why were front wheel drives put into production?

  • Thread starter Robin2
  • 72 comments
  • 1,562 views
FWD Cars are not as exciting to drive as RWD cars IMO. But they still kick arse big time also.

The majority of BTCC racecars are FWD, remember that.
BTCC-Donington%20Park,%20Matt%20Neal,001.jpg
 
Shoot, I got all revved up to say something after reading the first page, then comes the second page.... I even had a witty comment about which driver should use which layout, but someone even took that. I used to complain about too much free time, now it looks like I could have used an extra hour or so. :D

[edit]
Wait, I do have something. :)

RWD is inherently safer, in that it is far more adjustable, but it requires skill to take advantage of that adjustability (of which is explained by others above). FWD is for the average lunkhead who only knows "Gas Go, Brake Stop". For that type of driving-illiterate person, FWD performs much more predictably. Still, a qualified driver in a RWD car can drive safer (in all weather and conditions) than in a FWD car, assuming same engine, lack of LSD, etc..

Alright, it's not much, but someone had to sum up.
 
Originally posted by Y2TUSCAN
FWD Cars are not as exciting to drive as RWD cars IMO. But they still kick arse big time also.

The majority of BTCC racecars are FWD, remember that.
BTCC-Donington%20Park,%20Matt%20Neal,001.jpg
Click to expand...

That's my mate Matt!
 
it may be cheaper to manufacture a FF car but when the CV joints die in the arse, you have to fork out over 1200 bucks.

if i bought a brand new commodore and a brand new vectra and i supn the wheels at every chance i got, i know which would last longer. nothing is more reliable that a rear wheel drive.
 
Originally posted by   
it may be cheaper to manufacture a FF car but when the CV joints die in the arse, you have to fork out over 1200 bucks.

if i bought a brand new commodore and a brand new vectra and i supn the wheels at every chance i got, i know which would last longer. nothing is more reliable that a rear wheel drive.
Click to expand...

Yeah - but Holden don't care that you have to pay $1200 for CV joints. In fact, they get a sale of parts out of it, at that lovely mark-up they charge on them.
 
oh im aware of that but i was just saying that front wheel drives cant take the punishment that a rear wheel can.

from a car manufacturers perspective, they are great. the more FF's they sell, the more money they make from people who have to get new CV joints.
 
Bah, Talentless and Vat beat me to it. :D

To add to what neon_duke said: FWD doesn't necessarily mean poor performance. The ITR is widely known to destroy far more expensive vehicles on a road course. It may not handle quite as well as a good RWD but it's damned close. Hell, even a CRX handles phenomenally. It just requires good tuning (an LSD doesn't hurt either).

But yeah, the major concern of many hopped-up FWD cars is snapped axles. But even a RWD car with and independent rear suspension will have trouble with wheel hop and such. So it's more a limitation of CV axles than anything else.
 
If Jane-Blow (Joe's sister), begins to lose control of her Honda Accord in a gravel covered corner....all she needs to do is keep on the gas and steer in the direction she wants/needs the car to go...and the front tires will pull the car through.

If Janet Blow (Joe's Aunt) is in her RX-7 and looses control of the back end in a rain-slicked corner, she has to counter-steer, feather the throttle, and remember to NOT TOUCH THE PHUCKING BRAKE!!!! to get through the corner without wrapping the shiney Mazda around a telephone pole.

When RWD cars loose control, un-educated people will stomp on the brakes.....LOCKING the back brakes and turning a once correctable situation into a out-of-control one.

FWD cars eliminate most of that problem.
 
Originally posted by   


im sticking to rear wheel drives. less cost and messing around to fix...and they are reliable.
Click to expand...

I've never owned a rear-wheel drive car. It'd be my preference to own AWD, then RWD, but they don't make any cars I'd consider in rear-drive format. They hardly make any cars in rear-drive anymore.
 
Originally posted by   
only good ones mate ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, in Australia, but up here, the majority of Cadillacs are front-drive. :rolleyes: Only sports cars and really, really big sedans are rear-drive anymore.
 
I will say this: even a Volvo 240 rotates with an ease that most frontdrivers can't match.

Then there's the RX-7 and its absolutely effortless rotation... :drool:
 
I have managed to spin out both Front and rear drive platforms.
It was much harder to spin the FF car.
I lost it (the FF) because I panicked and let off the gas, causing the car to swap ends. (flying off the clover-leaf in the process).
I've put RWD cars into spins intentionally, with ease and recovered the spin with ease.
But in the dead of winter with 2 inches of snow covering an inch of ice. I will take the Front-Driver every time. Not only are they easier to control in the slipperiness. The weight of the engine sitting over the drive wheels is a big bonus for traction . Here in Kansas, where yucky ice covered roads are the norm in the winter, I would rather be in the 'Scort, than a high-power, Camaro, Mustang or Vette.
In dry, non-threatining situations. I would prefer a Monster RWD. But since, 99.4% of my daily driving is getting to work and the kids to Soccer, I'll keep my 'Scort. (Ford Escort GT, for the confused).
Besides, there is the age-old question. (in regards to normal, not hi-performance driving) Would you have the horse to pull the wagon or push it?
 
Originally posted by Y2TUSCAN


Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Your mates with Matt Neal!
Thats Helluvacool!, how did you become mates??
Click to expand...

He's a friend of the family. My father used to race with his father, and they've kept in touch. I've known Matt since about '91.
 
Originally posted by Gil
IBesides, there is the age-old question. (in regards to normal, not hi-performance driving) Would you have the horse to pull the wagon or push it?
Click to expand...

Err. Yes, but then would you rather divide the steering/braking/driving load between 2 or 4 of the wheels?

A lot of this is preference and skill level. While I would choose a RWD car over a FWD car (all other things being equal), I would not recommend one for my wife. This is because of the issues we've already discussed, namely that you need to have a modicum of skill to pilot RWD in a low-traction environment.

If you have the requisite skill level, then you will probably find an RWD car more rewarding to drive, simply because they tend to be better balanced and have better feel and feedback. They're also considerably more adjustable through a corner, and this adjustment provides a huge level of enjoyment for a skilled driver.

However, as we've already discussed, if you want a shopping cart, you want it to be driving the front wheels.

Obviously, this argument is rendered moot by any decent 4WD setup, which I would choose over either FR or FF any time!
 
Originally posted by   
has he given you a thrash at his beast?
Click to expand...

That sounds so dodgy!!

:lol:

No, regrettably not. I have been a guest of his or Team Dynamics on a number of occasions though, and whenever I go to a BTCC race I make a point of going and saying hi to him. It's very cool to get recognised by a driver when there's loads of fans around! I usually see him in the BRDC suite at the Grand Prix as well.
 
Originally posted by GilesGuthrie


That sounds so dodgy!!

:lol:

No, regrettably not. I have been a guest of his or Team Dynamics on a number of occasions though, and whenever I go to a BTCC race I make a point of going and saying hi to him. It's very cool to get recognised by a driver when there's loads of fans around! I usually see him in the BRDC suite at the Grand Prix as well.
Click to expand...
ahhh what a bummer.
 
Originally posted by   
it may be cheaper to manufacture a FF car but when the CV joints die in the arse, you have to fork out over 1200 bucks.

if i bought a brand new commodore and a brand new vectra and i supn the wheels at every chance i got, i know which would last longer. nothing is more reliable that a rear wheel drive.
Click to expand...

Yes but have you snapped an axle yet??
 
Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
Obviously, this argument is rendered moot by any decent 4WD setup, which I would choose over either FR or FF any time!
Click to expand...


Well, I've certainly seen that with the Subaru - my partner has an endearing habit of entering corners under power, having a bit of a hack with the wheel, and then coming off mid-corner if she's not sure of her speed (no vintage 911 for her!).

This used to unsettle the Vectra (until she invariably got on the power again) but the AWD seems not to notice - it's been a bit of a relief in wet conditions.
 

Similar threads

G
Help - T818 Wheel Base and T3PA Pedals Not working
Replies
1
Views
3K
WildRun
W
C
Anyone know Why have Collective Minds dropped support for DD1?
2
Replies
46
Views
17K
Rinki
Rinki
Famine
GTPlanet Quick Drives: Audi A8 L PHEV
Replies
4
Views
3K
Famine
Famine
scottinwales
Porsche electric cars losing power when using a steering wheel (Logitech pro) anyone else - Solved, it's the transducer/basskicker causing it.
2 3
Replies
61
Views
5K
scottinwales
scottinwales
Famine
GTPlanet Quick Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Replies
5
Views
4K
Eunos_Cosmo
Eunos_Cosmo

Latest Posts

Back