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[Scatmancraig]

Some interest comments above, thank you!

I quite like the Signum styling, especially the V6 diesel with twin exhaust.  Never driven one though.

To be honest, I just want a big diesel auto than does more to the gallon than the Omega does.  My old Beemer 530d used to get approx 30mpg around town, the Omega struggles to do much more than 20!  My budget is around £1200, seems to be a fair bit to choose from for that amount.

[anV6]

My car is also properly quick(ish)

To be honest, the FWD negates any advantages the Signum may have over the Omega there. At least in my opinion.

[Scatmancraig]

That fact that the Signum is FWD is probably the only thing that puts me off.  I could also look at having another 530d, or equivelant Mercedes, but I'll probably end up with an older car.  For one in my life I want to try and get something that is relatively (for me) modern.  I think the oldest Signum's are on a 53 plate aren't they?  It would certainly be a novelty in getting a car that has the 'new' registration layout (my previous newest cars have been W-plate).

[citroenguy]

Whats soo bad with fwd??

[Viral_Jim]

Whats soo bad with fwd??

This forum, like many other internet hangouts will tell you that FWD (or Wrong Wheel Drive (WWD)) is the worst thing to happen to the automotive world since the introduction of the speed limit.

Personally I don't have anything against WWD, prior to the Omega I ran a couple of Saab 9-5 aeros and found them to be excellent cars. I'm now running what is supposed to be one of the better handling every-day RWD cars on sale atm (BMW M140i). In all honesty, while I can definitely tell which wheels are the driven ones, I don't see any real advantage day-to-day.

I thought I'd get this in before the avalanche of posts talking about "corrupting the driving experience" "torque steer" turn up 

[Nick W]

Whats soo bad with fwd??

For everyday use? Nothing.

For the 14.5 minutes a year that you use 100% of the performance? It's unacceptable.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

 

From a technical / chassis engineer perspective (which I am not  ) a rather interesting 'case study' appeared 'tother week visually explaining the difference between FWD & RWD.

Sat in a sloped car park, with a gravel / 'loose surface' The Omega was parked pointing downhill. Upon attempting to reverse uphill Miss DBG put on a little too many revs and the back tyres let go momentarily.

In this instance the car was behaving as a FWD car would in forward travel.

In real terms, of course, we might as well make cars where only the left-hand front and rear wheel is driven, and most people wouldn't notice for most of the time. Nevertheless, the above is an (imperfect) example, you can see in the real world. 

[anV6]

Whats soo bad with fwd??

It's one of those things. If you have to ask, it means the answer FOR YOU would be nothing.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Good answer 

Also, small point - the chap who posed that question (citroenguy) is presumably is a guy who likes citroens... and they pretty much invented FWD (certainly they used it 20 years before the Mini which 'pioneered' it) Joking aside, they've made some of the most important cars in history, design-wise...

actually when was citroen's last rear-wheel drive car?? Every Citroen that comes to mind is FWD, Traction Avant, DS19, SM, 2CV, GS, XM) same opinion that someone coming from the BLMC Mini/Maxi/1100 etc stable would be used to fwd cars. 

[Viral_Jim]

Sat in a sloped car park, with a gravel / 'loose surface' The Omega was parked pointing downhill. Upon attempting to reverse uphill Miss DBG put on a little too many revs and the back tyres let go momentarily.

In this instance the car was behaving as a FWD car would in forward travel.

The only difference being that the FWD car has the weight of the engine and box over the driven wheels which would aid traction. Unless of course in your example you had you done something to upset Ms DBG and she'd locked you in the boot  . In which case the analogy is perfect! 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

You guessed. Listen, our personal problem are are own, ok?!?!? 

[TheBoy]

Whats soo bad with fwd??

To have anything with even modest power needs the suspension to be rock hard.  That's my biggest gripe.

Then when you do press on a bit, you quickly learn that a lot of power through the same wheels used for turning is an awful compromise.

[Shackeng]

Paddy Hopkirk made it work OK.

[BazaJT]

And Erik Carlsson-when he wasn't upside down that is

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

My Signum comes with 250 BHP and 260 lb ft of torque.

Unsurprisingly it can get a little wayward, especially in the wet.

I get around the problem by always driving with a large fat man strapped to the bonnet.