Yes, I understanding that handling is different from grip.
I also understand that you can make better use of the grip available if the handling is good, e.g. better control over shifting the weight around the car using the throttle and steering to gain better traction out of a corner, also e.g. better control over rippleson the edge of country roads around bends in Norfolk. If you have a good handling car coupled with high grip, like to Mondeo, you can achieve a good lap time on track too!
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Anyhow, going back to the original questions, does the UK Celica have LSD and does it handles as well as (or better than) the Mondeo? Many thanks, Gazza
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Great minds think alike JBJ! I also thought of the FWD Lotus Elan as soon as I read "Best handling FWD".
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I'm glad it's not just me! IIRC, the 'new' Elan missed the spot because its intended clientele were much keener on RWD. I never drove one, but I gather that it was exceptionally good, if the driver could overcome his prejudices. It also had some useful luggage space, the lack of which is something that an Elise-owning colleague was bemoaning to me only last night.
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I have read the Autocar reports about best handling cars over the years. Do not think UK spec. Toyota Celicia has ever featured.
Recent FWD handling champion has been the Clio 182 Cup/Trophy.
Ford RS does not count as it no longer made.
I owned a 1991 Corrado G60 , which was rated the best FWD handler at the time.
Was indeed superb very controllable with neutral handling IIRC.
John Miles put a lot of development into the Elan and produced something amazing, albeit the geometry forced the wide front track.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Indeed there is a difference between grip and handling.
Agree the '90 Elan was very good, likewise the Corrado, the 90's Clio Williams, 80's 205 GTi and RS1600i, 60's Mini etc etc however the game has moved on and many contemporary family cars such as the Mondeo mentioned in the first post have very high levels of grip along with superb body control, communicative steering with excellent feedback and enjoyable though forgiving handling.
The Celica has a good reputation in this regard though the best handling FWD cars in it's class of the last few years are the Focus RS and ST170, Mini Cooper and Clio 182.
The ST170 is a bit of an unsung hero, left in the shadow of the RS, not quite as quick as a Civic Type R, in fact only slightly quicker than a 2.0ltr Ghia though sublime in respect of driver involvement.
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Has anyone driven a Primera GT 97-2000. The road holding in my IMO is very good although probably not the best FWD ever.
For the money however I doubt you could get a better handling 5 door hatch than the Primera GT.
I like Celica's very much. Your probably not going to ever use a car to it's full potential ( me thinks ) and if you did , you might find lot's of front end bits need constant replacing in FWD.
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I have not driven the 90's Elan but every one said it feels like a RWD.
A68 is the road I used to try the handling of the cars I have owned. Whenever I drive up to Edinburgh I use A68 rather than A1 all the way. On A68 there are ripples on the edge of the road and I guess is caused but the roots of the big trees by the road have grown under the tarmac. The 98 Clio I had has suspension which cannot cope with the bumps fast enough so the car never settled before being hit by the next ripple. As a result, it lose its steering response and feedback and I lose confidence. The 80's Sierras were ok, the QX was better but the best was the 94 Mondeo.
To be honest, I never feel the Clio/Polo type supermini can deal with big bumps or high frequency ripples (in bends especially) as well as Mondeo-sized car.
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2000 Toyota Celica GT-S, Lateral Acceleration 0.89g.
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Best FWD car - Honda Integra Type-R
Andy
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Agreed, the Honda ITR was very good, though it also has a front LSD, as does the Accord T-R.
This gets me thinking, does a FWD have to have front LSD (Honda Type-Rs, Focus RS, Toyota Celica TRD, etc.) to have good front end grip?
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Which is the GT-S? Supercharged? Is it a ZZT230/231 or something totally different?
0.89g is very good though, especially the body control is great on the Celica so you can actually make good use of the front and/or rear end grip.
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US designation, the GT-S is the 190BHP version, GT being 140 BHP.
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