I havent driven a RWD car long enough to know all the differences between FWD and RWD, but I have a friend who is so bent on getting a RWD, but he is clueless and is blinded by the myth that RWD cars are the best or something.

I know RWD and FWD cars have their place, but what exactly are the differences, needed applications, and uses between them?

FWD-
-more legroom in the front
-more economical?

RWD-
-better for turning?
-more control?

any help would be great

 

Since the turning wheels in a RWD car are unweighted, steering feel is usually higher and since all they have to do is turn and not accelerate the car, you get less understeer, where the wheels want to go straight. a front engine RWD also has better weight distribution. Theres a lot more..pick up a book and read.

 

This is a joke, right?

 

I just sold my rwd Nissan 240 sx and bought a fwd cl. The cl feels great but there is a difference on both acceleration and handling. The main issue is the weight distribution. That is why mid-engine cars are so desirable.

 

nope. im pretty clueless. do i not deserve my license anymore?

 

FWD = the motor drives the FRONT WHEELS

RWD = the motor drives the REAR WHEELS :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd: :shakehd:

 

Well back in the old days like say late 1970s & early 80s the FWD cars could handle better in the snow. The FWD cars could get better traction.This was before traction control systems & everybody had Suvs with AWD . I remember when I got my 1st new car a 1980 Honda Prelude I could run circles around big & small RWD cars in the snow. The weight of the engine was on the drive wheels.

 

Some very crude basics

http://rearwheeldrive.org/rwdbenefits.html

 

try driving bmw in the snow, forget it!!!!!!

 

RWD advantages better acceleration due to weight transfer, better turning radius, less understeer, push out of corners.

Fwd advantages better control in fowl weather rain, snow..., pull out of corners. Genuinely easier to drive for normal people.(it's a lot harder to get a FWD lose)

I prefer a RWD car over a FWD car for its handling characteristics, but if your friend has never had a RWD car he has got a good chance of losing control if the car has any power.Tell him to take it slow in learning the differences. Also would not recommend it if it is his only car and you live where it snows a lot.

 

This is why cars like Mustang 5.0s are no good in the snow.
They have plenty of power but are RWD cars. I have known people with BMW & BENZ cars that are not that great in fowl weather also.

 

A guy I work with has a BMW 330 AUTO with a traction control system similar to the Acura VSA.
He inquired about my Blizzak’s when he saw them on my car last winter.
I told him how much better the control was in the snow after I got them.

He went out and bought a spare set of steel rims and a set of them for himself.
He said they only made a slight improvement with the ability to start out on hills, but the car was still a “handful” to drive in anything deeper then 3 or 4 inches of snow.

Shawn S

 

i have the RL and i reallyhate how its 4 speed.lol

but my question is ..is The RL a rWD? i think it is.not sure

 

Good info.....

 

Only when going in reverse. RL=FWD.