Powerslide question

Yes they are, it's not done "by chance" because the engine is at the front or because it's FWD. It's designed like that, for safety.

Any car, FWD, mid engine or RWD can be designed to understeer or oversteer. I can't imagine it would effect costs either way.

However usually manafacturers will aim for close to neutral - with a tendancy for understeer.
 
Oh and just to back up my claim before I go sleep:

"It is common practice among automobile manufacturers to configure production cars deliberately to have a slight linear range understeer by default. If a car understeers slightly, it tends to be more stable (within the realms of a driver of average ability) if a violent change of direction occurs, improving safety."
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understeer
 
Pants said:
Yes they are, it's not done "by chance" because the engine is at the front or because it's FWD. It's designed like that, for safety.

Any car, FWD, mid engine or RWD can be designed to understeer or oversteer. I can't imagine it would effect costs either way.

However usually manafacturers will aim for close to neutral - with a tendancy for understeer.
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You're not reading what I'm writing.

Most cars are front engined and FWD, this is due to production cost and not just so they under steer. Having the driven wheels closers to the engine reduces costs. I'm not disagreeing that manufactures would aim to have the car as neutral as possible and I agree that they tend to favour slight under steer.

This doesn't change the fact that its cheaper to produce FWD cars, and generically FWD cars are more likely to under steer because the driven wheel are at the front of the car.
 
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Orange Peel said:
So most cars are front engined and FWD just so they under steer and not because its much cheaper and cost effective to have the driven wheels closers to the engine, therefore avoiding the needs for a transfer box and prop shaft.
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What? I never claimed this?

Please read my post again. I'm saying that understeer is not nessisarily a result of front engine / FWD. I'm claiming that nearly all cars are designed like is on purpose via suspension geometry.

The Wiki I posted above backs this up. I could try to find more but i'm going sleep now!
 
Pants said:
What? I never claimed this?

Please read my post again. I'm saying that understeer is not nessisarily a result of front engine / FWD. I'm claiming that nearly all cars are designed like is on purpose via suspension geometry.

The Wiki I posted above backs this up. I could try to find more but i'm going sleep now!
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We're both misunderstanding each other then :) I've edit my post to reflect what I'm trying to get across :)

I totally agree with what you're saying about creating a bias towards under steer. I was commenting on your reply to me saying that FWD/ Front engined cars were not invented to under steer, they were invented as its the cheapest production cost.

You said "Yes they are, it's not done "by chance" because the engine is at the front or because it's FWD. It's designed like that, for safety." This is where the misunderstand occurred. See what I'm saying :)


Sometimes a 2 minute conversation would save a days worth of forum posts :)
 
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You could also argue none of this is power sliding as the rear wheels aren't providing power (the front are). But that's up to you and your own definition of powersliding/drifting.

Once it is past a certain angle and you keep it there using the throttle and steering input it to keep the back from regetting grip properly I would say it was power sliding.

Edit: Long vid but you can get the idea:
 
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