Front-Wheel Drive
(credit: http://www.bmwblog.com)
This has been driving me crazy for a long time. Front wheel drive is no better than rear wheel drive.
The general rule is that front wheel drive cars understeer, or keep going straight when the wheels are turned. Rear wheel drives generally oversteer, or slide sideways, even when the wheels are straight. This is just a general rule of thumb. It all depends on engine placement, how far the wheels are turned, speed, suspension tuning, downforce, and a lot more. In fact, rear wheel drive cars can understeer, and front-wheel drive cars can oversteer. If not, please, please talk to your dealer.
There is a misconception that front wheel drive is better in gravel, snow and loose materials. Rally cars were rear wheel drive until the Audi Quattro in the '80s. Rally cars aren't exactly slow.
Rear wheel drive has sporty connotations as well. None of the great cars of the ages (the Morris Mini Minor is the exception) were front wheel drive.
Do you have any thoughts about cats? What drives you crazy? I welcome all respectful comments, so keep it clean. One post a week, so stay tuned!
In my long life, I have owned front wheel drive cars, rear wheel drive cars and, currently, a four wheel drive truck. They are all different. It depends on how you drive, where the engine is, what the vehicle is, ECT. It seems to me that car manufacturers have a vested interest in people's perception of what's best. Just saying...
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Your truck probably oversteers like crazy at low speed (in 4WD) and wallows through corners. Normal, its a truck. At higher speeds, however, it may understeer.
DeleteI see that the new Challenger is Four wheel drive. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteWould be cool, if you could get all of the engines with it. The New 4WD Challenger only gets the V6. The Italians don't understand muscle cars.
DeleteHuh. I would not have thought of that.
DeleteOne other thing to consider on the Front vs. Rear wheel drive idea is power transfer. In a racing situation, it is not uncommon to have an engine that can create 600 ft-lbs or more of torque. While it is possible to transfer these and higher power levels in a front wheel drive format, it is much easier to do so in a rear wheel drive configuration. This is why most high powered racing cars (drags, F1, Indy Cars, etc.) are all rear wheel drive.
ReplyDelete- Fred
Yes, the front wheels are already supporting the engine and doing the steering.
Delete