DO FWD cars actually feel different than RWD when driving

[Accipiter22]

I hear everyone say they prefer RWD...but besides being able to do donuts or whatever, is there any difference between FWD and RWD in any way shape or form, as far as how the car drives? I can't think of a single thing that would be different

 

[jlee]

Torque steer, understeer under heavy throttle..

 

[Philippine Mango]

YES!

 

[imported_Trippin315]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Torque steer, understeer under heavy throttle..

Yes

And in the snow.

 

[mb]

When you're just cruising on the interstate or anywhere where you're just driving straight, probably not. Every other time, yeah.

 

[Nebor]

Yes. It's a totally different sensation, being pulled instead of pushed.

 

[Vic]

Absolutely yes, they feel different under all conditions, even cruising on the freeway.

 

[bradruth]

They feel VERY different.

 

[RCN]

Originally posted by: Vic
Absolutely yes, they feel different under all conditions, even cruising on the freeway.

yep.......

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Vic
Absolutely yes, they feel different under all conditions, even cruising on the freeway.

You think so? I guess I can't really remember what FWD feels like. My first car was RWD, had it for 3 years, second car was FWD, only had it for about 18 months, and I've been driving AWD for the last 4 years. Both of my parents cars are AWD too (330xi and MDX) and so is my girlfriends (Imprezza) so it's been a while.

 

[Rainsford]

At the risk of being redundant, yes, yes they do. Accelerating through a curve, whether or not you are driving like it's the WRC, feels MUCH different in a RWD car.

 

[EyeMWing]

Yes. I drive FWD (My car), RWD (various friends/parents/misc vehicles), AWD (girlfriend's) on a regular basis - and being an aggressive asshole like I am, they actually require completely different driving styles.

 

[LordMorpheus]

My '97 town car is the first rear drive vehicle I've driven, and it feels very different than the FWD vehicles I've been driving before - starting from a stop feels different, cornering feels different, everything.

Of course it could just be the incredible suspension and size of the LTC.

 

[Accipiter22]

so WHY does it feel different; like why does it feel like being pulled instead of pushed as one poster put it.....considering the powers coming from the back in a RWD wouldn't THAT one feel like it's being pushed?


also what's torque steer/understeer feel like?

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
so WHY does it feel different; like why does it feel like being pulled instead of pushed as one poster put it.....considering the powers coming from the back in a RWD wouldn't THAT one feel like it's being pushed?


also what's torque steer/understeer feel like?

Yes, RWD feels like you're being pushed.

Torque steer is when the front wheels are spinning under so much power that they're not able to precisely steer the car because they don't have traction.

Understeer can be experienced in any car, but is most prevelant in FWD cars. It basically means when you turn in hard, the nose of the car doesn't want to turn as sharp as you want it to, so you run wide through the corner.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Vic
Absolutely yes, they feel different under all conditions, even cruising on the freeway.

You think so? I guess I can't really remember what FWD feels like. My first car was RWD, had it for 3 years, second car was FWD, only had it for about 18 months, and I've been driving AWD for the last 4 years. Both of my parents cars are AWD too (330xi and MDX) and so is my girlfriends (Imprezza) so it's been a while.

MDX is AWD up to 5mph. It is FWD the rest of the time unless you force it into AWD mode but even then it disengages at 20mph. It is more FWD than AWD.

 

[Eli]

Yes, very much.

 

[Heisenberg]

Also, FWD cars are usually weight biased toward the front more than RWD ones since all the drivetrain components are farther forward compared to RWD. This makes the center of gravity farther forward on FWD than on RWD and gives a completely different feeling when cornering.

 

[UNCjigga]

Even with most normal driving you can feel the difference...especially through the steering wheel. I've only driven RWD a few times (friends' BMWs, a few Mustangs, test driving a few cars) and the whole car just seems better balanced. The steering feel is very different.

The funny thing is, in normal driving I CAN'T tell the difference between FWD and AWD (I drive a Legacy GT.)

 

[JulesMaximus]

There is a huge difference and the harder you push your car the more apparent it becomes.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

There's a HUGE difference on snow and ice.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Vic
Absolutely yes, they feel different under all conditions, even cruising on the freeway.

You think so? I guess I can't really remember what FWD feels like. My first car was RWD, had it for 3 years, second car was FWD, only had it for about 18 months, and I've been driving AWD for the last 4 years. Both of my parents cars are AWD too (330xi and MDX) and so is my girlfriends (Imprezza) so it's been a while.

MDX is AWD up to 5mph. It is FWD the rest of the time unless you force it into AWD mode but even then it disengages at 20mph. It is more FWD than AWD.

Well damn, I never knew that and she's had the car since 2002.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
so WHY does it feel different; like why does it feel like being pulled instead of pushed as one poster put it.....considering the powers coming from the back in a RWD wouldn't THAT one feel like it's being pushed?


also what's torque steer/understeer feel like?

Yes, RWD feels like you're being pushed.

Torque steer is when the front wheels are spinning under so much power that they're not able to precisely steer the car because they don't have traction.

Understeer can be experienced in any car, but is most prevelant in FWD cars. It basically means when you turn in hard, the nose of the car doesn't want to turn as sharp as you want it to, so you run wide through the corner.

That's not really accurate. Torque steer is the sensation that the car wants to pull one way or the other. Basically, it is a tendancy for a car to turn in a particular direction when power is applied. Torque steer is common in front-drive cars because reaction forces created in the half-shafts can generate uneven steering forces in the front tires. It makes the car feel really squirrely and I actually have to hold tightly on to the steering wheel in the Maxima because torque steer is so pronounced in that car under full throttle.

On a RWD car you have none of that.

 

[GTaudiophile]

hell yeah

 

[Zenmervolt]

FWD numbs the steering feel. Suspension geometry that reduces torque steer also numbs the steering feel and reduces road feedback so you either have torque steer with the torque steer itself interfering with the steering feel, or suspension design that reduces torque steer, but also reduces the amount of information transmitted through the steering.

ZV