Your choice of car and why

Simon · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:07

merlin said:
Scuzi, you can't seriously be suggesting power oversteer is only possible with RWD?

Have you ever watched the BTCC?

or THE video where a bike gets overtaken

Scuzi · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:08

Simon said:
Yep on the track you steered it with the throttle.

There is FAR more to handling than RWD = Oversteer and FWD = Understeer.

I understand that there's more to it that under/oversteer hence why I really can't understand how a FWD can drive like a RWD. From the cars I have driven the two have had mutually exclusive characteristics.

I suppose I need to drive a Rover or a DC5 now to find out

Jonnycoupe · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:10

Scuzi said:
It drove like a RWD? So you are in a corner, you apply lots of power and the back end breaks free into a slide? Yeah, okay.

I thought you said RWD was faster?

So by that logic whilst the RWD steps into a drift the FWD bites into the tarmac (the better ones in this thread) and goes off to the next corner. FWD faster therefore its driving like a RWD

Wicksta · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:10

merlin said:
Scuzi, you can't seriously be suggesting power oversteer is only possible with RWD?

Have you ever watched the BTCC?

It's not the same as oversteer in a rear wheel drive though. You do know that there are RWD cars in BTCC as well?

Personally I find RWD cars a lot more rewarding, although I've only ever raced FWD cars, I've had a lot of RWD cars on the track and I get on better with the power being delivered through the rear wheels.

Simon · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:12

Scuzi said:
I suppose I need to drive a Rover or a DC5 now to find out

Any high power car with a TorSen/LSD and a decent suspension setup should do it (Mine was very modified -but had the inherent Honda rear layout).

We are a bit off topic now, but get the BMW on the track especially a wet one

merlin · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:12

Wicksta said:
You do know that there are RWD cars in BTCC as .

Yes.

Jonnycoupe · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:13

Oversteer and drifting are a bit different things really. Oversteer is more what happens when you take the compliance out of stuff and the grip from the rear of the car gives before the front. Doesnt really matter on drive wheels.

Drifting is wheelspin where the traction issues kills lateral grip and results in a slide, its the RWD version of FWD understeer and both are pretty lame ways to drive a car fast.

Wicksta · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:14

merlin said:
Yes.

FWD cars tend to suffer from lift off oversteer rather than power oversteer. Sure you can still control it with the throttle but it's a totally different experience.

Jonnycoupe · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:15

Wicksta said:
FWD cars tend to suffer from lift off oversteer rather than power oversteer.

They 'tend' to be designed for going to the shops in though. Some however are not.

merlin · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:15

Wicksta said:
FWD cars tend to suffer from lift off oversteer rather than power oversteer. Sure you can still control it with the throttle but it's a totally different experience.

I don't need the lesson thanks, ironically I think you're the one not understanding what is being said here.

Wicksta · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:16

Jonnycoupe said:
They 'tend' to be designed for going to the shops in though. Some however are not.

Well I guess my three years of racing a fully race prepared FWD car at places like Spa Francorchamps, Silverstone etc. mean nothing then.

Carry on, you guys obviously know best.

merlin · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:22

Jonnycoupe said:
Oversteer is..............and the grip from the rear of the car gives before the front.

Wicksta said:
Carry on, you guys obviously know best.

Which bit of the point summarised above are you disagreeing with?

Dup · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:29

A fully race prepared car can be tuned to reduce or eliminate the effects of a front heavy car to add balance and grip so it's not really a relevant comment.

Back end on the EP3 has come round on me a few times without lifting off or braking hard into a corner. It's lighter at the back and can lose grip more eaisly than the front, it's just not always as progressive the shorter the wheelbase the car has.

Jonnycoupe · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:39

Wicksta said:
Well I guess my three years of racing a fully race prepared FWD car at places like Spa Francorchamps, Silverstone etc. mean nothing then.

Carry on, you guys obviously know best.

I was just saying most FWD cars are shopping vans so you cants use the 'tend' to line on the performance variants. the word tend is such a caveat that you may aswell stay sat on the fence.

I cant say Im really disagreeing too much with what your saying and Im struggling to understand which bit your saying you disagree with. Race cars with minimal body roll and bush compliance with short gears so you get plenty of engine braking is probably gonna be keen to lift-off oversteer. I just dunno why anyone would be having deciding factor for a road car down to if the rear steps out when you boot it.

Loving the experience line. Next we'll have pilots telling how their wings work.