| Subject: Yes, technologically Advanced |
Author:
Frank S.
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Date Posted: 08:29:37 07/30/02 Tue
In reply to:
Beef
's message, "Technologically Advanced?" on 09:53:04 07/29/02 Mon
The Intrepid and Impala both have four wheel independent suspension and body structures designed for extremely high strength, for one thing. The Intrepid engine is a modern design, more so than any other police package on the market. I admit the Ford V-8 is a new OHC designe and is also fairly advanced, but it HAS been around a while. The engine in the Impala is the antique, really, a pushrod V-6, but adequately powerful and tough as nails.
Ford's body on frame design and solid rear axle suspension, as I noted, date back to the days of buckboards and stagecoaches. Granted, there have been improvements over the years, but even SUV's (and Ford SUV's at that) are moving toward independent suspension all around.
You're correct that the electronics are pretty much even, but the CVPI remains an "old" design that's been upgraded while the Intrepid and Impala are newer designs which were developed to take full advantage of new electronic and handling technology. I know Dodge is doing a lot of work with multiplexing the electrical system, but I'm not sure if Chevy or Ford are.
And yes, DaimlerChrysler is going to a RWD design for the Intrepid. I would never attempt to argue that FWD is an ideal design for optimum handling because it isn't. Any time you have a wheel doing more than one job, e.g. providing power and steering, that wheel won't function as well as one only doing one job, e.g. providing power. (I assume all wheels brake, so what I'm talking about are jobs in addition to braking.) FWD is great for saving space, and works extremely well in little cars for that reason. Given the fact that most big sedans are, in reality, designed to transport only four people and have consoles running down the middle anyhow, putting a driveshaft there isn't a big deal and won't really steal space. FWD, in my opinion, complicates things and makes the car nose-heavy (which isn't all bad.) DaimlerChrysler, which does have more than a little expertise in building cars that handle well, knows this and is probably going to RWD for that reason. The best handling sedans on the planet -- BMW, Mercedes -- are RWD.
Audi, of course, is a bit of a maverick, with FWD and AWD, but in most comaprison tests I've read, other manufacturers' RWD sedans top Audi's.
I stand by my position that both the Intrepid and Impala, on the whole, are far more technologically advanced than the CVPI. And if my experience with a base Intrepid is any example, durability isn't an issue with that car. It's as rock solid and dependable as every Mopar I've ever owned. I've owned a lot of Chrysler products, dating back to a '62 Chrysler Newport and including two retired Plymouth police cars, and all of them have held up well for more than 100,000 miles without any unusual problems.
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