massr1

i know a rwd car has the advantage off the line in a race, but as the two cars gain speed does the rwd car still have the advantage (in a straight line)? or will the fwd with more hp prevail? i had a little run in with a new mustang v6, he sped past me but i quickly caught up (130kph) and past him with the vsa still on

Mizouse

well v6 mustang is only 210hp so compare that to your 270, i think its a sure thing that your fwd will prevail

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Give equal cars with only the difference being the drivetrain configuration of FWD vs. RWD, the RWD will even every time. It has an advantage coming out of the hole, and that initial gap will just keep widening.

RWD is just superior all around. Even in the snow. Yeah, some people will disagree, but I've driven RWD and FWD on a regular basis in the snow (and I live in Michigan, too... lots of snow) and I prefer RWD. My next car will definitely be RWD.

sbuswell

yeah I would beg to differ that RWD is good in the snow as FWD or even close. I have driven RWD cars with snow tire on and they suck in the snow, what kind of RWD car are you driving in the snow. I've driven 94 thunderbird, 98 ranger, mustangs, 2wd SUV's, and so on.

massr1

our old mpv was terrible in the snow because of the rwd, we even had snow tires but they were only on in the back wheels. my mom got stuck a few times in snow banks because of the poor traction. but it was good for burnouts in the summer!

bmoreTLS

must be a rwd with the engine in the back... otherwise there's not enough weight to give you traction.

massr1

We used to keep a 150lb steel bar in the back but it didnt help much

ResidualFreedom

I had two 130 pound lead plates in my bed of my S-10, they are counter weights for elevators, even with that weight, the driving in the snow was terrible and sometimes very scary...

I've read somewhere that the "turning point"to the scale is 300hp.. Above 300hp is too much power for the front tires to be pulling the car.... RWD and AWD should be the only choice above 300hp..

sbuswell

300hp can be controlled for FWD car, it would need suspension upgrades and be lowered to lessen the torque steer. 300hp+ is defintely better in a RWD confriguration. RWD vs. FWD same cars and specs from a dig, RWD will pull ahead and after 50-60mph the acceleration should be the same, the RWD would stay ahead but shouldn';t widen the gap once the cars are both moving forward at WOT and have both gained good traction. HP is HP in either configuration.

ResidualFreedom

I should re-word what I meant to say, Manufacturers of cars tend to use the 300hp scale when designing cars, typically the 300hp would be more appropriate in a RWD car or AWD of course.

I know a FWD car can handle the power of 300hp+, it's just better suited in a RWD car.

sbuswell

i agree RWD is superior, i wish i had AWD on my TL, Maine winters suck and until i have plenty of money to spend on a summer car RWD will be only in my dreams.

paul_huryk

As an owner of a TL and multiple RWD cars, I can tell you this - all things being equal, a RWD car has the advantage off the line, but that is all.

Its really an apple to oranges comparison typically as FWD cars typically do not have the TQ of RWD cars - the G35 vs. TL comparison is a good one - both 260hp, the RWD car has more TQ, the FWD has less. So the RWD car shoulde be faster 80% of the time.

A while back I raced a friend in a 350 IROC - the car ran 14.3 at the track. From a dead stop he pulled 4 or 5 cars on me to 60 - but then couldn't gain any more. From a 45mph roll we were dead even every time. I assume both cars had 260hp and weighed the same - it was the TQ and RWD that made a race off the line a massacre.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

At the drag strip, yeah that's the only advantage... that shows. On a road-course, the balance of RWD totally outshines FWD.

Are you saying that RWD automatically equals more torque? If so, that's not true. It depends on the engine output. Just because a car is RWD it doesn't mean it has more torque than a FWD.

Not just torque and drivetrain configuration. Traction is a major factor, along with weight, gearing ratios, drivetrain loss, etc.

ultimatetl

I think rwd is better off the line.
why do you think cheeta's (or tiger, lion,etc....) hind legs are bigger and stronger than front ones?