[Mr. Chan]

This can be an interesting thread. Which is your preference and why?

Edit: this is not for daily driving, such as convenience for snow, rain, etc. This is in a performance point of view.

[SHARK]

AWD or RWD.

Because I don't like the wimpy "sports" cars that have FWD.

[jakex1]

rwd, awd is fun too, great for snow, but u cant really go "drifting" (not implying im some pro drifter). and we all know fwd is just fail on a sports car. Not bad for econoboxes

[chvietnk]

grow up and learn to appreciate, there is nothing wrong with fwd sport cars. heres a case where fwd > rwd.
TL-S(fwd) vs is350(rwd) vs g35(rwd) at willow springs.

1. TL-S 6MT - 1:36:67 sec
2. IS350 - 1:38:24
3. G35 6MT - 1:38:67

full thread:
http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=677699

and no im not bias, i drive an s2000(rwd)

[SHARK]

grow up and learn to appreciate, there is nothing wrong with fwd sport cars. heres a case where fwd > rwd.
TL-S(fwd) vs is350(rwd) vs g35(rwd) at willow springs.

1. TL-S 6MT - 1:36:67 sec
2. IS350 - 1:38:24
3. G35 6MT - 1:38:67

full thread:
http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=677699

and no im not bias, i drive an s2000(rwd)

Acura TL is a pretty well rounded car, but I'd like to see the same race at Laguna Seca.

[hayabusa01]

Quite frankly, those results don't mean much. Those aren't track oriented-vehicles to begin with, they're luxury street cars with sportiness. Try designing a FWD car to compete against a Viper ACR or Murcielago LP640 on the race track; highly unlikely to duplicate the same results.

I prefer RWD myself, since a lot of the cars that appeal to me happen to be RWD. I can respect a lot of AWD cars, but a lot of times the overall designs just don't appeal to me.

[HakuTheDog]

I would have to disagree with chvietnk. Sure the TL-S is better than the IS350/G35 with that time, but there is more to a car than lap times. How often are you going to take those cars to a track anyway? Since you have a S2000, you could understand there is more to it than power. The S2000 is a lovely car and handles well out the box. However, for that price range, it is under powered (even with it's power/weight ratio). Nonetheless, it's a fun car to drive, which brings me back to point of lap times. Another example I would use is the Mazda Miata (MX-5). Same situation there.

With my example for FWD cars, Mazdaspeed 3 and SRT4 (no matter how much people dislike it), they both are very quick FWD cars. Torque steer is a major issue with these cars (and other FWD 'sports' cars). You can't even take corners like a RWD/AWD car could no matter how well these cars are because there is too much power going to the front wheels. Sure you could modify everything, but then in the end, it just depends on how much money you/people put in. For the sake of the arguement, I am strickly speaking off the lot specs.

And a sports car is defined has a RWD car, no matter how much we disagree. With that said, I am sure some of you will throw in some form of Type R (those are just sporty coupes). Some companies try to portray their car as a sports car, i.e. Nissan w/ Maxima/Altima.

But I personally prefer AWD. It's typically safer and is more realistic to daily driving (i.e. rain or bumpy roads, etc.). RWD are great/fun in perfect weather conditions.

[sfwong445]

I don't like FWD in general. But I'll make some exception to cars like the SRT-4. I prefer RWD because most of the more "practical" fun car to drives are RWD. Don't get me wrong, I like AWD too.

[SHARK]

On the subject of FWD, there is one FWD car I do like, the Volvo S40 T5.

Then again, there's the R-Design which adds precious AWD to it.

[jakex1]

grow up and learn to appreciate, there is nothing wrong with fwd sport cars. heres a case where fwd > rwd.
TL-S(fwd) vs is350(rwd) vs g35(rwd) at willow springs.

1. TL-S 6MT - 1:36:67 sec
2. IS350 - 1:38:24
3. G35 6MT - 1:38:67

full thread:
http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=677699

and no im not bias, i drive an s2000(rwd)

lol. LOL i dont even know what to reply. I said i prefer rwd/awd for handling, that has nothing to do with speed.

A mazda miata/mx-5 is arguable one of the most balance rwd cars ever made. Is it john teshing fast without a engine swap? no but it is an extremely fun car to drive thats rwd. Find me a fwd with amazing balance thats fun to drive, and no civics dont count.

so you found one example of luxury sport(rofl) oriented cars with the fwd being faster. whoop-de-doo

Since you go by lap times around a track, lets look at the fastest times around the nurburgring. Is the fastest car FWD? no, fair enough is there a FWD car in the top 10? top 50?.

U found a niche example of FWD being faster based on luxury(LOL) cars.


Edit: lol i just read hakus post and its basically the same thing i wanted to say.

Second : chvietnk, did you seriously categorize the G,IS,TL class as sports cars?

[b18c1]

all this thread is going to turn into is a fwd bashing thread... i can already see the trend. but I think that fwd is a perfectly fine platform. sure, i had a phase where I wanted a rwd for my dd(and i still do probably for my weekend car), but there are plenty of fast and fun ff cars. fwd just has a bad name because most of the drivers you see out there are riced hondas or all that you have ever driven is a ford taurus. its actually not as bad as you think.

[chvietnk]

I would have to disagree with chvietnk. Sure the TL-S is better than the IS350/G35 with that time, but there is more to a car than lap times. How often are you going to take those cars to a track anyway? Since you have a S2000, you could understand there is more to it than power. The S2000 is a lovely car and handles well out the box. However, for that price range, it is under powered (even with it's power/weight ratio). Nonetheless, it's a fun car to drive, which brings me back to point of lap times. Another example I would use is the Mazda Miata (MX-5). Same situation there.

With my example for FWD cars, Mazdaspeed 3 and SRT4 (no matter how much people dislike it), they both are very quick FWD cars. Torque steer is a major issue with these cars (and other FWD 'sports' cars). You can't even take corners like a RWD/AWD car could no matter how well these cars are because there is too much power going to the front wheels. Sure you could modify everything, but then in the end, it just depends on how much money you/people put in. For the sake of the arguement, I am strickly speaking off the lot specs.

And a sports car is defined has a RWD car, no matter how much we disagree. With that said, I am sure some of you will throw in some form of Type R (those are just sporty coupes). Some companies try to portray their car as a sports car, i.e. Nissan w/ Maxima/Altima.

But I personally prefer AWD. It's typically safer and is more realistic to daily driving (i.e. rain or bumpy roads, etc.). RWD are great/fun in perfect weather conditions.

im not saying fwd is better, but people always talk down on fwd just because it is "fwd" but there are many great fwd designs out there.

lol. LOL i dont even know what to reply. I said i prefer rwd/awd for handling, that has nothing to do with speed.

A mazda miata/mx-5 is arguable one of the most balance rwd cars ever made. Is it john teshing fast without a engine swap? no but it is an extremely fun car to drive thats rwd. Find me a fwd with amazing balance thats fun to drive, and no civics dont count.

so you found one example of luxury sport(rofl) oriented cars with the fwd being faster. whoop-de-doo

Since you go by lap times around a track, lets look at the fastest times around the nurburgring. Is the fastest car FWD? no, fair enough is there a FWD car in the top 10? top 50?.

U found a niche example of FWD being faster based on luxury(LOL) cars.


Edit: lol i just read hakus post and its basically the same thing i wanted to say.

Second : chvietnk, did you seriously categorize the G,IS,TL class as sports cars?

since when are we on the topic of "sport car" platforms only? im not saying fwd is BETTER. im saying there are good designs of fwd platform out there that people obviously walk by just because it is "fwd"

[jL-]

RWD because my car is RWD.
No but really, I can't feel the difference between those 3. Unless it comes to winter when it snows or when I am turning fast in my z which is a no do now since I learned what it can do.

[SHARK]

RWD because my car is RWD.
No but really, I can't feel the difference between those 3. Unless it comes to winter when it snows or when I am turning fast in my z which is a no do now since I learned what it can do.

You never felt the torquesteer in FWD? Or the increased happenings of wheelspin (IMO, I think wheelspin happens a bit more often in FWD than RWD or AWD). I believe you also get understeering a bit more often.

I've been driving a FWD instead of my AWD for a while, and these are the things I keep feeling.

[Mr. Chan]

I was never really into rwd.

But in terms of handling, fwd also gets the job done. You guys ever rode in a gutted CRX with a gsr swapped w/ full coilovers and swaybars? It handles pretty damn good.

Now, I know rwd is obviously the superior platform, there's no doubt about that. But you can't leave the fwd out in the dark when it has as much capability as the rwd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMZrDejIpsM

[jakex1]

I was never really into rwd.

But in terms of handling, fwd also gets the job done. You guys ever rode in a gutted CRX with a gsr swapped w/ full coilovers and swaybars? It handles pretty damn good.

Now, I know rwd is obviously the superior platform, there's no doubt about that. But you can't leave the fwd out in the dark when it has as much capability as the rwd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMZrDejIpsM

heres the thing, for arguments sake, both platforms have their merits. But like you said, rwd is superior. Now why would u want to drive the inferior one when the option to have RWD is available. ONLY exception would be snow/rain/reckless drivers who cant control rwd.

[Mr. Chan]

heres the thing, for arguments sake, both platforms have their merits. But like you said, rwd is superior. Now why would u want to drive the inferior one when the option to have RWD is available. ONLY exception would be snow/rain/reckless drivers who cant control rwd.

It depends on what I'm using it for. If it's for autox or a road with tight turns, believe it or not, I will actually pick the fwd over the rwd.

Road courses like button willow, I will obviously pick a rwd car.

[Gofishus]

RWD. The only area in which FWD is better would be cost and fuel efficiency. As for AWD - I never particularly cared for it, it's arguably better than RWD in some situations. But only some.

[Clix]

heres the thing, for arguments sake, both platforms have their merits. But like you said, rwd is superior. Now why would u want to drive the inferior one when the option to have RWD is available. ONLY exception would be snow/rain/reckless drivers who cant control rwd.

So the only people who would want to race a FWD car are people who like inferior cars and people who terrible control? So would I be stupid for racing an Integra on a tight road course or autox?

[Laxntiga]

For daily driving: To work & back, any platform is fine. Depending on how far the commute is. If it's a long commute, i'll take a FWD car. If it's short, i'll take a AWD.

For a fun car, i'll take a RWD.

RWD is ideal for me, I care mostly about handling, so RWD is my weapon of choice for a fun car.

However, for daily abuse, I need something reliable, comfortable, doesn't drink too much gas, low maintenance cost.

My top choices of daily drivers (in no particular order):

Subaru WRX
Honda Civic Si
Audi A4
Volkswagen GTI
Acura RSX-S
Acura TSX
Nissan Altima

It depends on the car, but I prefer a hatch/wagon, then a 4 door, then a coupe for a daily.

Also, for longer drives I noticed bigger luxurious cars are nicer. You're less tired and irritated in a big body benz driving for 4 hours than say a Honda civic with a fart cannon.