Can't decide for next car fwd or rwd

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

Hey,

Ok i'm looking for my next car after driving a mk6 fiesta for 2 nearly 3 years now I'm 21 and getting a bit bored of it now and would like something fun to drive in next but I can't decide whether to go rwd or fwd again I'm quite the over thinker as you can tell lol but I really can't make a purchase. I keep thinking if i went fwd again would i get bored easily but I'm probably only bored of the car i have now as well it's boring and I can't base that off a good fwd car i guess.

I'm mainly just after some fun but not get bored easily saying that i guess it's not the end of the world i could sell it again I'm also after something a bit more retro this time and something to work on as I want to start to learn how to work on cars and do things my self. I will be modding the car what ever I but nothing to crazy for the time being but I'm just completely stuck on what to buy.

Fwd cars I was looking really was mk2 fiesta would be cool to eventually do something unique maybe an engine swap or something later down the line, maybe an old civic.

Budget max is 2k

Rwd cars:

Volvo 340: If i could find one they seem to be harder to find now especially the 3 doors they seem to have disappeared

E30: Maybe if i could find one within budget might be hard

Mk1 mx5.

So do you think I'm overthinking this or what. What else what i gain by going rwd apart from some sideways fun biggrin

Just a hard decision to make, well to me it is

jkh112

22,205 posts

159 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

You are overthinking the rwd vs fwd thing.
Just because a car is rwd does not mean you will not get bored of it (volvo 340!) and just because a car is fwd does not mean it is boring.
Think about what car you want, one that interests you and meets your other criteria, if it turns out to be fwd or rwd then it does not matter.

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

164 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

340 Volvo? Really? I had one 15 years ago is it was s

t then. It was a giggle to drive when you were wanting to be silly as you could get it to drift at the drop of a had, but in every other way it was both objectively and subjectively rubbish. Slow, noisy, uncomfortable, bouncy, unreliable, cold and with a poor interior. It wasn't even that safe as it was not a true Volvo, but a Daf.

RobM77

35,349 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

lockey1995 said:

What else what i gain by going rwd apart from some sideways fun biggrin

Balance, poise and a suspension setup that feels natural. I've driven loads of FWD cars, and raced one successfully for years, but imho a good rear drive car is a league apart. I haven't owned a FWD road car since 1999 and I've not raced one since 2006.

The important thing to remember is that RWD is an ingredient for making a great car, not the ultimate answer, so you can obviously get crap ones. However, if everything's right then it's wonderful.

Sideways fun, incidentally, is a tiny part of what I like about RWD cars, a very tiny part.

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

Yeah i am overthinking it. I'm so tempted to get a mk1 mx5 but i do need to ferry family around every now and then which is an issue frown

. And i did it need a car to ferry fishing gear around aswell but i haven't been in months so I'm not really bothered about that.

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

And I was in to drifting but not so much now I'd probably prefer to have some fun in the lanes near me.

benjijames28

1,702 posts

93 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

I would go for a Mazda mx5.

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

NB or na?

CABC

5,611 posts

102 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

I'd go mx5, preferably NA - better driver's car and often less rust.
Whatever the whys and wherefores about rwd fwd etc, that style of car is getting more limited (normally aspirated, manual, rwd, light), so do it now. Despite what I've said, Mazda went and made the ND!

Renault lost the plot a few years ago, but their 1x2 is also very good and at least a pure car without too much weight or electronics.
As a young petrolhead I'd avoid turbo simply because that option will be with you for a long time to come.

Bonefish Blues

27,035 posts

224 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

Non-rusty would be my key wink

ZX10R NIN

27,703 posts

126 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

brman

1,233 posts

110 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

if you are not having fun in a mk 6 fiesta you are driving it wrong wink

SebringMan

1,773 posts

187 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

IMO, get a RWD car. You will get people convincing you on either side of the argument.

But, remember that some people do like junk as well wink

.

IMO out of that list I'd look at a Mk1 MX-5. £2-2.5k should get you something half decent, but as always keep your eyes open. Alot about the Mk1 MX-5 is so right, and bar the rust issues they are built very well. I myself have noticed that early Mk1s have started selling faster and for more of a premium than recently.

The only issue with an MX-5 is practicality but if you buy the right car you won't struggle to sell it in a hurry.

brman

1,233 posts

110 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

SebringMan said:

IMO, get a RWD car. You will get people convincing you on either side of the argument.

You will indeed. Both have their merits but anyone who says fwd is no fun has either never driven a decent one or doesn't know how to drive it.
A mk6 fiesta can be put sideways at will and steered on the throttle. It has good brakes and a decent feel to the steering. What is not to like?
So if the OP already has one but doesn't find it fun then I would seriously recommend taking it on a trackday and getting some tuition. He will then realise there is a serious amount of fun to be had from it.

Don't get me wrong, if I had the choice between a fiesta and an MX-5 as a 2nd car I would choose the MX-5. Although the decision would be harder at sub £2k as getting decent (rust free) mx-5 would be harder than getting a decent fiesta.

Of course if I had the choice between a volvo 340 and a push bike I would take the pushbike smile

all just my opinion of course wink

RobM77

35,349 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

brman said:

A mk6 fiesta can be put sideways at will and steered on the throttle. It has good brakes and a decent feel to the steering. What is not to like?

Yes, you can drive a FWD car neutrally, after all that's how you extract a good lap time. Also yes, you can slide them sideways with huge confidence. A racing FWD car is particularly good because of the extreme setups you run to make them really neutral. However, there's more to driving than that for me and it's the reactions, poise and balance of a good RWD car that I think lifts it head and shoulders above any FWD for satisfaction. Perhaps not balls out fun, but certainly long term satisfaction and driving pleasure in spades.

Edited by RobM77 on Sunday 18th September 19:07

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

262 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

Or you may be like me and incapable of discerning any advantage in RWD.

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

The only worry with the mx5 is i may need to ferry people around every now and then but well mainly like family birthdays but i guess I could just leave that lol. I'd rather have my fun.

I have some fun in my 1.4 mk6 but i guess there's a limit to it wink

ZX10R NIN

27,703 posts

126 months

Sunday 18th September 2016

If it's space then the Megane/Clio or 325ti tick those boxes whilst still being fun drives.

Original Poster

95 posts

98 months