Kia Rondo Replacements

[kevm14]

I specifically do not want AWD. There are no positives to owning an AWD car in a place where it snows once a year.

You forgot the performance application. Also known as "turn FWD crap into something decent by adding another driven axle with more weight and complexity."

[bill25]

There is an advantage, but it doesn't apply to you guys. I would say there are 2 advantages to AWD:

1. Better in snow (I totally get that that doesn't matter for you and the negatives outweigh the positives)
2. Better traction off the line (Again, I know you guys don't care about this)

#2 is a real thing. Unless you are buying an exotic rear engine car (which are also going to AWD...) RWD and FWD are getting to power levels where AWD is going to be needed to allow for use of more HP.

[kevm14]

None of the cars on Bob's list have severe traction issues, even the V2. Now if we are talking C7 Z06 or Hellcat, yes, those require careful launches to extract all available power. On the other hand, they are still very fast even without a hard launch.

[Bob]

Regarding hard launches, if I owned an AWD car, I would be afraid to launch it in a manner that extracted the full performance benefit due to the risk of breaking something. It is nice to be able to floor it on wet pavement and not worry about traction, but I think the disadvantages of AWD far outweigh the advantages (at least for me, as someone who doesn't live in a snowy climate or drag race).

Disadvantages:

- Increased cost and complexity
- Numbing of steering feel
- Slower rolling acceleration

[kevm14]

And fuel economy.

[Bob]

G8 GXP: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5957001411.html 115k miles and still $20k.

[kevm14]

Should be like $15k. The mileage doesn't bother me at least.

[Bob]

I'm in luck. This just showed up at my local CarMax. https://www.carmax.com/car/13926808

[kevm14]

It probably goes without saying that you need to go drive one. The fact that one showed up by the way probably means there is some demand for them in your area, given what happened to the last one.

[Bob]

I would imagine the Southeast is probably one of the better selling regions for the SS for a few reasons:

- No snow
- People like NASCAR
- People still buy domestic cars here
- People here still like V8s