FWD compared to RWD (the feel)

[Hepnotic]

I havent driven a rwd sports car before. I've been in them, but never driven it myself.

Can you really feel the difference between the fwd and the rwd in DAILY DRIVING? Or is the difference only noticeable when racing? Are the launches more smooth with rwd?

I've read a couple magazine articles saying that the celica doesnt remind you that it's a fwd car, so im just wondering if theres really any big difference between the two in regular, every day driving.

[CGts00]

i have never driven a rwd sports car either..kinda curious bout the same things....i do know that i love the feeling off an awd sports car though...

[Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con]

Originally posted by Hepnotic
I havent driven a rwd sports car before. I've been in them, but never driven it myself.

Can you really feel the difference between the fwd and the rwd in DAILY DRIVING? Or is the difference only noticeable when racing? Are the launches more smooth with rwd?

I've read a couple magazine articles saying that the celica doesnt remind you that it's a fwd car, so im just wondering if theres really any big difference between the two in regular, every day driving.

In normal driving you won't notice any difference. You will start to notice a big difference once your driving becomes more spirited. RWD car do launch smoother than most FWD cars.

[n2oxide]

... i've driven a couple RWD sports coupes and handling is ridiculously scary. i would tremble in fear whenever i saw a puddle of water. it feels like you're floating around turns, whereas in the celica, you feel like you're one w/ them.:thumbup:

the better launchign is more due to the fact of weight transfer. when you launch, the weight is shifted backwards, so having a RWD car gives an advantage.

[AkUmA]

the difference i felt from rwd to fwd, was mostly in racing the car. from a dead stop at a light, the power was put down better in the rwd car. taking corners was a little more fun in the rwd car, but could get scary at times. but for the celica, taking corners, for some reason its like the car is asking for more.:gap: this was going from a 300zx(z32) to the celica. both car have their strong points, just in different areas.

[2002GT_Celica]

You can feel it even when driving semi-quick. RWD feels the best if you ask me.

[Tikked Again]

Fwd pulls

Rwd pushes

Oh...and RWd owns you.

I do notice a difference in my every day driving in my rwd cars compared to fwd....turning radius....it's larger :)

[ArchangelX]

Dude...if you're not ready for it...you won't be expecting it when you end up whipping around a corner.

I practically did a 180-degree turn when I launched my 7 one night (kinda damp).

I also habitually brought the end out around corners.

I suppose it depends on what type of RWD car you get..if it's kinda low powered, you won't notice a difference...but man..if you get something with a good HP to WT ratio...watch out..lol.

There's nothing like it though...it's pretty badazz. I can see why people prefer RWD. It's just fun. :thumbup:

[JDM H22A]

Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con
because RWD cars don't experience wheel hop.
You never drove a Z32, I take it...

[143hawaii]

Originally posted by ArchangelX
I suppose it depends on what type of RWD car you get..if it's kinda low powered, you won't notice a difference...but man..if you get something with a good HP to WT ratio...watch out..lol.

That's a bit contradictory, you can be "low-powered" but have a good "power-to-weight ratio."

RWD :thumbup:

[ArchangelX]

Well..most RWDs that have low power and are fat aren't going to have a good HP to weight ratio (that's what I meant)..if ya think about it, but ya I see your point. I was typing at work..hehehe..so I was kinda playing hide and go seek with the screen. :gap:

You guys should check out the Best Motoring video I posted that has the Type-R going against the Nissan Silvia turbo...that Type-R kept up just fine on Tsukuba.

[143hawaii]

Did you see the MR-S with the 2ZZ whoop the S15 both downhill and uphill? He also would've won the NA vs. Turbo battle if he didn't get cocky towards the end of the race.

I'm aiming for only 200 rwhp but realistically should get to only about 170 in the next month or so. It's a puny numbers by standards...but my car's rated weight is only 2195lbs. Other members who've went the weight reduction route are at the 2000lbs. mark already with a full interior and they still have more things to do.

[ArchangelX]

Oh ya...completly forgot about the MR2s..and the Elises...my bad. I'm a dumbass.

The Elise is RWD, right? The MR2 is ridiculous...hehehe.

[APRoMeO637]

Dude...if you're not ready for it...you won't be expecting it

Jus drove my sisters 350Z... the first time ive ever driven a RWD and yesss i wasnt expecting it... u get knocked to the back of the seat!!! Great to launch with!!! :thumbup:

[143hawaii]

Originally posted by ArchangelX
Oh ya...completly forgot about the MR2s..and the Elises...my bad. I'm a dumbass.

The Elise is RWD, right? The MR2 is ridiculous...hehehe.

Yep, the Elise is RWD.

Come summer time hopefully my friends FD3S is all fixed up to par. By then my car should be setup and ready to rock. Then we can do a little comparison between friends at auto-x, S2000 vs. MR2-S turbo'd vs. RX-7 TT. :D

[Jersey Jay]

Originally posted by ArchangelX
Dude...if you're not ready for it...you won't be expecting it when you end up whipping around a corner.

I practically did a 180-degree turn when I launched my 7 one night (kinda damp).

I also habitually brought the end out around corners.

I suppose it depends on what type of RWD car you get..if it's kinda low powered, you won't notice a difference...but man..if you get something with a good HP to WT ratio...watch out..lol.

There's nothing like it though...it's pretty badazz. I can see why people prefer RWD. It's just fun. :thumbup: No contest RWD all the way in a sports car, more potential to put the power to the ground verses a FWD. :bowdown: :naughty: :burnout:

[143hawaii]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the "handling aspects."

[Hepnotic]

How much would it cost to convert the celica to rwd? ;)

[ArchangelX]

Alot. Someone is doing it from what I remember though...

[richmds]

In RWD's you get more of a pushed into your seat feel when you take off.
As for handling its better and worse in some aspects, for instance in a FWD car you wont power slide or drift, whereas with a RWD car with enough power it will slide everytime you take a corner too hard.
When it comes to racing a RWD car that slides will maintain better speed and times than a FWD car.

[DnDs00GTS]

RWD cars are definitely launch better than the FWD's. As far as handling is concerned, it depends on how skilled a driver you are. I know with my 91 mr2, it has a tendency to oversteer because of the way the suspension is setup. In the 93+ models, toyota toned down the suspension to reduce oversteer. However, a lot of the auto-x'ers prefer the pre 93's! If you're an OK driver, then you'd probably do better on a road course with a FWD. All the exotics are RWD for a reason... ferrari, porsche, lamborghine, etc...

[Fiero]

RWD allows you to do some fun stuff. Try doing a U Turn and laying on the gas.

Honestly, it takes a while to get used to a RWD car. Most people have grown up on FWD and are more comfortable with it. So when they get behind the wheel of a RWD car or lord forbid a Mid-engine RWD car, there is a steep learning curve. Just watch out for snap oversteer.

As for handling aspects...well... it really is about how the car is designed. Most of the best cars in the world are RWD though.

[FriedRice]

i think i've said this or read this here before, but next time, go to a supermarket, get a cart.

RWD: push from back
FWD: pull from front

do u know why everyone pushes from back? better handling (for those crazy supermarket autocrosses) but yea... pulling with ur turning wheels dramatically decreases effectiveness of both turning AND acceleration.

although RWD is not always funner. i had an RWD minivan. not really fun at all...

but yea...... next car will be some sort of m/t RWD.

once the tires get weaker its time to take it sideways (drift) :)

feel free to correct me if im wrong... but yea FWD is good to start out with, but for some reason FWD will always be a step below RWD IMO. (yes yes i know the ITR kicks ass...)

[F35-JSF]

I love my T-a in the summer it full throttle turns,burnouts, drifting and some crazy smokey U turns at the end of my street are fun but it costs ya. Tire disappears quick when I'm driving like I'm Michael Knight. http://transamgta.com/MessageBoard/images/smilies/aag.gif And of course during the winter time driving it is like driving a sled and up hills are near impossible when slick. Of course I rather have A RWD car in the snow than A FWD.

[Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con]

Originally posted by 143hawaii
I'm surprised no one mentioned the "handling aspects."

because that's not what the question was about.. The question is will you notice a difference between FWD and RWD during daily driving. Which to me means normal *non agressive* city driving. I don't think handling aspects really come into play with this kind of driving.

[dawgg]

fwd cars are much much more forgiving for the average driver when driven hard. Fwd cars tend to understeer when cornering hard. Meaning it won't turn as sharply as u want it to. This is easy to correct my getting off the gas. Rwd cars tend to oversteer, meanin the rear end kicks out on u. U should be comfortable with reverse lock steering if you're gonna drive a rwd car hard. This depends a lot on the car, but rwd cars can often corner faster due to the fact that u're not trying to put power down and turn using the same tires as u do in a fwd car. Cornering and putting power down both tax your tires traction capabilities so you have to find a balance between the 2. Rwd cars spit the duty between the front and rear tires.

rwd cars can definitely experiance wheel hop. My rx7 wheel hops like crazy if i don't get a good launch. On hard shifts the car sometimes likes to get sideways when the wheels start spinning. Where as with the celica i can slam it into 2nd, spin the tires hard and it will have no problem staying straight.

[PonyGirl]

With RWD you get a fantastic launch - it doesn't feel as forced as a FWD car. And you're correct in the turning radius being wider. Parking lots tended to pose a problem for me ;) And the in the passing power, there's a slight difference, but not much. But once you get going, watch out for rain, snow and ice! Spinning out will become commonplace. Put some sandbags in the trunk during the winter!

I miss my Tbird :(