RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
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Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
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Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
FWD cars tend to plow/understeer going into turns. Tap the brakes to regain stability and correct while maintaining weight on the front tires for grip.
RWD cars tend to oversteer. Countersteer and apply throttle to maintain weight on the rear wheels thusly holding traction.
AWD cars depending on how they are set up can either understeer or oversteer. (As with FWD and RWD, but I'm trying to point out the tendencies under throttle after braking going into initial cornering.) Correcting is easier on an AWD car. You just point the car to the direction you want to go, then apply throttle. The front wheels will attempt to correct in the direction you are going while the rear wheels can push forward from the weight transfer to the back.
Neutral is the way most cars want to be set up. However, there is initial entry, mid-cornering, and exit, so it's a bit of a give and take on how you want your car to work.
In the end all platforms have their virtues and their pitfalls. I believe RWD has the least parasitic loss from the powertrain, then FWD, then AWD.
Launching an FWD is difficult because the weight transfers to the back on launch which takes traction from the driving wheels, the front. However, they're generally a lighter platform, and that definitely helps.
Launching a RWD car is a bit better, but still only two wheels putting down the power. Weight is transfered to the driving wheels on launch, so that helps keep the power to the ground.
Launching an AWD car is pretty tough, contrary to popular belief. If you launch too hard, there is a chance of wheel hop, which can lead to tranny failure. If you launch too soft, you bog. If the AWD car is launched right, there is traction to all wheels, and it takes off very quickly. However, down the track the AWD parasitic power loss to the transmission really starts to kick in, and AWD cars suffer at the top end.
This is what I know of the different platforms. I'm sure more can be added. I've had RWD, FWD, and AWD cars before, but never seriously run any of them but the AWD.
To the OP, I hope this helps. But since you don't know much about all the platforms, I wouldn't compare potentials of the different platforms, nor would I compare the amount of skill it takes to drive either.
I enjoy watching the Touring series races, especially the battles between the RSX (FWD), Mazdaspeed 6 and the BMW 3 series (RWD). And those cars are about dead even whenever I watch them.
RWD cars tend to oversteer. Countersteer and apply throttle to maintain weight on the rear wheels thusly holding traction.
AWD cars depending on how they are set up can either understeer or oversteer. (As with FWD and RWD, but I'm trying to point out the tendencies under throttle after braking going into initial cornering.) Correcting is easier on an AWD car. You just point the car to the direction you want to go, then apply throttle. The front wheels will attempt to correct in the direction you are going while the rear wheels can push forward from the weight transfer to the back.
Neutral is the way most cars want to be set up. However, there is initial entry, mid-cornering, and exit, so it's a bit of a give and take on how you want your car to work.
In the end all platforms have their virtues and their pitfalls. I believe RWD has the least parasitic loss from the powertrain, then FWD, then AWD.
Launching an FWD is difficult because the weight transfers to the back on launch which takes traction from the driving wheels, the front. However, they're generally a lighter platform, and that definitely helps.
Launching a RWD car is a bit better, but still only two wheels putting down the power. Weight is transfered to the driving wheels on launch, so that helps keep the power to the ground.
Launching an AWD car is pretty tough, contrary to popular belief. If you launch too hard, there is a chance of wheel hop, which can lead to tranny failure. If you launch too soft, you bog. If the AWD car is launched right, there is traction to all wheels, and it takes off very quickly. However, down the track the AWD parasitic power loss to the transmission really starts to kick in, and AWD cars suffer at the top end.
This is what I know of the different platforms. I'm sure more can be added. I've had RWD, FWD, and AWD cars before, but never seriously run any of them but the AWD.
To the OP, I hope this helps. But since you don't know much about all the platforms, I wouldn't compare potentials of the different platforms, nor would I compare the amount of skill it takes to drive either.
I enjoy watching the Touring series races, especially the battles between the RSX (FWD), Mazdaspeed 6 and the BMW 3 series (RWD). And those cars are about dead even whenever I watch them.
Last edited by MadMsheen; May 15, 2008 at 06:22 AM.
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Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
FWD cars tend to plow/understeer going into turns. Tap the brakes to regain stability and correct while maintaining weight on the front tires for grip.
RWD cars tend to oversteer. Countersteer and apply throttle to maintain weight on the rear wheels thusly holding traction.
AWD cars depending on how they are set up can either understeer or oversteer. (As with FWD and RWD, but I'm trying to point out the tendencies under throttle after braking going into initial cornering.) Correcting is easier on an AWD car. You just point the car to the direction you want to go, then apply throttle. The front wheels will attempt to correct in the direction you are going while the rear wheels can push forward from the weight transfer to the back.
Neutral is the way most cars want to be set up. However, there is initial entry, mid-cornering, and exit, so it's a bit of a give and take on how you want your car to work.
In the end all platforms have their virtues and their pitfalls. I believe RWD has the least parasitic loss from the powertrain, then FWD, then AWD.
Launching an FWD is difficult because the weight transfers to the back on launch which takes traction from the driving wheels, the front. However, they're generally a lighter platform, and that definitely helps.
Launching a RWD car is a bit better, but still only two wheels putting down the power. Weight is transfered to the driving wheels on launch, so that helps keep the power to the ground.
Launching an AWD car is pretty tough, contrary to popular belief. If you launch too hard, there is a chance of wheel hop, which can lead to tranny failure. If you launch too soft, you bog. If the AWD car is launched right, there is traction to all wheels, and it takes off very quickly. However, down the track the AWD parasitic power loss to the transmission really starts to kick in, and AWD cars suffer at the top end.
This is what I know of the different platforms. I'm sure more can be added. I've had RWD, FWD, and AWD cars before, but never seriously run any of them but the AWD.
To the OP, I hope this helps. But since you don't know much about all the platforms, I wouldn't compare potentials of the different platforms, nor would I compare the amount of skill it takes to drive either.
I enjoy watching the Touring series races, especially the battles between the TSX (FWD) and the BMW (RWD). And those two cars are about dead even whenever I watch them.
RWD cars tend to oversteer. Countersteer and apply throttle to maintain weight on the rear wheels thusly holding traction.
AWD cars depending on how they are set up can either understeer or oversteer. (As with FWD and RWD, but I'm trying to point out the tendencies under throttle after braking going into initial cornering.) Correcting is easier on an AWD car. You just point the car to the direction you want to go, then apply throttle. The front wheels will attempt to correct in the direction you are going while the rear wheels can push forward from the weight transfer to the back.
Neutral is the way most cars want to be set up. However, there is initial entry, mid-cornering, and exit, so it's a bit of a give and take on how you want your car to work.
In the end all platforms have their virtues and their pitfalls. I believe RWD has the least parasitic loss from the powertrain, then FWD, then AWD.
Launching an FWD is difficult because the weight transfers to the back on launch which takes traction from the driving wheels, the front. However, they're generally a lighter platform, and that definitely helps.
Launching a RWD car is a bit better, but still only two wheels putting down the power. Weight is transfered to the driving wheels on launch, so that helps keep the power to the ground.
Launching an AWD car is pretty tough, contrary to popular belief. If you launch too hard, there is a chance of wheel hop, which can lead to tranny failure. If you launch too soft, you bog. If the AWD car is launched right, there is traction to all wheels, and it takes off very quickly. However, down the track the AWD parasitic power loss to the transmission really starts to kick in, and AWD cars suffer at the top end.
This is what I know of the different platforms. I'm sure more can be added. I've had RWD, FWD, and AWD cars before, but never seriously run any of them but the AWD.
To the OP, I hope this helps. But since you don't know much about all the platforms, I wouldn't compare potentials of the different platforms, nor would I compare the amount of skill it takes to drive either.
I enjoy watching the Touring series races, especially the battles between the TSX (FWD) and the BMW (RWD). And those two cars are about dead even whenever I watch them.
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From: nova
Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
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From: Winchester
Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
there is a reason, top fuel, pro stock, and all you really fast cars are RWD and not AWD, as long as you have a good tire/suspension combo, nothing can beat it, not even AWD. I pulled a 1.26 60 foot on a camaro foot braking the car. I know people have done 1.1's on the same setup with a trans brake. So with this said RWD owns all.
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From: NoVA
Re: RWD vs FWD (vs AWD...?)
there is a reason, top fuel, pro stock, and all you really fast cars are RWD and not AWD, as long as you have a good tire/suspension combo, nothing can beat it, not even AWD. I pulled a 1.26 60 foot on a camaro foot braking the car. I know people have done 1.1's on the same setup with a trans brake. So with this said RWD owns all.
IN a straight line. That is it.