of front-driven cars. Candidly, the front-wheel drive is good, but it cannot be claimed that it is superior to rear-wheel. HELPFUL SILENCING. Almost any owner of one of the older cars will be surprised how much of his antipathy for his automobile is due to the noises it makes. Having body bolts, spring shackles and engine bolts adjusted often makes enough difference in j the silence of the car that the owner ! becomes fond of it again. lie posii tively likes it if Vie adds a cleaning and ‘ polishing job.