924Board.org

[SSen100]

Can someone explain the following, please. From the thread I started about how to drive a 924 in snow, someone suggested the use of extra weight in the back. That got me wondering:

* 924 is known for good handling. One reason is because it has 50-50 weight distribution. If you had more weight over the front wheels, it wouldn't want to go round corners (i.e. understeer). If you had more weight over the rear wheels, it might spin round (e.g. 911). So 50-50 must be best. Right?

* The more weight you have over the driven wheels the better for traction. Right? So which is better: a typical FWD car with 60-40 weight distribution OR something like a 911 with 40-60 weight distribution?

* So, if a 924/944 has great weight distribution (50-50) does it follow therefore that it has less traction than might be preferable because it has less weight over the driven wheels?

* When it rains, I can drive my 180 bhp FWD car pretty confidently through roundabouts. In the same conditions, the 150 bhp 924S is a tad twitchy and the back end wants come out. (BMW owners are often quite nervous in the wet, too). So (my driving skills aside) why should a sporty hatch be more driveable than a proper sports car?

* All this ignores 4WD of course!

[CMXXXI]

I think you'll find that to a large degree it is a matter of design compromise, and manufactures alter other suspension & steering components to accomodate the advantages and shortfalls of being either front- or tail-heavy. I suppose which set-up is "best" is an age-old question that probably doesn't have a "correct" answer. (...just my $0.02)

The comment to your original thread suggested adding weight for additional traction (implied driving on snow & ice). I suspect that you are aware that by doing this, the handling characteristics of the car will change.
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'79 Eurospec 931

[924guy]

its a harder question than it first might seem..and you really need to take each of the varying design types into consideration while thinking about it..

the best (non AWD) car ive had in the snow was my olds firenza, which was front engined, front wheel drive, all the wieght was over the drive wheel, which was also the steering mechanism..so front heavy was great for that car, i could go places in deep snow no one else could..
on the other hand, my hot rod maverick was horrible in the snow until i put allot of weight in the trunk. it was front engined, rear wheel drive, and nose heavy. but rear end would constantly try and swing out in snow, not enough wieght on the drive wheel.. pick up trucks are notorius for this as well..

the porsche has such a good weight ratio, that you end up with enough weight in the front to hold the steering firm, and enough in the back to keep the drive wheel in good contact, so it does pretty well in snow, and for the same reason, much, much better in the dry than most other cars..

ofcourse my old audi 4000s Quattro was the ultimate snowmobile, good weigh distribution and full time four wheel drive, never could get it stuck, no matter how hard i tried..
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Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
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