Any other RWD purists out there?

[Adunaphel]

Oh, I know how much fun a well-sorted FWD chassis can be. I experienced a balls-out lap on the Nordschleife in a Megane R26R driven by Tim Schrick. But still, you could tell that it was FWD, because when he stood on the throttle, the car instantly pulled towards the outside of the corner (not really understeer, but you could feel that the car was being pulled towards the outside). That being said, I wish my car was as fast or as sharp as that thing. But I still have that nagging feeling that if it had been RWD, it would've been even better.

[LeVeL]

Originally Posted by Adunaphel

Oh, I know how much fun a well-sorted FWD chassis can be. I experienced a balls-out lap on the Nordschleife in a Megane R26R driven by Tim Schrick. But still, you could tell that it was FWD, because when he stood on the throttle, the car instantly pulled towards the outside of the corner (not really understeer, but you could feel that the car was being pulled towards the outside). That being said, I wish my car was as fast or as sharp as that thing. But I still have that nagging feeling that if it had been RWD, it would've been even better.

That's torque-steer. RWD would most likely be faster and more fun, but we're talking about the Nordschleife. How many of us track our cars on a regular basis? Better yet, how many of us track out daily drivers on a regular basis?

There are plenty of good, fast, FUN FWD cars out there. And like I said before, at least in my daily commute drivetrain just didn't matter (AWD gets a slight edge I guess for stability in the rain and such). On an empty wondering backroad you shouldn't be at the limit in any car, so it won't matter as much as on a track, but I will admit that even at 8/10ths RWD will be ever so slightly more fun.

I guess my overall point is that RWD is "better" but its not a world of difference like some members here like to think. FWD can be a lot of fun and 99% of you will never truly use RWD the way you wouldn't a FWD car.

[Night_Hawk]

After driving fun FWD cars and boring FWD cars as well as fun RWD cars along with boring RWD cars. and the same with 4WD (well just a jeep wrangler but still stupidly easy to do the Ken Block stuff in the snow)

I can say I'm one of the guys who wouldn't buy FWD, most of the facts have been said here already by Spectre and Adunaphel and others.

It's a combination of preference and superiority as far as I'm concerned.

[Adunaphel]

Originally Posted by LeVeL

That's torque-steer. RWD would most likely be faster and more fun, but we're talking about the Nordschleife. How many of us track our cars on a regular basis? Better yet, how many of us track out daily drivers on a regular basis?

There are plenty of good, fast, FUN FWD cars out there. And like I said before, at least in my daily commute drivetrain just didn't matter (AWD gets a slight edge I guess for stability in the rain and such). On an empty wondering backroad you shouldn't be at the limit in any car, so it won't matter as much as on a track, but I will admit that even at 8/10ths RWD will be ever so slightly more fun.

I guess my overall point is that RWD is "better" but its not a world of difference like some members here like to think. FWD can be a lot of fun and 99% of you will never truly use RWD the way you wouldn't a FWD car.

I used to say the same. And then I bought a RWD car as a daily driver.

[LeVeL]

Originally Posted by Adunaphel

I used to say the same. And then I bought a RWD car as a daily driver.

Well to be fair your car isn't exactly sports-car material And I never said that there is anything wrong with having a RWD daily. But yes, the chances of me buying a FWD car next are slim to none, mostly because good/sporty FWD cars are out of my price range (MazdaSpeed3, GTI, Mini, etc)

[Adunaphel]

Originally Posted by LeVeL

Well to be fair your car isn't exactly sports-car material And I never said that there is anything wrong with having a RWD daily. But yes, the chances of me buying a FWD car next are slim to none, mostly because good/sporty FWD cars are out of my price range (MazdaSpeed3, GTI, Mini, etc)

Go drive a 190E, you might revise that opinion

[Magnet]

See my cars.

I don't go sideways on every corner I come across, but it's nice to know the possibility is there.

[public]

It might only be because I haven't owned a RWD car, but I don't mind FWD. In fact, I like a light FWD car with direct steering feel and that ever-important chuckability.

But give me a clean, well-specced AE86 (and limitless driver training) and let's see if my opinion can be changed.

[AarheadC]

I had similar thoughts, though not as extreme as OP, but after driving a Mini Cooper S around for a bit, I realized FWD does have potential.

But when given the choice, I will always go for the RWD with limited-slip diff over anything else.

[thevictor390]

I love my car and its rear wheel drive, but there's no denying that it's impractical. Even in the family's various front wheel drive cars over the years, there are days when it takes 15 minutes of sanding and running starts to get out of the driveway.

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by Posmo

I do like all of the things you mentioned, I was just too lazy to put them in my post. And also you guys have missed the point of the thread a bit. What I'm asking is:

Are there other people here who simply couldn't buy a front wheel drive car?

Yes, this is why I drive what I drive.

[epp_b]

So, I ask you, are there any other people here who feel that front (fail) wheel drive is for feeble people who don't know what they are missing?

YES

I will never have a car that is either FWD or automatic. Period.

AWD/4WD would probably be alright, but RWD is too much fun!

I just happened to drive a powerful RWD car in heavy rain.

155hp around a smooth, sweeping corner in the rain is just about perfect

I used to say the same. And then I bought a RWD car as a daily driver.

Exactly. You never realize how often you actually-- oops, hold on, I just need to power on around this corner...

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by epp_b

YES

I will never have a car that is either FWD or automatic. Period.

AWD/4WD would probably be alright, but RWD is too much fun!


155hp around a smooth, sweeping corner in the rain is just about perfect


Exactly. You never realize how often you actually-- oops, hold on, I just need to power on around this corner...

240 drivers.....

[lnldrvr]

Well, I'm rwd purist. But since I have no money to buy any rwd car made after ~2005, I just have to drive my boring fwd car. Everyday I miss having a rear wheel drive. I just think about all the fun I'm missing, all the nice roundabouts, intersections, all the places to have some powersliding fun... It's depressing to drive a fwd car.

[2Billion]

They both have their place quite frankly. RWD for sports cars and anything above a mid-sized sedan in class, FWD for many other things. Quite frankly, if you can't have fun in a FWD car, learn to drive. Yes, you can have more fun in something RWD, that's why sports cars need it, but stuff like hot hatches and smaller FWD cars are plenty of entertainment as well. The most fun I've ever had in a car was a half-rusted Honda Civic, which was so light and pitch-able that you could do absolutely anything you wanted with it.

To put it really short, RWD might be more fun, but FWD isn't the devil people make it out to be.

[Night_Hawk]

I sold a $250 FWD car and replaced it with a $1900 RWD car and I've been satisfied ever since. And the only problems with the Thunderbird have absolutely nothing to do with the driven wheels.

And I think the snow driving arguement is invalid as long as RWD drivers like me and Posmo keep getting more and more snow every winter than pretty much everyone in North America. I'm using snow tires currently for the first time ever and It's only because they came with the car previously mounted to matching alloys.

[NooDle]

Originally Posted by Adunaphel

Go drive a 190E, you might revise that opinion

To any RWD enthusiast who says that ALL FWD Cars are boring: Go drive a Mini Cooper, you might revise that opinion

[Suedschleife]

The theoretical performance potential of RWD is obvious, the reality however seems to be that most drivers can't unlock their car's potential most of the time, not only due to a lack of skill but also opportunity. Furthermore the RWD advantages rarely materialize with heavy low power cars on everything but the slowest of corners, where acceleration might actually be a significant factor in the friction circle.

There's one thing FWD does better, inspiring confidence with its forgiving nature.

There're some excellent FWD cars out there and quite a few shitty RWD ones. Hell, while Adu got his ride with Tim, I was getting a ride with another pro driver in a 996 Carrera and we got whooped by a Clio RS through the bendy bits.

So while I'd certainly design any dedicated sports car with RWD, don't knock the FWDs, you might be missing out on some great cars.

[thevictor390]

Originally Posted by Night_Hawk

And I think the snow driving arguement is invalid as long as RWD drivers like me and Posmo keep getting more and more snow every winter than pretty much everyone in North America. I'm using snow tires currently for the first time ever and It's only because they came with the car previously mounted to matching alloys.

One word: hills. As I said, I get stuck in my own driveway!

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by thevictor390

One word: hills. As I said, I get stuck in my own driveway!

LOL was gonna say that