Are you a FWD or RWD person?

by **Johnnie** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:53 pm

Reading through the U/S skid vs O/S skid thread got me thinking about a skid-pan session I attended a while ago at which the instructor mentioned that he thought drivers were either a FWD or RWD person, in that they naturally preferred either FWD or RWD vehicles.

To an extent, I concur, in that I much prefer RWD cars because the way they handle in slippery conditions makes more 'sense' to me, and my reaction to skids (playing in the snow for the fun of it) seems more instinctive than with FWD where there is a definite 'thinking time'.

What does everyone else think?

by **James** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:15 pm

Interesting... I have only ever owned FWD cars, and know that I am confident in handling them on the limit. I am happy driving them and love scandinavian flicks.

However, I am a RWD person. Couldn't tell you why though. Here's a thought mentally : because when the weight shifts to the back during acceleration I know there is more downforce on the back wheels so we engage into a never ending circle of happiness of acceleration/traction?

:lol:

lol:

by **Roadcraft** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:57 pm

FWD is the best type of 'every day' vehicle...in my personal opinion....

Rear wheel is great for fun and games on the track or circuit...but on the normal roads...? Nah..

As my current unmarked vehicles at work are Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evo9, i'm slowing converting to the 4 wheel drive market...(NOT the off road ones though)

by **Lady Godiva** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:16 pm

Dear Rubber Johnnie - I am now going to commit sacriledge, and admit something that will get me banned from every driving forum, and advanced discussion going. It is really embarrassing to admit, and I realise I am the only one thinking this. Certainly the only one to admit it. I cringe at the thought. Get ready....here goes....

I can't tell the difference.

I have always driven FWD, and had many, from Marina, to Mini, toTriumph, Daewoo, Escort, et al ad nauseum. Then I got my MGF. not the most powerful I admit, but with some ooopmh nevertheless. Everyone warned me about the RWD effect, and warned me to look out, and also pointed out the differences in handling I would experience.

Well, it's obviously just me. I tend to drive within, but up to the limit, and I prefer smooth acceleration. I never thrash the car (I save that for Him Indoors!!!) but I do push it at times. I can honestly say that I haven't noticed any difference.

Sorry. I really wish I could say I felt a difference. But I don't. In fact, people went on about the difference so much that i have always felt it was me, that there was something lacking.

Maybe there is!!!

Regards
Sally

by **vonhosen** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:30 pm

RWD
(unless you have really slippery surface & a steep incline

)

by **James** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:32 pm

You are obviously balancing the car well and not driving to the limits of tyre grip. I see this as good driving and an ability to control the car welll, despite driving different models and engine sizes. So concentrate on the positives. If driving these cars well and in the manner that advanced drivers are supposed to, you would not feel a difference, as the car will not be disorientated from the path of the road.

by **jont** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:05 pm

I've had a few "hot hatch" FWD cars, and I've now got a mid-engined RWD car (MR2). Through airfield days, autotests etc, I'd drive FWD quite a lot at the limit of traction, and was bored of power on understeer. As for what's natural - FWD is almost certainly safer and more predictable, but I quite like being able to accelerate through bends without suffering torque steer. I'm still wary of the '2 in the wet as it has a reputation for swapping ends, but I suspect that's earned from drivers used to FWD expecting the same behaviour (and from cars with a lot less power than the '2).

As for what I am naturally, it's difficult to say. I'll happily drive either kind taking that into account while I'm driving. Having said that, I will probably be wanting another RWD car when it comes to replacing the '2. It feels more natural to have 1 set of wheels to provide drive and another set for steering.

by **Lady Godiva** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:13 pm

James wrote:If driving these cars well and in the manner that advanced drivers are supposed to, you would not feel a difference, as the car will not be disorientated from the path of the road.

Dear James - thank you for that, I never thought of it that way.

I only drive on the road, and not track days etc, but I admit to being worried when I first got the car. Apart from the usual comments about
girls driving (which I cheerfully ignored) I started to get a little fearful going out the first few times. People went on about oversteer, watch the back end going around roundabouts in the wet, beware of fishtailing. Then I actually went out and thought "what is the fuss all about".

I admit to love hearing you boys go on about how fast you are, and your drifts, and lift off oversteer, etc, but it's not for me. Good grief, anything over 40mph and it messes my hair, and I'm not doing that for any man.

Regards
Sally

P.S. well, perhaps Mel Gibson.

by **ScoobyChris** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:52 pm

Roadcraft wrote:As my current unmarked vehicles at work are Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evo9, i'm slowing converting to the 4 wheel drive market...(NOT the off road ones though)

I can understand that, although from my point of view it's cos they flattered a mediocre driver and made me feel like a rally driver

I also liked my Discovery because it flattered my mediocre offroading abilities :lol:

Chris

by **James** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:53 pm

Whilst I enjoy discussing the finer points of driving, I for one hope I would never go on about "how fast I am".

by **Johnnie** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:11 am

Lady Godiva wrote:I can't tell the difference.

I can understand what you mean. I remember being surprised at the skidpan sessions how much the RWD drive car (Sierra) would understeer before the rear wheels started moving out. In fact, at slower speeds (which on a track with gallons of oil poured on it, were quite slow) there was basically no difference between how that and the FWD cars (Nissan Sunny and Rover 213) handled, unless one did something silly.

Why is FWD safer? I ask because at that skidpan day, I made such a balls of handling the Sunny in extremis. By comparison, I could tell what was happening to the Sierra, where the weight was going, and what I needed to do about it almost without thinking. It just made 'sense', the FWDs didn't.

Driving my better half's Volvo 340DL (RWD), I will concede that it is easy to get it to lose grip / wheelspin / slide on a wet roundabout etc at comparatively slow speeds well within the speed limit, which my FWD car (Cavalier 1.7TD) wouldn't, but I wouldn't say that made it inherently less safe.

by **Zenner** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:43 pm

Rear Wheels, essential for doughnuts and power slides, especially around wet roundabouts!!!!

by **TripleS** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:02 pm

Zenner wrote:Rear Wheels, essential for doughnuts and power slides, especially around wet roundabouts!!!!

My preference would be RWD because I used to enjoy a bit of rear wheel steering, but for that I have to go back ten years to the V12 Jaguar.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

by **stephenperry** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:03 pm

RWD is a must on anything mid-sized and upwards, much better balance and weight distribution, but not at all easy to find these days on "bread and butter" family saloons, more's the pity

I'm an RWD man myself for those reasons (plus the most obvious and non-pc reason of kicking the tail out occassionally just for fun)

by **stephenperry** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:06 pm

James wrote:Whilst I enjoy discussing the finer points of driving, I for one hope I would never go on about "how fast I am".

says the man who owns an astra vxr 2.0 turbo.... :wink:

Are you a FWD or RWD person?

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