Rear wheel drive: why?
Discussion
First of all, and I know it'll be difficult, it's not my intention to create a RWD vs 4WD vs FWD debate.
In todays (20th January 2010) autocar Steve Sutcliffe writes a column where he says RWD is pointless because you can't tell which wheels are driven in a car. He says he would need to "drive each example round a test track for several hours" to tell the difference between FWD and 4WD, and that the only reason cars have RWD is for snob appeal. He suggests all cars should be either FWD (most cars) or 4WD (off roaders and high performance).
What do you think? I reckon I could tell the difference on the first roundabout, between FWD/RWD anyway (only driven one 4WD car, I'd probably need a wet roundabout or lots of speed to check for that).
In todays (20th January 2010) autocar Steve Sutcliffe writes a column where he says RWD is pointless because you can't tell which wheels are driven in a car. He says he would need to "drive each example round a test track for several hours" to tell the difference between FWD and 4WD, and that the only reason cars have RWD is for snob appeal. He suggests all cars should be either FWD (most cars) or 4WD (off roaders and high performance).
What do you think? I reckon I could tell the difference on the first roundabout, between FWD/RWD anyway (only driven one 4WD car, I'd probably need a wet roundabout or lots of speed to check for that).
There's a junction just round the corner from me.
You turn right onto the road and it's on an uphill.
If it's wet (or cold) then you WILL definitely know the difference between RWD/FWD/AWD.
I've had all three drivetrains and it's quite obvious what wheel drive a car is after a few miles of varied driving in various conditions.
If SS needs hours of a trackday to tell the difference (which I doubt and think he's talking garbage just to stimulate a discussion/debate) then his credibility as a car journalist is right out the window.
You turn right onto the road and it's on an uphill.
If it's wet (or cold) then you WILL definitely know the difference between RWD/FWD/AWD.
I've had all three drivetrains and it's quite obvious what wheel drive a car is after a few miles of varied driving in various conditions.
If SS needs hours of a trackday to tell the difference (which I doubt and think he's talking garbage just to stimulate a discussion/debate) then his credibility as a car journalist is right out the window.
I've had all three and I consider myself a RWD person.
I own a 4WD car now but the DCCD on my RA stays open 90% of the time to induce more over steer - yeah bit scary and not a true RWD feeling but plenty of fun for me!
The Journalist sounds like someone who hasn't actually driven any of the cars being talked about.
I own a 4WD car now but the DCCD on my RA stays open 90% of the time to induce more over steer - yeah bit scary and not a true RWD feeling but plenty of fun for me!
The Journalist sounds like someone who hasn't actually driven any of the cars being talked about.
I think it depends on exactly what the question is.
The suspension on RWD cars tend to be set up very differently to FWD ones so any real FWD car will feel very different from any real RWD car. However, if you took a 4WD car, locked the centre diff and disconnected either the rear half-shafts or front half-shafts and turned on all the electronic trickery that you could find, I have no idea how easy it would be to tell.
The suspension on RWD cars tend to be set up very differently to FWD ones so any real FWD car will feel very different from any real RWD car. However, if you took a 4WD car, locked the centre diff and disconnected either the rear half-shafts or front half-shafts and turned on all the electronic trickery that you could find, I have no idea how easy it would be to tell.
I have to say that guy is talking crap i have owned all three and on a motorway sitting at 70mph no you cant tell but get them on a good single track road it soon becomes apparent what wheels are driving and the levels of grip between fWD-4WD. RWD is just more fun IMO nothing to do with being a snob what utter pish again. 
varsas said:
In todays (20th January 2010) autocar Steve Sutcliffe writes a column where he says RWD is pointless because you can't tell which wheels are driven in a car. He says he would need to "drive each example round a test track for several hours" to tell the difference between FWD and 4WD, and that the only reason cars have RWD is for snob appeal. He suggests all cars should be either FWD (most cars) or 4WD (off roaders and high performance).
I'd agree, to an large extent, to the first half of his arguement if we are considering the vast majority of cars that are sold to the general public day after day. A modern electronic stifled 1300-1700kg hatch/saloon, with enormously wide tyres (compared to those of 10 years ago), sporting no more than a modest 150bhp, and driven by average joe on his daily commute nowhere near the limit of adhesion. For the vast majority of people, 99.9% of the time, the driven wheels do not matter, and any old configuration will do.I'd disagree with his closing statement stating that there is no place for RWD, and performance cars should be 4wd. I find it impossible to agree with this statement what so ever.
The sad thing he is right. A lot of people have no idea which wheels are driven in a car. Explaining to my girlfriend that her car is RWD and midengined was somthing of a compicated feat as she belived it was front engined and FWD , even after 2 months of driving it in summer. Of course, if there is a lack of grip the differences are very marked and its fair to say he current weather has been something of an education for her.
Her eyes very much glaze over when I talk of weight transfer, grip circles, weight over the driven wheels, countersteering etc.
I do agree with the comments about FWD vs AWD undersome conditions. In many cars nowadays they have positively evil AWD systems that make the car behave like a a FWD car, with understeer and torque steer through the steering wheel. ( VAG Haldex system for example )
Her eyes very much glaze over when I talk of weight transfer, grip circles, weight over the driven wheels, countersteering etc.
I do agree with the comments about FWD vs AWD undersome conditions. In many cars nowadays they have positively evil AWD systems that make the car behave like a a FWD car, with understeer and torque steer through the steering wheel. ( VAG Haldex system for example )
AndyBe said:
Does Steve Sutcliffe know which hole he s
ts out of ?
They guy does know how drive quickly. Not sure what he is on about, HOWEVER, most people will NOT be able to tell the difference. ts out of ?My wife can not for example, despite owning an Mx5, my 200sx, and 3 series amongst other FWD. It was only the recent snow that highlighter differences.
Going A-B in rear wheel drive makes no difference.
Infact, even when I drive my car, 95% of the time, it makes no difference what drive it is. However, the last 5% makes all the difference when I am having a hoon.
I will add that he was talking about premium cars to start with, he asks would it be such a big deal if the new Jaguar was FWD.
I can only imagine he did it to be 'controversial' but even so...it's still there in black and white and makes him sound quite silly.
I can undewrstand some people might not be able to tell, or care which wheels are driven but for a professional car journalist to say this stufff is mind boggling...oh and as if you wren't upset already he says that...
"The Cerbera had no anti-lock brakes, no traction control and almost no chance of saving you if you got it wrong on a wet road - yet because of this it was hailed as some kind of ultimate driver's car."
eh? I'm sure it was more to do with having a hugely powerfull engine is a light, agile chassis myself...
I can only imagine he did it to be 'controversial' but even so...it's still there in black and white and makes him sound quite silly.
I can undewrstand some people might not be able to tell, or care which wheels are driven but for a professional car journalist to say this stufff is mind boggling...oh and as if you wren't upset already he says that...
"The Cerbera had no anti-lock brakes, no traction control and almost no chance of saving you if you got it wrong on a wet road - yet because of this it was hailed as some kind of ultimate driver's car."
eh? I'm sure it was more to do with having a hugely powerfull engine is a light, agile chassis myself...
Edited by varsas on Wednesday 20th January 14:03
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