rwd vs fwd??

[Stew]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I don't consider AWD to be superior at all. Heavier, higher losses, and tendency towards understeer, more nose weight. Biggest advantage it has is in low speed acceleration (or other low traction situations). Beyond that, I see it as a hindrance.


fyi, there is an edit button ()

Fixed was hurrying and didn't proofread LOL

[jcamaro]

Ass Dragger:


Ass Hauler:

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Yes it's heavier and loses a little more power, however the only situation where that loss power would be needed is usually top speed runs. On tracks, top speed isn't a number one priority because acceleration and handling come well before that worry.

Top speed doesn't matter as much as the time it takes to get there. Less (wheel) power trying to move more weight accelerates slower.

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by jcamaro

Ass Dragger:

Why does that FWD Honda have a wheelie bar?

[Number 3]

Mostly covered, but the biggest issue is the loss of "control" when the steered wheels break loose. If you are in a corner in a RWD car you can appropriately apply power and easily modulate the car through the corner even if the driving wheels come loose. In a FWD car, the problem is that if you apply power in a corner and your steered wheels come loose then you are going to loose at least some control. This is the same for breaking and accelerating. In a RWD car, the weight shifts to the driven wheels on acceleration while the opposite occurs in a FWD car where the weight transfers away from the driven wheels. And on braking, the driven wheels load up on a FWD car.

So 1/4 mile FWD cars aside ( and sorry, that's is just a bit one dimensional ) a RWD car will have better/superior dynamics to a FWD car.

That being said, it is a very close comparison these days. Modern chassis controls and suspension tuning clearly result in some awesome FWD cars.

I would suggest that on a road course, 8 out 10 drivers would be hard pressed to tell the difference. In a population of enthusiasts like us here on Camaro5, that number goes down quite a bit...............IMO.

But to quote a guy I knew in college, FWD just means that in the winter you can spin your tires in any direction you choose. LOL

[09'Z28]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

Why does that FWD Honda have a wheelie bar?

most likely to stop it from lifting far enough for the front tire to lose grip

[1985HOL69305]

I like RWD because it seems a whole lot less complicated, better handling, the front wheels steer and don't lose power because they're not propelling the car and steering, they corner better, you probably get the point now, they are faster, etc. etc.,........

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Mostly covered, but the biggest issue is the loss of "control" when the steered wheels break loose. If you are in a corner in a RWD car you can appropriately apply power and easily modulate the car through the corner even if the driving wheels come loose. In a FWD car, the problem is that if you apply power in a corner and your steered wheels come loose then you are going to loose at least some control. This is the same for breaking and accelerating. In a RWD car, the weight shifts to the driven wheels on acceleration while the opposite occurs in a FWD car where the weight transfers away from the driven wheels. And on braking, the driven wheels load up on a FWD car.

So 1/4 mile FWD cars aside ( and sorry, that's is just a bit one dimensional ) a RWD car will have better/superior dynamics to a FWD car.

That being said, it is a very close comparison these days. Modern chassis controls and suspension tuning clearly result in some awesome FWD cars.

I would suggest that on a road course, 8 out 10 drivers would be hard pressed to tell the difference. In a population of enthusiasts like us here on Camaro5, that number goes down quite a bit...............IMO.

But to quote a guy I knew in college, FWD just means that in the winter you can spin your tires in any direction you choose. LOL

I know FWD is slightly inferior to RWD, just as RWD is slightly inferior to AWD. I was just defending the fact that a FWD vehicle has managed to outdo similarly-priced AWD/RWD cars, as well as reach 7s in the 1/4 mile. In reality, FWD performance isn't anything to "shake your head at."

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

I know FWD is slightly inferior to RWD, just as RWD is slightly inferior to AWD. I was just defending the fact that a FWD vehicle has managed to outdo similarly-priced AWD/RWD cars, as well as reach 7s in the 1/4 mile. In reality, FWD performance isn't anything to "shake your head at."

I shake my head because for all the effort that gets put into making a fwd car perform, an equal effort put into rwd (or awd) would yeild better results. Its not because I'm under some false belief that rwd is always superior to fwd. Each one has their purpose. And the purpose of fwd is not to deliver performance. With enough work, just about anything is possible. If I trained day in, day out, over the course of months, I could probably do a marathon. But being stuck with a broad frame, short limbs, and heavy build it will take a lot more effort than someone tall and lithe. But I guarantee you that could crush those beanpoles if we were playing rugby. Its a matter of sticking to what you're good at. I'm not good for distance running, fwd isn't good for performance.

I still want to learn more about that 7s fwd Honda, btw.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I shake my head because for all the effort that gets put into making a fwd car perform, an equal effort put into rwd (or awd) would yeild better results. Its not because I'm under some false belief that rwd is always superior to fwd. Each one has their purpose. And the purpose of fwd is not to deliver performance. With enough work, just about anything is possible. If I trained day in, day out, over the course of months, I could probably do a marathon. But being stuck with a broad frame, short limbs, and heavy build it will take a lot more effort than someone tall and lithe. But I guarantee you that could crush those beanpoles if we were playing rugby. Its a matter of sticking to what you're good at. I'm not good for distance running, fwd isn't good for performance.

I still want to learn more about that 7s fwd Honda, btw.

Contradictory. Again, we all know that RWD is superior to FWD. However, my argument is not with that, it's the notion that FWD performance is worthless. Anything, IMO, that can beat similarly priced vehicles with having an inferior, outdated concept is nothing to disregard.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Contradictory. Again, we all know that RWD is superior to FWD. However, my argument is not with that, it's the notion that FWD performance is worthless. Anything, IMO, that can beat similarly priced vehicles with having an inferior, outdated concept is nothing to disregard.

No its not. I'll use another analogy. Say you need to drive a screw into a piece of wood. You can use a hammer, or a screw driver. The most logical choice would be the screw driver, but if you want to put in a lot of extra effort you can do it with a hammer. Why would you? Well some people enjoy the challenge, some do it just to prove they can, others might not have a choice, and some others are simply clueless when it comes to selecting the proper tool for a job. I see making a fwd performance car in much the same light. But what ever the reason, that does not change the fact that it is a severe handicap.

That car looks to be roughly comparable to a prostock drag car, in terms of work done to it. Prostock's run about 1s quicker. And if thats a Honda, this is a Pontiac:

[CamaroSpike23]

lets see your fwd's do this... lol

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

No its not. I'll use another analogy. Say you need to drive a screw into a piece of wood. You can use a hammer, or a screw driver. The most logical choice would be the screw driver, but if you want to put in a lot of extra effort you can do it with a hammer. Why would you? Well some people enjoy the challenge, some do it just to prove they can, others might not have a choice, and some others are simply clueless when it comes to selecting the proper tool for a job. I see making a fwd performance car in much the same light. But what ever the reason, that does not change the fact that it is a severe handicap.

That car looks to be roughly comparable to a prostock drag car, in terms of work done to it. Prostock's run about 1s quicker. And if thats a Honda, this is a Pontiac:

Again, I'm not arguing its inferiority, like you continue to do. I'm just stating it's stupid to disregard their achievements just because there is something better out there. No matter why a person chooses to make a FWD vehicle, it still has shown it's a capable performer.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

lets see your fwd's do this... lol

Believe me, I know domestic companies hold most of the records for ET and Trap Speeds, however FWDs vehicles have shown they're no pushovers.