FWD 'vs' RWD
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FWD 'vs' RWD
What are the benefits of a front wheel driven car and the negatives and the same for a rear wheel driven car?
All cars used to be rear wheel drive so why are almost all new cars front wheel drive?
All cars used to be rear wheel drive so why are almost all new cars front wheel drive?
#2
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Drive a mk2 frs hard and you will know why they are fwd
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But rwd you got to love a good drift in a big spec cossie or a decent mk2 escort
Fantastic
But rwd you got to love a good drift in a big spec cossie or a decent mk2 escort
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i would imagine in this case its due to distribution of weight ect, old race cars like early f1 front engine rear drive, then when someone tested a MR layout it was much better. but thats racing, every day car i would have any.
Never been in the new FRS but people say there just different class for a fwd car.
Never been in the new FRS but people say there just different class for a fwd car.
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FWD is a good package with engine mass over the drive wheels and more predictable driving traits but then you can have problems with drive and steerage being on the same wheel set but with RWD if the traction breaks you still have steerage but most times the package is heavyer and engine mass is over the steering so good load on the steerage wheels but tend to be light on the traction wheel set so can be what I call a "slut car" ie will wiggle her ass at anything anyhow thats my take on it !
Last edited by Chaz888; 10-06-2012 at 12:15 AM.
#23
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The FWD design we know of all started with the Mini, i.e. F/F (Although it wasn't the first FWD), in essence, Issigonis wanted a car that would give maximum interior space whilst keeping the overall footprint of the car to a minimum.
He achieved this by creating a East-West engine configuration, powering the front wheels and having the gears within the sump, this meant 80% of the cars space could be dedicated to the passengers, the man was a true genius!
The same design followed with the larger models that followed the Mini, i.e. 1100, 1800.
Since then others copied and powered the front wheels as well, to answer your question the main reason 'Modern' cars are FWD is because it is more cost effective to do so,along with the above, you also have no transmission tunnel etc, you also have traction advantages, in icy conditions and less transmission loss as well.
A sports saloons/muscle cars is RWD though (No true one wouldn't be) no BMW'S are FWD either.
Martin
He achieved this by creating a East-West engine configuration, powering the front wheels and having the gears within the sump, this meant 80% of the cars space could be dedicated to the passengers, the man was a true genius!
The same design followed with the larger models that followed the Mini, i.e. 1100, 1800.
Since then others copied and powered the front wheels as well, to answer your question the main reason 'Modern' cars are FWD is because it is more cost effective to do so,along with the above, you also have no transmission tunnel etc, you also have traction advantages, in icy conditions and less transmission loss as well.
A sports saloons/muscle cars is RWD though (No true one wouldn't be) no BMW'S are FWD either.
Martin
Last edited by martysmartie; 09-06-2012 at 07:37 PM.
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Drive wheels make no difference in snow, it's big wide tyres with large tread blocks that make them poor. Try propper snow/winter tyres & they are just as capable.
Anyway, Fwd is purely for packaging & cost savings, it is a compromise. Rear drive is much better if you can drive.
Anyway, Fwd is purely for packaging & cost savings, it is a compromise. Rear drive is much better if you can drive.
#27
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in real every day situations on the roads driving legally then there is no reason to have a rwd over fwd.
on a track it's better to be rwd or 4wd over fwd, purely as you can push round the track without losing steering the same, if a fwd car is spinning it's wheels, then it's not gripping well for steering. on the other hand it's less likely for a fwd car to have the rear overtake the front on a turning.
i reckon my xr2 is pretty good at keeping up with a scooby, grip is the main factor IMO.
on a track it's better to be rwd or 4wd over fwd, purely as you can push round the track without losing steering the same, if a fwd car is spinning it's wheels, then it's not gripping well for steering. on the other hand it's less likely for a fwd car to have the rear overtake the front on a turning.
i reckon my xr2 is pretty good at keeping up with a scooby, grip is the main factor IMO.
#29
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I've had FR, FF, front engined 4wd and MR layout cars and the most fun have been the FR. Most modern cars are FF purely for packaging and cost reasons but that doesn't mean they can't be fun, wrestling torque steer in a big powered front driver can put a big grin on your face!
Rear drivers are great fun though, my Volvo even with relatively modest power is a hoot (especially when my mate who can actually drive is at the wheel lol) and as for trouble in the snow it is more to do with tyre selection as my narrow tyred Herald had absolutely no trouble getting about, in fact most modern front drivers were holding me up! Lol
Rear drivers are great fun though, my Volvo even with relatively modest power is a hoot (especially when my mate who can actually drive is at the wheel lol) and as for trouble in the snow it is more to do with tyre selection as my narrow tyred Herald had absolutely no trouble getting about, in fact most modern front drivers were holding me up! Lol
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Interesting replies. I was thinking that all Ferrari's, Lambo's and other Supercars are all RWD. Also to push a car (RWD) would make more sense than pulling a car (FWD). Lets say you need to move a car by hand, you would push it as it would be a lot easier than pulling it, even if it had some kind of devise you could pull it with it would still be easier to push thus making RWD cars more efficient I would have thought? I am only used to FWD cars like 205 GTI's, R5 GT Turbo's, S1 & S2 RST's etc. Wonder how I would get on driving something like an M3 or a RWD Cossie?!!
#36
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Well a fwd car won't get stuck in the snow, but can understeer like the focus tends to do. Too much power into a corner on a rwd car and we all know what happens. So awd ftw.
#39
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RWD, more fun
Awd in the Evo is a good system not as predictable as Jay mentioned, can pull out on cornes very quickly.
FWD, More the Modern stuff out now that do the job well.
Awd in the Evo is a good system not as predictable as Jay mentioned, can pull out on cornes very quickly.
FWD, More the Modern stuff out now that do the job well.
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So FWD cars are better on fuel than a RWD car? So if we had the exact same car, lets say a 2.0 16v Mondeo. So this car is FWD yet if it was RWD the fuel economy would drop?
Also Phil RS said.....You get more transmission losses with rwd cars Sorry for sounding a bit thick here but what does that mean?