FWD or RWD? What's your preference?

[warren t claim]

I hate to admit it but my old Rover 800 was more planted and quicker on a wet road than my similar sized and powered E Class. Even though I grew up with rear wheel drive cars I seem to of forgotten how to drive them hard on a less than perfect road surface. Don't get me wrong, the Merc never gets uncontrollable in a V6 Capri type of way, more a Chevette style of slide that takes the back end out as far as necessary.

 

Do real men still insist on rwd?

[dollywobbler]

I wouldn't know much about real men, but for hooning about on the road, I prefer FWD - though that's likely just due to the fact that I rarely drive RWD.

[messerschmitt owner]

fwd is more forgiving

rwd has a habit of getting to the limit and biting you back!

 

I prefer the seat of your pants ride of a well sorted rwd, rear engined car

[autofive]

RWD for me

 

great for letting you know when your rear tyres need changing

 

i find fwd a bit boring, and front wheels spinning as you pull away is just silly

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Indeed, FWD burnouts never look cool.

I'm not too fussed about RWD though, it's nice to have uncorrupted steering and they're often a bit easier to work on, but that's about it.

A well set up FWD car is very good to drive indeed and offers a lot of traction in poor conditions. I've only encountered a couple of FWD cars that were an understeering mess, most seem very neutral.

[Rusty Pelican]

I prefer the seat of your pants ride of a well sorted rwd, rear engined car

Me too

Never liked the idea with fwd that the front wheels do just about everything and the backs just follow on behind like lost sheep

[mk1_4dr]

I enjoy RWD probably a bit too much. EscRot is so controlable on the limit (which is still usually within legal speedlimits) and the sense of achievment from hustling it along really does make me giggle.

 

Although my mk2 golf could be driven much, much quicker it was nowhere near as much fun IMHO

[Mr Lobster]

If I was spending money on expensive performance cars then it'd matter. As it is, I can't say I've any real preference as I'm perfectly happy with my FWD daily and RWD van.

[MK5 Escort]

FWD for me. Most modern front wheel drive cars handle well, if not excellently.

 

As I rarely take cars to their limits (i.e - drive the public roads like race tracks) I've very rarely experienced true understeer in any FWD car I've ever driven. I've been at least 'happy' with the vast majority of them.

 

I don't really understand the huge fuss behind RWD but then again, I've never personally owned one to comment fairly enough. I've driven several and didn't notice any difference or 'huge improvement' in handling...

 

Just about every BMW I saw over the few miles home from work during the snow spell we had at the start of the year was driving at a 45 degree angle or fishtailing. (Ultimate driving machine?! ) No thanks...

[mk1_4dr]

....during the snow spell we had at the start of the year was driving at a 45 degree angle or fishtailing. (Ultimate driving machine?! ) No thanks...

 

During that cold snap I went on a drive on the moors with another forum. escRot was the only car not to get stuck, everything else (bar a Disco2) was royally screwed on one particular hill. To the point we had to push a xantia to one side on the ice to allow me and the disco to pass. RWD and skinny tyres FTW

[dollywobbler]

I understand the fuss of RWD alright, and having driven a few RWD machines on tracks, they're absolutely the best for that - why you'd want a FWD race car I don't really understand.

 

But I guess having grown up with FWD, I'm just more familiar with that.

[Guest]

....during the snow spell we had at the start of the year was driving at a 45 degree angle or fishtailing. (Ultimate driving machine?! ) No thanks...

 

During that cold snap I went on a drive on the moors with another forum. escRot was the only car not to get stuck, everything else (bar a Disco2) was royally screwed on one particular hill. To the point we had to push a xantia to one side on the ice to allow me and the disco to pass. RWD and skinny tyres FTW

 

Dunno, I don't remember Nev's MR 2 having much trouble up the hills either.

Mark's Xantia and my C4 were crap. Unsurprisingly the A5 we were following had no trouble, as did the Disco. I had to take several nasty things back that I said about Discoveries after that.

[pogweasel]

OMG EVRY 1 NOES RWD IS TEH BEST GR8 4 DRFTN!!!!!1! Y0.

 

Ergo, a 205GTi is 'shit' and an Ital 1.7HLS is a fierce 'drivers car'.

 

Oh, hang on a sec....

[Albert Ross]

RWD for me, with a big Victorian style lever to engage the front axle when required.

[Station]

I think RWD cars handle better, they feel more balanced. FWD always feel like hard work. I've have RWD over FWD anyday! I think it's easier to understeer in FWD than oversteer in RWD.

[Des]

My preference is RWD every time, but that's probably because I'm living in the past, most if not all FWD shortcomings have been engineered out over the last couple of decades, so FWD predjudice is maybe a little obselete. Or how about if your talking modern stuff does it really matter whatever wheels are driven, front, back or all of them, they're mostly indistinguishable bland and soulless white goods.

[Gompo]

I need to drive a really good RWD car before I can make a proper decision. My last 3 cars have all been recognised as being some of the best handling FWD cars out there, and they were great. A good laugh, relatively safe/predictable and great in the bends. The 3 RWD cars I've had were all Mk2 Escorts, and the 2nd one, a 1.3 with Bilstein dampers at the rear was ace for a bit of over-steer, usually at quite low speeds - but while predictable you wouldnt choose it to cover roads particularly quickly.

 

..I reckon deep down and in the future I'll go back to RWD, if only because I have a very good FWD car and wouldnt know how to improve upon it - without going RWD anyway. RWD tends to be more fun at lower speeds, which I imagine are inevitable in the future.

[eddyramrod]

My preference is RWD every time, but that's probably because I'm living in the past, most if not all FWD shortcomings have been engineered out over the last couple of decades, so FWD predjudice is maybe a little obselete. Or how about if your talking modern stuff does it really matter whatever wheels are driven, front, back or all of them, they're mostly indistinguishable bland and soulless white goods.

 

+1! Well said sir!

 

One point that hasn't been raised is manoevrability. FWD cars can never equal the turning cirle of RWD. I had a 16ft Volvo Estate and a rather smaller Chrysler PT Cruiser at the same time. 740 is RWD, PT is FWD. I could park the Volvo in smaller spaces with less access. Anyone for a (RWD) Triumph Herald???

 

Having said all that, one of the cars that got me to work with the biggest grin on my chops in recent years was... my FWD MG Maestro. Nine mile commute down country lanes at 6am. 2.0 litres, injection, 5-speed manual (me? in a manual???)*, FWD, low-profile tyres (another hobbyhorse, I like big and squashy!). Yes indeed...

 

(*I have three cars here, all RWD, all manual. Nothing's perfect...)

[Richard]

I don't think there are many cars with a tighter "between kerbs" turning circle than a RWD Volvo.

[Pillock]

 

During that cold snap I went on a drive on the moors with another forum. escRot was the only car not to get stuck, everything else (bar a Disco2) was royally screwed on one particular hill. To the point we had to push a xantia to one side on the ice to allow me and the disco to pass. RWD and skinny tyres FTW

 

80% driver skill and 20% car ability. I managed to get a Saxo up a 1 in 10 hill covered in sheet ice last winter. It was literally like a skating rink - the gritter driver got out of his cab at the top to weigh up the situation and fell on his arse. There was a 12-car shunt at the bottom. But me in the saxo, in 2nd gear, taking my time, got there. I overtook two cars on the way too, they were making negative uphill progress.

[Tonka]

All ours are RWD now with the exception of my Stagea which has a 20/80 RWD bias in normal road use.

 

If the young drivers of today had to drive a RWD car on a very wet day as part of their driver training they would soon learn about real car control and their limitations.

 

Maybe it's a mid-life crisis thing where you crave that "will it won't it" feeling on a wet roundabout...........

[Angrydicky]

RWD every time. GR8 4 DRIFTIN!

 

I have got the raging horn for a (FWD) Landcrab at the moment so that might all change though

[hennabm]

You don't see many (if any) really poweful fwd cars. Most are RWD or mid engined but still RWD, so

 

RWD for me, RWD for me

 

I suppose it's cos I'm an old fart and grew up with them. FWD is for shopping trolleys

[eddyramrod]

RWD every time. GR8 4 DRIFTIN!

 

Is there something we need to know about one of your A35s?

[dollywobbler]

Sorry, who says FWD means a crap turning circle?

[eddyramrod]

Sorry, who says FWD means a crap turning circle?

 

I've seen Russ Swift with Montegos, live in front of me, but it doesn't change my opinion... Feel free to enjoy yours, we're all allowed one!

[Angrydicky]

RWD every time. GR8 4 DRIFTIN!

 

Is there something we need to know about one of your A35s?

 

All three are GR917 4 WET ROUNDABOUTS 948cc of pure POWAR!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Your RWD drift weapons aren't capable of anything a FWD car with a strong rear handbrake can't do.

[eddyramrod]

Your RWD drift weapons aren't capable of anything a FWD car with a strong rear handbrake can't do.

 

Ozone-threatening clouds off the back tyres, for example?

[eddyramrod]

RWD every time. GR8 4 DRIFTIN!

 

Is there something we need to know about one of your A35s?

 

All three are GR917 4 WET ROUNDABOUTS 948cc of pure POWAR!

 

Actually, from memories of my first A40 and the Anglia that followed.... +1! And, let's be honest, my current fleet, although we don't see the wet roundabout here very much...