FWD vs RWD

[DUST]

OK im starting a big debate on pros and cons of these 2 setups. Please don't abuse each other

All i know is RWD cars are much faster than FWD cars most of the time. Because you can apply more power to a RWD with out losing too much traction and wheel spins.

Lets not talk about which setup is faster on straights and focus more on HANDLING and the use of it around a track.

I drove a twin turbo Supra, fastest mofo car i ever driven!, (loaded with new TITANS swaybars, CUSCO struts, plus BILSTEIN shocks) last weekend and the rear was "starting" to swing at 70km/hr around a bend, if i had push the gas alittle harder, the tyres (Bridgestone RE001) would have lost grip, causing me to counter steer and the like. It was my first time experimenting a RWD car around a bend

Well i've done the same bend on my DC2 loaded with Apexi dampers and SPOON struts, with shitty tyres at a speed of 75-80 km/hr. My car would lose grip around the 80km/hr and you can hear the tyres go screech. It might be a different story if i had track tyres and i could probaly achieve a speed of 85 to maybe even 90 km/hr!!!

So i told my friends FWD will own them in cornering anytime around a track. But there is always one friend who says RWD is the best and always the best etc... So am i wrong to assume that FWD is crap and slow around corners?

So... what are your thoughts guys??? Please discuss!

[e240]

Its probably more difficult to drive a FWD fast compared to a RWD on the track. However, in the real world, it all depends on the road conditions.

[todaek9]

given the same power, same weight, and both with good setup...RWD will be few sec faster on track comparing to fwd...

[barefootbonzai]

given the same power, same weight, and both with good setup...RWD will be few sec faster on track comparing to fwd...

Is that a proven fact, or did you just make it up?

<E240 Edit: Lets not start..>

[EK4R]

regardless i want to know why do fwd and rwd take different lines at a turn.

[DUST]

given the same power, same weight, and both with good setup...RWD will be few sec faster on track comparing to fwd...

Hmmmm, not sure about this but oversteering and rearing out is quite scary at high speeds. Therefore i would probaly go slower because i don't want to lose grip.

The funny thing was my friend told me to convert my FWD to RWD lol... asif anyone wants to waste money doing such conversion. But i have seen it done, where the DC2 engine bay was decked out and place into the boot! So does this mean the DC2 is RWD?

[DUST]

regardless i want to know why do fwd and rwd take different lines at a turn.

Understeer and Oversteer... i guess???

[aaronng]

regardless i want to know why do fwd and rwd take different lines at a turn.

It's because the points at which FWD and RWD can apply throttle in the corner are different.

[intacivic16v]

Very very true

It's because the points at which FWD and RWD can apply throttle in the corner are different.

[intacivic16v]

I've been racing RWD's at hill climbs and circuits for the last 6 or so years, and i love the look that you get when you flog a RWD car. Its almost like they expect to beat you. Last hillclimb i raced againt a full race prepared Ford Escort that has a $10,000 lotus twin cam engine in it, the car is probably worth $30,000. I ended up beating it convincingly with my road driven 1988 vtec converted CRX worth around 7,000.

When i race at state title i drive against full race cars as well, nearly all RWD's and i am competitive with all of them. last hillclimb i broke the record that they hold by half a second.

I have also driven my fathers AE86 toyota sprinter (which has had heaps more money spent on it than my car) around morgan park. It is heaps of fun but my car beats it hands down.

I refuse to believe that RWD's are always quicker than FWD's. FWD's can be just as fast its just a different driving style, just ask the boys at high power racing.

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Well my honest opinion on this topic is mixed...

i do not think either is superior...why you might ask?

well lets look at it this way... they both have there weaknesses and strengths aswell as specialities

oh and wat ^^ he said in the last paragraph

ive driven both and did enjoyed both....but for me i ♥ my honda even though i get flamed for its age, fwd'ness,hondaness and other reasons...doesnt change a thing though

[e240]

A FWD isn’t necessarily slower then a RWD up to a certain point, especially on a race track – which is a great equalizer of differences. I guess the disadvantage of a FWD is its ability to put down power past a certain point. A RWD (or even 4WD) car can get more and more power, making it faster and faster...but not necessarily on a race track...

and the world goes round and round...