FWD VS RWD

Your comparing chalk & cheese imo, the Civic is less powerful but a fair bit lighter, I still say the M4 has the edge in most respects it's much quicker in a straight line for example, the Civic has a higher top speed but the BMW has a speed limiter -
I don't think a lap time is indicative of ine cars ability over another.


Put it this way, given a straight choice between the two,regardless of costs etc, which would you opt for?
 
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Exactly! The m4 should be much quicker in the straights due to its power. But shouldn't it also be quicker around corners due to being rwd? Whats happening? I never realised fwd hatches were now as fast as m power cars!!!
 
Few other factors, lap conditions, driver ability etc, under identical conditions with the same driver I wouldn't expect the Civic to better the M4, could do with some more back to back comparisons.

On paper at least I can't see how it - the Civic - is quicker overall.
 
The M4 is only 15bhp/tonne more than the Civic so there could be any number of things that could cause such a close time between two very closely matched cars anyway.
 
The way I always put it is thus: If FWD was better than RWD, racing cars would be FWD.
FWD will always be a compromise as your power and steering are going through the same two wheels.
And as Scania says, the CTR is a fair bit lighter than the M4 (1378kg vs 1653kg) so although the M4 beats in on all out power to weight ratio, the CTR is likely faster to change direction and may be able to maintain higher corner speeds.
 
Autoexpress did a test around another circuit with the Audi RS3, M3 and the CTR. Guess which was quickest :p.

 
Because modern bmws weigh too much. Like most modern cars they need a diet?

But also 0.x seconds difference is negligible.

On a game like grab turismo where you have the same car and hot lap, eventually you can get into a groove and lap within say 0.1 of the previous lap or less. But in that video it seemed more like he ju,led in, did a lap and posted the time... If he spent 3 hours doing it then I am sure he would have more accurate times.
 
M3 has always been top of my car aspirations untill the heavyweight v8 came and now maybe 5 years down the line one of these new type r's could be top of my list.
 
So to clear things up a little. Why is the civic able to hold a higher corner speed when it is having to to use the front wheels to steer and put power down at the same time?
As on paper the m4 should be faster regardless of front/rear wheel drive. Is it just because the civic is lighter that it is faster in the corners?
 
The benefits of RWD over FWD are greatly exaggerated.

Also, the civic is a fair bit lighter and the M4 struggles to put all that power down through its rear tyres.

So many bang on about how RWD is so much "better" but in reality, for road use especially, FWD and AWD are no worse. I know I'd much rather have a daily driver with FWD/AWD stability rather than something RWD that is a pain to drive in anything but perfect conditions.

There is simply no room to enjoy the the tail happy sensation of a RWD car on the majority of UK roads. Anyone doing so just ends up looking like a plank.
 
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