RWD vs. FWD
I learned my personal lesson when I crashed my FWD car 6 years ago under understeer. ( try doing 60mph and make a left turn, yes I know, I was racing 
) when I lost my control, I couldn't gain anything back except just watching my front end went in the a wall...
where 1 month later, I did the samething ( I know, I was young and not learning it from my mistake.
) in my Porsche 944 turbo where when I lost control in the turn, I just had to adjust my throttle position to gain my control back... long story, but since then my beater Camry is the only FWD I have over in the last 6 years, considering I have had changed like 30 cars during this time... 
) when I lost my control, I couldn't gain anything back except just watching my front end went in the a wall...where 1 month later, I did the samething ( I know, I was young and not learning it from my mistake.
) in my Porsche 944 turbo where when I lost control in the turn, I just had to adjust my throttle position to gain my control back... long story, but since then my beater Camry is the only FWD I have over in the last 6 years, considering I have had changed like 30 cars during this time...
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,212
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I learned my personal lesson when I crashed my FWD car 6 years ago under understeer. ( try doing 60mph and make a left turn, yes I know, I was racing ) when I lost my control, I couldn't gain anything back except just watching my front end went in the a wall...
where 1 month later, I did the samething ( I know, I was young and not learning it from my mistake. ) in my Porsche 944 turbo where when I lost control in the turn, I just had to adjust my throttle position to gain my control back... long story, but since then my beater Camry is the only FWD I have over in the last 6 years, considering I have had changed like 30 cars during this time...
) when I lost my control, I couldn't gain anything back except just watching my front end went in the a wall...where 1 month later, I did the samething ( I know, I was young and not learning it from my mistake.
) in my Porsche 944 turbo where when I lost control in the turn, I just had to adjust my throttle position to gain my control back... long story, but since then my beater Camry is the only FWD I have over in the last 6 years, considering I have had changed like 30 cars during this time... Seriously loosing traction in FWD and RWD, FWD will still be easier to control, in their limits of course. At limit, RWD cars usually tend to violently loose traction...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,327
Likes: 1
From: 溫哥華
AWD is boring.
Driver
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: NJ
If you like to play in the dirt.
Seriously, if AWD was the best drivetrain platform then why are Formula One cars RWD?
Caligirl,
I can sympathies regarding LA traffic, lived there for 33 years. However there are many, many canyons in which you can enjoy some spirited driving. I do recommend getting some lessons. I do believe everyone that drives should learn how to control their car in a slide.
Seriously, if AWD was the best drivetrain platform then why are Formula One cars RWD?
Caligirl,
I can sympathies regarding LA traffic, lived there for 33 years. However there are many, many canyons in which you can enjoy some spirited driving. I do recommend getting some lessons. I do believe everyone that drives should learn how to control their car in a slide.
Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: alaska
because they dont play in the snow, mud and dirt :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7JQv...elated&search=
Tiff Needell Rear wheel Drive Techniques
Last edited by siamiam; Oct 11, 2006 at 11:06 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: CA
comparing my experience with an ES and IS. i dont know if the fact that the ES was a boat but when making a sharp turn, the ES felt nose heavy with a lot of body roll. Whereas making a turn on the IS, I dont feel any body roll nor feel like im gonna go through the windshield. this is my assessment of what FWD v RWD feels like when handling it.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 9
From: Michigan
Should you ever find yourself in a skid (God forbid), don't try turning the steering completely the oppostie direction. Turn it to the direction you want to go, no more, no less. And keep making those adjustments to keep the car in control.
Hehe....
Hehe....
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Luxury and performance cars a great majority of the time are RWD. It's good for acceleration because when you press the gas, the weight transfers back to the rear wheels, which need the traction. It also gives the driver a better feel for the drive. It allows you to almost steer with the gas pedal through a turn, I find.
FWD's faults benefit the consumer in one way. The physics of the drivetrain allow the use of all seasons tires year round.
As for skidding, FWD is not very likely to lose it in a turn, because the tires that steer also have the ability to pull in that direction.
Losing it with RWD is either a) the front wheels losing their traction going into a turn and the rears continuing to go in the direction they were in. This is corrected by steering into the direction the car is sliding in.
Or b) the rear wheels are spinning to fast through a turn and the back starts to come out. This is usually fixed by letting off the gas enough to have the wheels get back traction, but not pulling off the gas altogether.
Now, an issue with RWD cars and skidding is the panic of the situation can easily result in the car fishtailing all over the road. This is because of over-corrections. The car isn't going where you want, so you continue to steer away. Eventually the tires catch, and suddenly you're veering well past the point you wanted to go towards. Then you basically repeat in the opposite direction. The only way to avoid this is practice with your car. It will give you a feel for the cars limits and show you how to steer out of a skid and not fishtail afterwards (ie. patience).
Whether you have FWD or RWD, it's important to know how to drive your car. And if you're willing to learn, it shouldn't make that big a difference to you either way.
FWD's faults benefit the consumer in one way. The physics of the drivetrain allow the use of all seasons tires year round.
As for skidding, FWD is not very likely to lose it in a turn, because the tires that steer also have the ability to pull in that direction.
Losing it with RWD is either a) the front wheels losing their traction going into a turn and the rears continuing to go in the direction they were in. This is corrected by steering into the direction the car is sliding in.
Or b) the rear wheels are spinning to fast through a turn and the back starts to come out. This is usually fixed by letting off the gas enough to have the wheels get back traction, but not pulling off the gas altogether.
Now, an issue with RWD cars and skidding is the panic of the situation can easily result in the car fishtailing all over the road. This is because of over-corrections. The car isn't going where you want, so you continue to steer away. Eventually the tires catch, and suddenly you're veering well past the point you wanted to go towards. Then you basically repeat in the opposite direction. The only way to avoid this is practice with your car. It will give you a feel for the cars limits and show you how to steer out of a skid and not fishtail afterwards (ie. patience).
Whether you have FWD or RWD, it's important to know how to drive your car. And if you're willing to learn, it shouldn't make that big a difference to you either way.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs