For all those that have driven RWD:

What's the difference? I've never actually had a car that's been RWD, always driven a Jap/Korean car.

What are the biggest points of different that supposedly make RWD handle better? Like going around a corner etc and letting go of the steering wheel .. does it correct itself immediately like a FWD car?

What gives? Why do RWD cars have better handling?

list of Advantages and Disadvantages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-wheel_drive

Modern day cars its alot harder to tell the difference, i drove a vp and thought, damn i hate RWD the back end comes out too easy which scared me having only driven FWD. But hop into a BA/BF or a VZ/VE commodore and you'd be hard to tell the difference through normal driving.

the back end comes out too easyI always had that impression, that they would be much more likely to spin out. But I've only ever had FWD (Aussie), and have had some bad experiences as a passenger in RWDs in rain and snow (sliding sideways around corners @ 10k/hr in snow, spinning across 3 lanes on a long corner in rain; neither were driving unsafely)

Hey guys, no matter in FWD or RWD, please drive to the conditions.

Realistically, none of us will ever drive our vehicles to their design limits on the road so being FWD or RWD would be a moot point as they both have advantages and disadvantages over each other.

between the commodore i had and the magna now, the only thing different was the ass end kicking out around corners which was awesome. Other than that the bull**** that goes on that RWD is better than FWD has no merit, it just gives another excuse for die hard holden/ford owners to bag us out.

I drive a VX? (2002 model) commodore for work. If you're talking about pure handling dynamics I will tell you it's very floaty like a big barge, terrible chassis dynamics and you never know what's going on through the steering wheel. Add to that it's terrible in the wet - I mean, terrible. Normal speed into a roundabout, turn the roundabout, small amount of throttle, back end gone.

I can't compare it to a stock magna cause I haven't driven one enough to make a comparison. My Ralliart definately handles a shed load better, but it's not a fair comparison.

Both platforms are fine for handling - Honda Civic Type R, BMW 1 series come to mind.

I think it all depends on the car and the power of it.
Both orientations have up and down sides. Rwd can tow more, because the weights on the rear wheels,Fwd are safer in the fact that when driven to limits you are less likely to spin as understeer will come into play before oversterr!

I like RWD but only cause you can have more fun.:badgrin:

FWD = driven by the front wheels, the car tends to understeer more - but its often more controllable in the wet

RWD = drive to the ground via the back wheels.
car is often bigger (re ford and holden big sedans) and often (not always) has a more powerful motor.
easier to get them to slide out.

and for the record
AWD = drive gets to the ground via all 4 wheels, often regarded as the most stable and safe drive as it takes the best of both worlds.

Can this pointless thread be closed.
Just another FWD vs RWD debate that was only discussed a few days ago.
if you've never driven a RWD and want to know how one handles, go rent one and go nuts.

depeneds on the car,

my cressy is rear wheel drive, you can absolutely slam it outta a corner with the wheels spinning but it struggles to go out sideways, whereas my mates vn is basically just drifting in the wet lol


i have only driven a FWD nissan Tiida, thats not even worth talking about driving cos it didnt go hard

driven a 1982 KE70 1.3L corolla, that was RWD, did a fast U turn and it understeered... the car had no power to break traction to slide the rear. Driven an EL falcon and it does feel different but it alls about given yourself time to adjust to the different types of cars, they all handle differently. they have got different weight balance so they'll turn in differently.

VN (any commodore up to VZ really) before you do any suspension mods are barges no argument
but to put it in perspective my TS feels rather like a boat compared to my calais
i can break it down like this
in limited traction conditions (dirt / wet weather) i think the magna would be a better car
in conditions where traction isn't an issue or when towing a load the RWD would have the advantage
i find you can come into a spirited corner slower in a rwd than you can in a front however with the RWD you have the ability to power out
a LSD makes a big difference to the way they can exit a corner too

FWD you try to power out you will go straight

basically horses for courses and in normal driving it really is a case of 6 of one half a dozen of the other

you can do better burn outs and fishtails in a rwd car, about it really for a basic idea :-)

when i was doing rally, i prefered fwd over any other method, best power slides, and you can put the power on sooner, pulling you into a corner, rather than a push.

mind you my rally car was a 1984 subaru leone L series, fwd, 1.8l carby boxer. mmm... :-)

Fwd burnouts use less tire than rwd. :bowrofl:

fwd vs rwd debate ended here!!

fwd is cheaper to produce, in most cases more compact(more space in the car same size)

and fwd's are proven to be slighty more efficent (less powertrain losses)


so there you go, its all a $$$ thing and what the market dictates (aussies demand rwd! if the new commo was fwd and ford stayed rwd holden would loose sales)

Yeah, i think in the case of an open diff, all your grievances with RWD are correct.
But yeah - I have 2 V6 magnas, and an 2004 SS Commodore.

Unless i'm being stupid, i haven't kicked the ass of the SS out unintentionally yet.
The traction control on the newer models is impeccable.
And i guess LSD also counts heaps as well.
But yeah - to flog a dead horse, as far as newer cars go, there's no real difference.
WAY easier to get wheel spin in a FWD tho....

Where'd i put ym maccas trays?
lol.

Hello,

Face it, RWD is alot more fun to drive than FWD. For example: Lets say its wet weather and you feel like thrashing a corner. As 200kw_vn said: "..you try to power out you will go straight". Yes, it is quite homosexual to plan a mad wheel spin around a corner, but instead perform an embarrassing wheel spin and slide into the outer edge of the corner because FWD is poo.

RWD is great for those sudden power outs and little drifting experiences you may want. I'd pretty much break it down to the driving style. I mean its not impossible to control a rear wheel while its giving you the throw out. Thats why japanese invented drifting.

So if you think you can handle throw outs and enjoy having drift potential around corners - RWD is for you. Otherwise, you would best stick to FWD or AWD where issues such as throw outs rarely occur unless your handbraking or something.

driven a 1982 KE70 1.3L corolla, that was RWD, did a fast U turn and it understeered...

Most cars will understeer if you throw it to full lock while moving at speed.

Hello,

Face it, RWD is alot more fun to drive than FWD. For example: Lets say its wet weather and you feel like thrashing a corner. As 200kw_vn said: "..you try to power out you will go straight". Yes, it is quite homosexual to plan a mad wheel spin around a corner, but instead perform an embarrassing wheel spin and slide into the outer edge of the corner because FWD is poo.

RWD is great for those sudden power outs and little drifting experiences you may want. I'd pretty much break it down to the driving style. I mean its not impossible to control a rear wheel while its giving you the throw out. Thats why japanese invented drifting.

So if you think you can handle throw outs and enjoy having drift potential around corners - RWD is for you. Otherwise, you would best stick to FWD or AWD where issues such as throw outs rarely occur unless your handbraking or something.
I want RWD so I can do skidz and have "drift potential" on the street. :nuts: Save it for the track.

well the holden driving team had ss commodores, then they got fed up and became the hyundai driving team with fwd cars... whats that saying!

you can make cars dance, and prance all day long weather its fwd or rwd, its really personal opinion. fwd vs rwd both have different ill say characteristics, since their neither an advantage or a disadvantage when actually driving a car.

The Japanese didn't invent drifting. They just took it to the next level. I've seen footage of early 1950's racing where an american driver held some variety of chevrolet or dodge in a perfect powerslide because that's the fastest way around the track. And that was replicated here in Australia in the late 1960's because it was the only way the 4 door fords could hope to beat the nimbler monaro coupes in the twisty stuff - i saw that on late night legends.

Then that Tsuchiya dude did it in his underpowered AE86 and all of a sudden he's an inventor.

And in my opinion, any more than 180kw is wasted on a fwd unless you can find a way to get the power down.

The Japanese didn't invent drifting. They just took it to the next level. I've seen footage of early 1950's racing where an american driver held some variety of chevrolet or dodge in a perfect powerslide because that's the fastest way around the track. And that was replicated here in Australia in the late 1960's because it was the only way the 4 door fords could hope to beat the nimbler monaro coupes in the twisty stuff - i saw that on late night legends.

Then that Tsuchiya dude did it in his underpowered AE86 and all of a sudden he's an inventor.

And in my opinion, any more than 180kw is wasted on a fwd unless you can find a way to get the power down.
Way to threadmine and troll all in one dumbass.

Drifting isn't the fastest way around a corner :nuts:

And in my opinion, any more than 180kw is wasted on a fwd unless you can find a way to get the power down.

pretty sure a few people here would like to have a say about that, although noted it is your opinion

Even though its a waste of time, the only notable difference I can see between FWD and RWD in normal driving is Tyre Wear, otherwise who really cares?

Drifting isn't the fastest way around a corner :nuts:
Corse it iz!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

U dun hav N E skilz bro!!

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