why were front wheel drives put into production?

[Robin2]

no probs. i dont pay enough attention to my spelling etc.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by vat_man



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.

Note to self: if ever in car with the Vat & his partner, make sure the Vat drives!

Susan (my wife) rarely drives with me in the car. I'm an exceptionally bad passenger, and she doesn't really like driving very much, and can't understand the concepts behind it. So I do about 90% of the paired-driving in our household. I do just let her get on with it when we're on a motorway, like driving the 300 miles to my parents.

It was a very stressful period in our lives when I was banned!

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Cobraboy
FF = CV
FR = Diff

You could screw the cv's
or you snap a diff

I've actually done both of these. Let me tell you, the death of the CVs was a much more sedate affair. Let me describe both events:

CV death
In town, in traffic. Engage 1st, about 1,200rpm on the clock. Feed out clutch and add power. Some movement, then BANG-grindy-grindy-grindy. Get out of car, push to side of road, call breakdown service.

Diff death
60mph, country road. Not much power on. Small lift into fast corner, little power for balance. BANG-screech. Car snaps sideways, rear wheels are locked. See-sawing wheel to steer and counter-steer at the same time. Arrive at side of road shaken but undamaged.

Which would you rather experience?

 

[cuefilez]

Originally posted by Option2
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.

"NOT TOUCH THE PHUCKING BRAKE!!!!"


I did that at the Advanced Driving School , and put the 330 CI into 8 massive counter clockwise spins . God Did I feel like an idiot

 

[Talentless]

FF exists because of the safety Nazis or at least I'm sure Brock Yates would say so. Yates knows all.

 

[Option2]

CV "Death" occurs MUCH, MUCH more frequently than a broken differential....especially in the midwest during winter when snow, dirt, mud, road salt, and other nasty **** can get into a torn CV Boot.

I've never had a Differential lock up on me, but I have busted a fair share of axles (most in FWD, but also a few in my old blown T-Bird). If a differential did seize up, as described, it'd be because of lubrication problems or damage to the case. It's not something that normally happens.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Option2
CV "Death" occurs MUCH, MUCH more frequently than a broken differential....especially in the midwest during winter when snow, dirt, mud, road salt, and other nasty **** can get into a torn CV Boot.

I've never had a Differential lock up on me, but I have busted a fair share of axles (most in FWD, but also a few in my old blown T-Bird). If a differential did seize up, as described, it'd be because of lubrication problems or damage to the case. It's not something that normally happens.

Och, they're both mileage/wear-related issues.

I've only ever experienced that one diff going, but I know of lots that have gone on high-milers. I used to be a taxi driver, and there you'd frequently come across cars that were well south of the double-ton.

 

[Robin2]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie


I've actually done both of these. Let me tell you, the death of the CVs was a much more sedate affair. Let me describe both events:

CV death
In town, in traffic. Engage 1st, about 1,200rpm on the clock. Feed out clutch and add power. Some movement, then BANG-grindy-grindy-grindy. Get out of car, push to side of road, call breakdown service.

Diff death
60mph, country road. Not much power on. Small lift into fast corner, little power for balance. BANG-screech. Car snaps sideways, rear wheels are locked. See-sawing wheel to steer and counter-steer at the same time. Arrive at side of road shaken but undamaged.

Which would you rather experience?

my diff death came about from a burnout. it had been making noises for a fair few weeks so i thought id help it along in its decay.

 

[Cobraboy]

My dad lost the axle, wheels on all, off our trialer while we were traveling up north. He was wackin it along @ 100clicks' in our old '87 Fairmont and he went over a bump, felt and heard a thud, looked in the rear vision mirror and the axle was cartwheeling along the side of the road and came to rest in a ditch. He dragged the wheel+axle less trailer about 100 metres before he stopped. I wasnt in the car (he was doing the towing so he left an 1 hour before me and my mum left) but I bet it was freaky. And the funny thing was, we had to go and get a rental trailer, came back, got the stuff off it, and when we were taking the rental back the next day, the entire wreck was gone!! the axle-less trailer and the axle as well. Either the roadworkers were doing their job or someone thought they could make it a trailer again.

The CV joints on our (or should I say mine 😈 ) Laser ('87 Mazda 323 rebadge) are clunking and the thrust bearing on my dads truck ('85 Mazda B2000, cool to drop the clutch on it, thats why its crapping out ) is playing up, making all sortsa noises.

 

[oosacker]

Originally posted by   
ive always wondered...does anyone know?

FF cars were produced because it was safer than other forms and it was cheaper. Also it could allow more space inside the car.

 

[masonholmes]

I'm surprised that only Gil mentioned adverse weather conditions and the weight of the engine being overtop the wheels under power.. (this applies to gravel, rain-slickened roads etc.) When you live in the mountains, this is VERY much somthing to think about when buying a car. I would definetely not own just a RWD vehical, no matter what it was, and this is why I only own a FWD. (given I don't have the $$$ for any AWD's that I want -also, AWD's can be more expensive to maintain, as there are obviously more pieces involved) When I have enough $$$ to own two cars, I will have both platforms, (and/or an AWD in there), but RWD just doesn't cut it in the weather. Part of that is the simple fact that it's pulling instead of pushing. Somthing else a FWD will tackle much better than a RWD, is more offroad type conditions, be them just a bunch of mud puddles or full-blown offroad conditions. I wish I'd had a camera on the peoples faces when I took my lil FWD up an offroad trail that is not traveled on by anything but Jeeps and 4WD trucks. Same for snow, I've had my FWD places where no RWD could ever go, and some 4WD's are even frightfull of -the main thing that hinders most FWD's in deep snow and offroad conditions is ground clearance, not drivetrain capabilities. For all around driving conditions, and all the reasons mentioned earlier, FWD is just a much better all-round platform, and I would take one over RWD anyday. (given I have to have mountains to be happy, and only have $$$ for one car etc. )

 

[BMW POWER]

i personally dislike FF but i can see why it is much safer for the average driver. i've never spun my M5 but i spun my old
M roadster racing an EVO 5 home from work one night. it was pouring down with rain and the EVO was ahead of me as we both aproached a roundabout, he hit the bend fast and and drifted it round so the only way for me to catch him was to try it. well needless to say that was the last time i saw the EVO and the last time i race an AWD in the rain.

 

[alex_gt]

Originally posted by Gil
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?

Ah now that makes a lot of sense :thumbsup:...

I reckon for the drivers car , FR, 4WD is essential... however as mentioned before FF is best for the public drivers.

In racing the FR drivers get the advantage, quicker of the line and tyre ware is far more even.

As far as safety goes, well :volvo: use FF in the majority of there cars, and 4WD on some models? (Cross Country)