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Rear Wheel Drive- WHY?!

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Old Jan 19, 2008 | 01:53 PM
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Rear Wheel Drive- WHY?!

so i have come to notice a lot of the more top of the line cars tend to have rear wheel drive. well atleast most lexuses, bmws, and mercedes' have rear wheel drive. however, why would they put rear wheel drive into most of their cars? like why would they choose it over front wheel drive or even better yet, over all wheel drive? the only reasons i could think of on my own is if someones interested in getting a little drift in their drive and so that they could feel the power more coming from the engine. i was just wondering about this because i live in chicago and a rear wheel drive car kinda sucks to own during the winter season cuz if a really bad snowstorm comes by, your car isnt gonna get you anywhere. ive just been looking into getting a new car and a lot of the cars that i picked out had rwd. this is kind of a more general automotive question. im not a complete idiot about cars but i definitely dont know everything there is to know. sooo any help on this one would really help out
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 01:59 PM
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Troll alert troll alert.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 02:05 PM
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Because RWD pwnz.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 02:15 PM
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Lol, god learn a website. Its called google.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by BIG RED
. well atleast most lexuses, bmws, and mercedes' have rear wheel drive. however, why would they put rear wheel drive into most of their cars?
Because they know nothing, did no testing, and just thought that RWD sounds cool to say.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 02:42 PM
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dude FWD is economy, for 2 reasons
1 - FWD make better use of the power provided to them, less drivetrain loss
2 - FWD uses a more compact setup therefore Lighter = better gas mileage
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:18 PM
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Vehicle dynamics.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:23 PM
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AWD tends to be a heavy drivetrain setup. Be my guess.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:27 PM
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FWD = better economy

RWD = better fell, better handling

AWD = better chance your tranny will explode
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:38 PM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_wheel_drive and follow the links for more.
Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:50 PM
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Old Jan 19, 2008 | 04:03 PM
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turn ur drivers license into the DMV and forget about cars ....
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 03:39 AM
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Originally Posted by rglbegl
FWD = better economy

RWD = better fell, better handling

AWD = better chance your tranny will explode


that is when you abuse it or you don't know how to drive a AWD car.


FWD= understeer, cheap, you dont need a long drive shaft go to the back.

RWD=oversteer. good handling, power put out, drifto.

AWD=good handling, VERY good traction, that is why good in snow, rain, dirt.


when people who don't know how to drive AWD cars they might drive it like RWD or FWD. the quick and easy way to make your tranny explode is launch you AWD the wrong way. if you launch it like a RWD or FWD car your tranny life is shorter than your tires.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:17 AM
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This thread really sucks.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:27 AM
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Originally Posted by the stig
that is when you abuse it or you don't know how to drive a AWD car.


FWD= understeer, cheap, you dont need a long drive shaft go to the back.

RWD=oversteer. good handling, power put out, drifto.

AWD=good handling, VERY good traction, that is why good in snow, rain, dirt.


when people who don't know how to drive AWD cars they might drive it like RWD or FWD. the quick and easy way to make your tranny explode is launch you AWD the wrong way. if you launch it like a RWD or FWD car your tranny life is shorter than your tires.
I'm sure I can find this by a simple google search or something but since we're on the topic... what is the correct way to launch an AWD? I think I've seen Evo's or STI's launch by bouncing the rev limiter and dropping the clutch but I can only imagine that's terrible for the tranny....
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by AndrewE
dude FWD is economy, for 2 reasons
1 - FWD make better use of the power provided to them, less drivetrain loss
2 - FWD uses a more compact setup therefore Lighter = better gas mileage
... FWD does not make better use. Its sharing the axle with the steering causing more drivetrain loss.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 10:52 AM
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I have been driving my 8 this winter because school saw to it that i couldn't afford a new car lol. Althought it sucks driving it in the snow, i still like the fact that its rwd. I dont think i need to list the benefits of rwd. Google and all the other rotor heads is gonna rescue you on that one.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 11:15 AM
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Old Jan 20, 2008 | 11:17 AM
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cause you cant turn a B16 around backwards..they also dont make a 5 speed reverse
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:29 PM
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becaues watching somone drift in a FWD car is free comedy at its best
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by SayNoToPistons
Troll alert troll alert.
+1+1+1
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:48 PM
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FWD cars suffer from torque steer (unequal half shafts) and limit the amount of horse power a car can have.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:57 PM
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so i have come to notice a lot of the more top of the line cars tend to have rear wheel drive. well atleast most lexuses, bmws, and mercedes' have rear wheel drive. however, why would they put rear wheel drive into most of their cars? like why would they choose it over front wheel drive
Because if BMW and Lexus and Mercedes made front wheel drive cars all the Honda ricers would start driving them, and ruin their professional image.

i was just wondering about this because i live in chicago and a rear wheel drive car kinda sucks to own during the winter season cuz if a really bad snowstorm comes by, your car isnt gonna get you anywhere.
Good set snow tires and bags of sand in your trunk dude, you'll be fine in the winter
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 01:30 PM
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If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Mugatu
I bet Mugatu was saving this^^
Good timing cuz this thread sucks.


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