After 3 RWD cars, I've gone back to FWD....
Discussion
And all I've got to say is, I regret it.
I'm now driving around in a Primera GT, and while I can't fault the handling for a FWD car (its actually nearly as good as my old Integra Type-R), I have become so used to driving RWD cars now that I actually find the FWDness of it rather dull and boring.
Its just too easy, it doesn't require any thought or planning, and the understeer in the wet, well, I have forgotten how bad that can be.... in fact, traction in general is so noticeably poor even though I would imagine my car has less torque than a sewing machine.
Sure enough, you can drive it ridiculously quickly without any effort, but I really feel like I've lost a dimension to my driving.
The balance, the traction, the responses, you just don't realise how much this adds to the experience until you've no longer got it. You don't realise the number of options you no longer have in a corner.
I guess the point of my post is to say to anyone who has grown up with FWD cars who is losing their passion for driving, or indeed, even if you haven't, every petrol head really needs to try a good RWD car.
I'd even go so far as to say I'd rather have a relatively slow RWD car (MX5) than a fast FWD car (like one of the current 2.0T hot hatches).... I've driven some of the best FWD cars, and I can honestly say, they are only fun if you're driving them like a getaway driver - RWD cars can be fun even just pootling around.
Anyone wanna swap a PGT for an MX5 ????
I'm now driving around in a Primera GT, and while I can't fault the handling for a FWD car (its actually nearly as good as my old Integra Type-R), I have become so used to driving RWD cars now that I actually find the FWDness of it rather dull and boring.
Its just too easy, it doesn't require any thought or planning, and the understeer in the wet, well, I have forgotten how bad that can be.... in fact, traction in general is so noticeably poor even though I would imagine my car has less torque than a sewing machine.
Sure enough, you can drive it ridiculously quickly without any effort, but I really feel like I've lost a dimension to my driving.
The balance, the traction, the responses, you just don't realise how much this adds to the experience until you've no longer got it. You don't realise the number of options you no longer have in a corner.
I guess the point of my post is to say to anyone who has grown up with FWD cars who is losing their passion for driving, or indeed, even if you haven't, every petrol head really needs to try a good RWD car.
I'd even go so far as to say I'd rather have a relatively slow RWD car (MX5) than a fast FWD car (like one of the current 2.0T hot hatches).... I've driven some of the best FWD cars, and I can honestly say, they are only fun if you're driving them like a getaway driver - RWD cars can be fun even just pootling around.
Anyone wanna swap a PGT for an MX5 ????
Classic Grad 98 said:
Oh and FWD fanboys will harp on about lift-off oversteer but for me it's just artificial imitation of the real thing!
I've never personally been that comfortable doing lift off oversteer on the road, as the best way to do it seems to be to enter a corner at a higher speed than I would usually feel comfortable with, lift off, and then hope to hell I'll be able to catch it in time.Power oversteer often doesn't seem quite as intimidating to me.
Lets face it, you can still do LOO in a RWD car anyway.
Classic Grad 98 said:
I know this is a very PH thing to say, but FWD is just inferior... Very frustrating. I don't want another FWD car with the exception of maybe an old hot hatch.
What a daft thing to say. It's just different. I've run FWD, AWD, RWD, and whilst my preference is for N/A RWD, I've enjoyed getting the best out of each. In fact some of my fondest memories are some local b-roads in my wife's old Sportka.rhinochopig said:
What a daft thing to say. It's just different. I've run FWD, AWD, RWD, and whilst my preference is for N/A RWD, I've enjoyed getting the best out of each. In fact some of my fondest memories are some local b-roads in my wife's old Sportka.
Absolutely, but some people can never change their opinion once it's formed, expect to see the "wrong wheel drive" brigade along shortly, that drag threads like this into dull, tiresome drivel.When we had all that snow last year i had 15" steel wheels and chunky tyres put on the Mondeo and didnt get stuck once. There were BMW's and Audi's spinning their rear wheels and 'low profile tyres' going nowhere and i just toodled past giving them a little wave from time to time, didnt wave everytime as its dangerous to push your luck but anybody who comes out in snow in an M3 deserves everything that happens to them.
rhinochopig said:
Classic Grad 98 said:
I know this is a very PH thing to say, but FWD is just inferior... Very frustrating. I don't want another FWD car with the exception of maybe an old hot hatch.
What a daft thing to say. It's just different. I've run FWD, AWD, RWD, and whilst my preference is for N/A RWD, I've enjoyed getting the best out of each. In fact some of my fondest memories are some local b-roads in my wife's old Sportka.Mastodon2 said:
Absolutely, but some people can never change their opinion once it's formed, expect to see the "wrong wheel drive" brigade along shortly, that drag threads like this into dull, tiresome drivel.
Don't get me wrong, I've no interest in slagging off FWD cars... and in fact, before I'd driven anyone, I always wondered what the fuss was about, and whether it was as good as some say, but for the most part, I'd say a good RWD car is a joy and has more to keep a driver interested than in a FWD car.Mastodon2 said:
Absolutely, but some people can never change their opinion once it's formed, expect to see the "wrong wheel drive" brigade along shortly, that drag threads like this into dull, tiresome drivel.
This is my first FWD/RWD thread so forgive me if I don't know the exact procedure.Yes, I have formed an opinion like everybody else, I just haven't driven anything FWD, road or track, to challenge that opinion.
rhinochopig said:
Classic Grad 98 said:
I know this is a very PH thing to say, but FWD is just inferior... Very frustrating. I don't want another FWD car with the exception of maybe an old hot hatch.
What a daft thing to say. It's just different. I've run FWD, AWD, RWD, and whilst my preference is for N/A RWD, I've enjoyed getting the best out of each. In fact some of my fondest memories are some local b-roads in my wife's old Sportka.
martin84 said:
When we had all that snow last year i had 15" steel wheels and chunky tyres put on the Mondeo and didnt get stuck once. There were BMW's and Audi's spinning their rear wheels and 'low profile tyres' g
RWD Audi ????? Thats a new one 
RWD drive is not s
t on the snow,summer tyres are.Any vehicle shod with the correct tyres can get around.This is why you still see some 4x4's not going anywhere fast,the owner has been to smug in their 4x4'ness and forgotten that summer tyres are just st on snow and ice 
A Primera GT is almost prehistoric by today's standards, so I suggest you try a modern FWDer like a Clio RS, Megane RS or Focus RS.
In my experience a FWD car with a good chassis setup and some performance tyres will handle fantastically well, and in many cases will have less understeer than RWD or AWD cars. Yes you can't transition to power oversteer, but lift-off oversteer in the aforementioned cars is pretty easy.
I'm also confused by your traction criticisms of FWD cars. Again have you driven any hot hatches from the past 10 years with some good rubber? My own Cupra R with Eagle F1 Asymmetrics won't loose traction in the wet or dry in any gear at WOT, excluding 1st.
In my experience a FWD car with a good chassis setup and some performance tyres will handle fantastically well, and in many cases will have less understeer than RWD or AWD cars. Yes you can't transition to power oversteer, but lift-off oversteer in the aforementioned cars is pretty easy.
I'm also confused by your traction criticisms of FWD cars. Again have you driven any hot hatches from the past 10 years with some good rubber? My own Cupra R with Eagle F1 Asymmetrics won't loose traction in the wet or dry in any gear at WOT, excluding 1st.
Panda76 said:
RWD Audi ????? Thats a new one
Sorry i know nothing about Audi's, they dont interest me at all and ive never even sat in one, i just assumed they were RWD as most German cars seem to be. It was actually a Mercedes now i think about it that i saw having the most trouble, dont know which one as they make loads of cars that all look the same, that and a Volvo which i did find odd.Panda76 said:
RWD drive is not st on the snow,summer tyres are.Any vehicle shod with the correct tyres can get around.This is why you still see some 4x4's not going anywhere fast,the owner has been to smug in their 4x4'ness and forgotten that summer tyres are just st on snow and ice
So you would agree coming out in an M3 with 175 inch wheels and painted-on tyres in the snow is a fairly stupid thing to do?t on the snow,summer tyres are.Any vehicle shod with the correct tyres can get around.This is why you still see some 4x4's not going anywhere fast,the owner has been to smug in their 4x4'ness and forgotten that summer tyres are just st on snow and ice Nothing is as annoying in the snow as the people who clear their windscreen but then drive round with the equivalent of a piano in snow on their roof, then they brake....
Panda76 said:
RWD drive is not st on the snow,summer tyres are.
Front engined cars which are rwd really are st on the snow,summer tyres are.t in the snow. I have never got a fwd car stuck on summer tyres. There were multiple threads last year about how many rwd cars were stranded. Its very common.But anyway that does not make rwd rubbish except in the snow.
There are good rwd cars just as there are good rwd and awd cars. There are also rubbish examples of cars with each layout. I am more concerned with how a cars feels to drive than which wheels are driven.
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