Front-Wheel Drive...
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,334
Likes: 237
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Decades ago, with one exception (my 2001 Lexus IS300, which I kept for 5 years), starting in the late 1970s, I gave up on RWD cars, mainly because I simply got tired of THIS...................
Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 5, 2011 at 10:57 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,364
Likes: 347
From: Las Vegas
I've only owned RWD, but i've driven FWD. I just feel RWD is a more pleasant experience.
I drove my 89 Pontiac Firebird all through high school, and it was definitely fun in the winter. It forced me to learn how to drive in inclement weather. I got to where it was pretty simple. It also had bald tires for most of the time I owned it.
My rule for a RWD car is this: Fat people ride in the backseat
I drove my 89 Pontiac Firebird all through high school, and it was definitely fun in the winter. It forced me to learn how to drive in inclement weather. I got to where it was pretty simple. It also had bald tires for most of the time I owned it.
My rule for a RWD car is this: Fat people ride in the backseat
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
From: CA
In theory, especially looking at the performance perspective, RWD >>> FWD. There is no question about it.
However, for regular production cars that you see on the roads every day, going around and claim all RWD cars are >>> FWD are just ignorant. There are FWD cars that will run circle around RWD cars to the moon and back.
Yes, rear spoiler benefits ALL cars. Its job is to reduce lift regardless of being RWD or FWD.
However, for regular production cars that you see on the roads every day, going around and claim all RWD cars are >>> FWD are just ignorant. There are FWD cars that will run circle around RWD cars to the moon and back.
Yes, rear spoiler benefits ALL cars. Its job is to reduce lift regardless of being RWD or FWD.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,334
Likes: 237
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 are two small FWD products that are particularly agile and manuverable. They don't have monstrous power (though the John Works Mini has a fair amount of spunk), but they can follow the twisties like there is no tomorrow.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 0
From: FL
I think FWD is perfect for 90% of the population out there and perfect for a DD or beater. If I am building a car for big power RWD and AWD is the only way to go, trying to do that in a FWD causes one of the biggest things I hate, torquesteer !!
Has anyone here driven a Mazdaspeed 3 ?? Then you know what I am talking about !
Has anyone here driven a Mazdaspeed 3 ?? Then you know what I am talking about !
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,334
Likes: 237
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I think FWD is perfect for 90% of the population out there and perfect for a DD or beater. If I am building a car for big power RWD and AWD is the only way to go, trying to do that in a FWD causes one of the biggest things I hate, torquesteer !!
Has anyone here driven a Mazdaspeed 3 ?? Then you know what I am talking about !
Has anyone here driven a Mazdaspeed 3 ?? Then you know what I am talking about !
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Posts: n/a
I disagree you can't tell the difference driving around town. You can tell if you are being pulled or pushed. When you turn any corner the difference is even more obvious as the FWD car is pulling & steering. While its not bad in most cases today there is a difference.
FWD is FWD for efficiency, packaging and b/c its CHEAPER. Period. If a company has mad FWD competitive or even great, well that is great and they should be applauded. However in the end, it can never match the feeling of driving a RWD car.
FWD is FWD for efficiency, packaging and b/c its CHEAPER. Period. If a company has mad FWD competitive or even great, well that is great and they should be applauded. However in the end, it can never match the feeling of driving a RWD car.
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Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (16)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Biggest culprit guilty of this? Acura! It's Honda's premium brand and all of their current vehicles are FWD or FWD based AWD cars, Not one current RWD car in their stable!...Even Toyota's "Lexus" and Nissan's "Infiniti" brand have more RWD cars that out number their FWD selection in their current stable of cars.
My two cars I rotate driving weekly are polar opposites. One is a FWD. I have no problem with FWD cars. I would take certain FWD cars over many RWD cars, but generally it just depends on the car for me and if its going to be my daily beater or play car.
Biggest culprit guilty of this? Acura! It's Honda's premium brand and all of their current vehicles are FWD or FWD based AWD cars, Not one current RWD car in their stable!...Even Toyota's "Lexus" and Nissan's "Infiniti" brand have more RWD cars that out number their FWD selection in their current stable of cars.
Last edited by T0ked; Oct 6, 2011 at 06:11 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: California
I live in a non-snow climate (with an exception maybe once every 10 years), so I have no need for AWD. If I want something practical and easygoing, I don't care if it's front-wheel-drive or one-wheel-drive or whatever. A person driving an appliance for transportation will get no questions from me.
But if I want a performance car, I would want to start out with the most dynamically balanced drivetrain configurations. Some people like FR, some like MR. Some people even like RR. It doesn't take away the credibility of the transportation appliances that people around me drive.
But if I want a performance car, I would want to start out with the most dynamically balanced drivetrain configurations. Some people like FR, some like MR. Some people even like RR. It doesn't take away the credibility of the transportation appliances that people around me drive.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
I simply hate driving FWD. That's all there is to it.
I had two Camrys before owning my GS, and I would never go back (and not just for the luxuries). RWD feels a lot more balanced and stable on the road, and especially during spirited driving. When I drive our ES 350, I get the exact same feeling: the front end gets twitchy when you do any kind of quick maneuver, torque steer when you mash the throttle, front tires spin pretty easily, etc.
I brought my car in for the 90K this morning and was given a FWD RX350 loaner. On the way back to work, I was on a hill waiting to make a left turn, a space opened in traffic and I gunned the gas to make the turn. Due to the uphill street, FWD and 275hp V6, the front tires skidded for a good 4-5 seconds before actually getting traction and accelerating. I didn't mash the pedal to the ground either - maybe half way to get speed to make it across the street.
I had two Camrys before owning my GS, and I would never go back (and not just for the luxuries). RWD feels a lot more balanced and stable on the road, and especially during spirited driving. When I drive our ES 350, I get the exact same feeling: the front end gets twitchy when you do any kind of quick maneuver, torque steer when you mash the throttle, front tires spin pretty easily, etc.
I brought my car in for the 90K this morning and was given a FWD RX350 loaner. On the way back to work, I was on a hill waiting to make a left turn, a space opened in traffic and I gunned the gas to make the turn. Due to the uphill street, FWD and 275hp V6, the front tires skidded for a good 4-5 seconds before actually getting traction and accelerating. I didn't mash the pedal to the ground either - maybe half way to get speed to make it across the street.