REAR WHEEL DRIVE

[aeropilot]

pilchardthecat said:

grumpy52 said:

How many PH'ers under say 35 have never owned a RWD car ?

Over 35? None. If you're over 35 and never owned a RWD car you are a PH fraud

[Crusoe]

FWD hatches till 25, RWD ever since.

[Groober]

epom said:

Corolla GT Twin Cam covers me... until i got the sunday morning wet road scare....was gone 2 weeks later !!

The scare is what makes them fun. My MX5 in the snow was an adventure just getting to work (Well trying) Toyo 888's and snow does not make forward travel easy.

[300bhp/ton]

grumpy52 said:

I was wondering how long until the art of driving rwd will fade ,I'm lucky only in recent times have I not had a rwd tucked in the lock up . I tend to ask under 35's the question most have never driven rwd,an alarming amount don't know what they have !!

I don't think it will.

The UK and Europe seem very affected by FWD hatches, but it's not the case everywhere. The US still has a lot of RWD cars and Aus.

And as things change I'm sure packaging will, such as hybrids, electric powered cars and the like.

Not too mention new regs making cars tall and bulky at the front to create clearance between bonnet and engine. To me a mid or rear layout (with rwd) would solve this issue for certain types and classes of car, e.g. 2 seater city cars like the smart ForTwo or even the smart Roadster. The rear engine location allows a low sleek front not achievable with a front mounted engine.

[Hudson]

Technically yes (e34) but it wasnt the fire breathing drift machine you're all thinking of

[stew-S160]

29, had 4-
Elise S160
RX7(380bhp)
MX5
S2000.

I won't go back to FWD unless it's a second car/run around.

[Alfanatic]

pilchardthecat said:

Thesaint01708 said:

does lift off oversteer in the type-R count? :lol:

No

It's time you grew up - forget the S3 with it's pretend 4wd, you need something with rear drive and a proper mechanical limited slip diff

Why is the slippy diff always so important? It's a bit of a band-aid, isn't it? Plenty of excellent RWD cars out there without one, unless the sole purpose you want RWD is to do complete laps of roundabouts on opposite lock.

[ExPat2B]

Alfanatic said:

pilchardthecat said:

Thesaint01708 said:

does lift off oversteer in the type-R count? :lol:

No

It's time you grew up - forget the S3 with it's pretend 4wd, you need something with rear drive and a proper mechanical limited slip diff

Why is the slippy diff always so important? It's a bit of a band-aid, isn't it? Plenty of excellent RWD cars out there without one, unless the sole purpose you want RWD is to do complete laps of roundabouts on opposite lock.

If you had one, you would understand.

[6potdave]

I'm 29 and am on my 4th RWD car. Never had a quick FWD car or a 4WD. RWD suits my driving style

[Jimmy No Hands]

I had that well and truly covered at the tender age of 21 with my RX-8. Daily driver over winter too, that was the month I REALLY learnt to drive. Only got stuck once

[300bhp/ton]

ExPat2B said:

Alfanatic said:

pilchardthecat said:

Thesaint01708 said:

does lift off oversteer in the type-R count? :lol:

No

It's time you grew up - forget the S3 with it's pretend 4wd, you need something with rear drive and a proper mechanical limited slip diff

Why is the slippy diff always so important? It's a bit of a band-aid, isn't it? Plenty of excellent RWD cars out there without one, unless the sole purpose you want RWD is to do complete laps of roundabouts on opposite lock.

If you had one, you would understand.

+1

Although lower powered, higher grip cars it is far less noticeable. But there is a point where it makes a huge difference. (same is true with fwd cars too, although I'd argue the power point is actually even lower due to less traction from fwd).

[steve_bmw]

I am under 35 and only drive RWD.
Front wheel drive is just wrong, ill never have front wheel drive,

[Baryonyx]

I was 22 when I bought my first RWD car, an MX5. I love it, but I've agreed a trade in on it for a FWD car because I need to be able to get to work when it snows, and thats been pretty bad these past couple of years!

Definitely worth doing though, I'd advise everyone to own a proper RWD car (ie not some boggo spec BMW). I just think you can get more out of British roads with FWD and 4WD than you can with a RWD.

[Alfanatic]

300bhp/ton said:

ExPat2B said:

Alfanatic said:

pilchardthecat said:

Thesaint01708 said:

does lift off oversteer in the type-R count? :lol:

No

It's time you grew up - forget the S3 with it's pretend 4wd, you need something with rear drive and a proper mechanical limited slip diff

Why is the slippy diff always so important? It's a bit of a band-aid, isn't it? Plenty of excellent RWD cars out there without one, unless the sole purpose you want RWD is to do complete laps of roundabouts on opposite lock.

If you had one, you would understand.

+1

Although lower powered, higher grip cars it is far less noticeable. But there is a point where it makes a huge difference. (same is true with fwd cars too, although I'd argue the power point is actually even lower due to less traction from fwd).

Thanks both, I need a bit more detail though. What would I notice over and above a good handling RWD car without one?

EDIT: Here's what I am expecting from limited experience with Giulia GTVs, available with or without.

With: Better traction and less fishtailing in an emergency start,
more understeer, particularly in tighter corners, on entry and exit.
Less adjustability in general.
Doesn't uselessly spin all the power away on the inside wheel if you give it too much welly exiting a tight corner.

The cars weren't powerful enough to do laps of roundabouts on opposite lock anyway, even if there was a roundabout handy where I was at the time.

Edited by Alfanatic on Tuesday 10th May 12:40

[y2blade]

grumpy52 said:

How many PH'ers under say 35 have never owned a RWD car ?

yep
my first few cars were RWD

[300bhp/ton]

Baryonyx said:

I was 22 when I bought my first RWD car, an MX5. I love it, but I've agreed a trade in on it for a FWD car because I need to be able to get to work when it snows, and thats been pretty bad these past couple of years!

Not convinced at all.

Firstly AWD would be better than either.

But I'd take RWD with a LSD in the snow over a FWD with an open diff.

My Camaro (and 200SX) both with LSD's worked well in the snow. And with the ESP on my little RWD smart Roadster seemed quite capable too.

If you are really worried, put on some winter tyres in Nov thru Feb. And have either some snow chains or socks in the boot.

Baryonyx said:

I just think you can get more out of British roads with FWD and 4WD than you can with a RWD.

Not sure where you live in the UK. But certainly disagree 100% with that.

[ajprice]

35, 3 cars, 1 FWD, 2 RWD - Skoda Fabia and two Smarts

How many under 35 have had a car with the engine behind the driver?

[Baryonyx]

300bhp/ton said:

ot sure where you live in the UK. But certainly disagree 100% with that.

Northumbrian countryside is my main driving area. And when you're threading down wet country roads in the MX5, you're always aware of the possiblity of an oversteer skid developing. In a FWD hot hatch (Pug 106 GTI for instance) you can just point and shoot with maximum confidence!

I've enjoyed having a RWD car though and I think it's something everyone should do. It's been a hoot, especially in the wet.

[BoRED S2upid]

Is this not part of the application process for PH's? Can't imagine anyone whos a member has never owned one.

[epom]

Groober said:

The scare is what makes them fun. My MX5 in the snow was an adventure just getting to work (Well trying) Toyo 888's and snow does not make forward travel easy.

fraid not, as a youngish man, i couldnt afford to damage it so i quit whilst i was ahead !!