Can you ever go back from RWD?
- Thread starter nucastle
- Start date
And it is precisely why we shouldn't go around making sweeping statements about FWD and RWD cars. Like I said, it is all done to the individual car
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I don't really think they are. In standard form they aren't even fast? They just seem to be a drifters wet dream
Since when did a car need to be fast to be good
The AE86 is all about the chassis.
It's one of the last simple, well-balanced, neat handling RWD coupes produced.
And it is precisely why we shouldn't go around making sweeping statements about FWD and RWD cars. Like I said, it is all done to the individual car
Exactly, wasn't having a snipe at you btw
There some very sweeping statements in this thread, but then again who is the person to decide that said opinion/comparison between cars is actually a fair and reasonable one
Right I'm off for some immense FWD fun on the M1 and M25, wooot!
Soldato
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- 19 Oct 2008
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I have no problem with FWD commuter cars (ie, low power output). For sheer dynamic ability though, nothing beats RWD. It just isn't right putting power through the front wheels while those wheels also do the steering.
Not sure what the benefits are for FWD other than cheaper to build and lighter, and possibly cheaper to service?. RWD cars with electronic control systems are today quite safe even for those who can't drive
FWD cars are getting better all the time (as are RWD of course). Was told a few years ago by a track driver (a pro and a racing instructor) that FWD is good for up to 240bhp but no more than that otherwise it's just no fun. Today however FWD cars might still be okay with a bit more than 240bhp, say 260 or so. Interesting the same guy also said despite what the motoring press say, an Elise (older style at least) is not a good handling car but it gets away with it because it's so light.If a BMW M3 handled like an Elise, it would be a dog - woof
Not sure what the benefits are for FWD other than cheaper to build and lighter, and possibly cheaper to service?. RWD cars with electronic control systems are today quite safe even for those who can't drive
FWD cars are getting better all the time (as are RWD of course). Was told a few years ago by a track driver (a pro and a racing instructor) that FWD is good for up to 240bhp but no more than that otherwise it's just no fun. Today however FWD cars might still be okay with a bit more than 240bhp, say 260 or so. Interesting the same guy also said despite what the motoring press say, an Elise (older style at least) is not a good handling car but it gets away with it because it's so light.If a BMW M3 handled like an Elise, it would be a dog - woof
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Does not make sense.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Which bit of it doesnt make sense?
[TW]Fox;18508543 said:
Putting the powerdown round a corner bit? There are some fantastic FWD chassis. Not talking about turbo powered FWD 240BHP cars such as the VXR with enormous understeer issues.
Take the Clio Trophy or the R26 R, now ask me the same question again please?
Some others,
Power isnt everything. But yes put a lot through the front wheels and you will get problems unlike RWD putting the power down round a corner.
And with a powerful RWD, you could be going round the corner with a tail slide - problematic for some, happy times for others!
Sideways is usually slower
Depends if you've become sideways by entering the corner way too fast I guess....
Anyway,fighting torque steer can slow you down too!
It doesn't depend on that at all, sideways will nearly always be slower than keeping within the limits of the car - obviously there is a little bit of crossover here but then a little step out is hardly worth calling sideways.
Unless you have a 400BHP FWD car with absolutely no measures to reduce torque steer, it really isn't going to have an effect on your driving or the speed.
Unless you have a 400BHP FWD car with absolutely no measures to reduce torque steer, it really isn't going to have an effect on your driving or the speed.
Ok, perhaps I should have used the term "step out" , I often get this, a slight "step out" - especially with T/C off - but sideways, no. Fair enough.
Anyway, this sideways stuff works wonders on Dirt2.....
Understeer is boring though
Where do you draw the line at 'Too much power'? I very clearly remember my old 170bhp 205 GTI was a bit of a pig when it came to powering out of a corner. Unless the wheels were dead straight it'd light up the inside wheel if you even glanced at the throttle the wrong way. It felt like it desperately needed a slip diff.
No such problems in a RWD car I took around the same track a year later, despite it took having an open diff (and twice the weight, and nearly standard suspension).
Understeer is a characteristic of how the car is set up, not specifically FWD.
I drove my mates EP3 CTR this week in the wet and i've got to say, thats another car that badly needs an LSD. It had Yokohama rubber on it so it wasn't cheap tyres. My old Civic is nothing like that, loads of grip dry/wet/even snow and running on Hankook Ventus mid range ish tyres.
Mind you lets face it, ask most drivers what wheel drive their car is and they will just look at you funny, they'd have no clue, what does that mean? To most people it just doesn't matter.