Switching to RWD

NathanE · 17 Jul 2009 at 08:34

Only time I've had problems was in ice/snow... but actually it's quite fun.

Just don't lift off in corners when giving it some... worst thing you can do is be giving it some, then see a corner approaching, get scared, and lift off... as then the engine is dragging the rear wheels slightly from the decelleration. It's kind of like applying the handbrake (!) slightly (5-20% say) and expecting there to be no problem

aztechnology · 17 Jul 2009 at 09:19

InvaderGIR said:
Why? Do rwd cars just explode in the snow or something?

Drive according to the conditions and you'll be fine.

As others have said, snow is not your friend if you want to go anywhere, especially on hills (which are unavoidable where I live).

If the snow is anything like we had last year next winter, I'll be putting chains on.

Simon · 17 Jul 2009 at 09:36

paradigm said:
Theoretically. I've never come across a white line that is large enough to remove enough tyre surface area from the actual tarmac. Then again, I have large cross-section rears.

Do you have a Limited slip differential and no traction control though ? Im talking about in the wet when the water on the surface of paint makes it turn into ice, similar when you cut over one of those flat mini roundabouts in the rain. The mini roundabouts that are nothing more than a painted circle.

Some cars are more prone to it than others aswell of course.

InvaderGIR · 17 Jul 2009 at 09:45

aztechnology said:
As others have said, snow is not your friend if you want to go anywhere, especially on hills (which are unavoidable where I live).

If the snow is anything like we had last year next winter, I'll be putting chains on.

I know, I've said I fully understand it all further up the thread, my point was the way it was worded made it sound as if the world would end if you took a rwd car out in the snow is all.

paradigm · 17 Jul 2009 at 09:52

Simon said:
Do you have a Limited slip differential and no traction control though ?

My e36 had a (crap) LSD and no TC.

mjt · 17 Jul 2009 at 11:47

aztechnology said:
As others have said, snow is not your friend if you want to go anywhere, especially on hills (which are unavoidable where I live).

If the snow is anything like we had last year next winter, I'll be putting chains on.

this is why 4wd is win.
even my 'fake' fwd (ty, fox) is great in snow up hills. foot down, wheel straight, off you go. winter tyres helped, obviously, but even when i was driving around on fairly worn summer tyres, the slides were easily controlled and i could cruise on B roads almost as if there was no snow..

silversurfer · 17 Jul 2009 at 11:57

paradigm said:
Well, compared to a stock MX5 with its bicycle tyres

Whats the tyre size then, just out of interest and it does make a difference especially if you had any amount of torque

platypus · 17 Jul 2009 at 11:59

Don't mock me everyone, I've never driven a fast car and am effectively doubling the bhp (60 > 130) under my foot

.

I will certainly be taking it easy for a while!

InvaderGIR · 17 Jul 2009 at 12:04

platypus said:
Don't mock me everyone, I've never driven a fast car and am effectively doubling the bhp (60 > 130) under my foot .

I will certainly be taking it easy for a while!

I'm not mocking. I went from ~60bhp fwd to ~200bhp rwd. I was driving it fine and sensibly, then the back end stepped out on the way home due to wet road and crap tyres (was doing ~30-40mph round a corner...since done the corner at ~50mph fine with decent tyres), just corrected it and carried on my merry way...slower and much more cautious.

silversurfer · 17 Jul 2009 at 12:06

I can remember doing that and its pretty amazing, thought it was too much power till I realised disk brakes all round with abs was a lot better then drums also

Not many times you will be driving the double the bhp of your last car and you will get used to it so enjoy it (not too much) while the feeling lasts

Is it a mx5, they weigh less then 1 ton also?

platypus · 17 Jul 2009 at 12:25

Dunno its total weight, but they are bloody light.

Simon · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:07

paradigm said:
My e36 had a (crap) LSD and no TC.

Ah yeah, sorry the car needs enough power to spin the wheels too

mrk · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:09

Simon said:
Ah yeah, sorry the car needs enough power to spin the wheels too

Isn't that a minor issue though because you can easily spin the tyre just by lifting off the clutch at a higher rpm, say ~4k in the dry.

InvaderGIR · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:21

mrk said:
Isn't that a minor issue though because you can easily spin the tyre just by lifting off the clutch at a higher rpm, say ~4k in the dry.

?

I could/can only spin them in the 328 at ~6k

Scania · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:32

paradigm said:
My e36 had a (crap) LSD and no TC.

Lucky man! mine has neither as far as I'm aware - perhaps it has an LSD but it is equally crap!

Alex*TLR · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:36

You'll be fine, just be sensible!

Simon · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:38

mrk said:
Isn't that a minor issue though because you can easily spin the tyre just by lifting off the clutch at a higher rpm, say ~4k in the dry.

Try overtaking someone and hit a thick painted white line in the wet, when you are looking at the side of the drivers head into there car though your windscreen, you soon realise things aren't quite right.

LSDs will put the power to wheel with the most grip, not ideal when one is virtually on ice and the other is on a fairly grippy road surface. It tends to have an interesting yaw effect on the car!

mrk · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:41

Ah you're talking about when moving, I was on about from standstill.

merlin · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:42

RWD I've been caught by surprise twice and on both occasions it was a wet manhole cover.

InvaderGIR · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:48

mrk said:
Ah you're talking about when moving, I was on about from standstill.

I was too...how come my car will only spin up in the dry at ~6k and yours does it at ~4k?

Means I try to do elevenses and just hit the limiter as soon as I snap the clutch up.