Controlling rear wheel drive vehicles?

dereksbicycles

dereksbicycles

Active Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
6,497
Reaction score
27
Please try to keep this an apple to apple comparison. I'm interested in whether any of you have had more than 1 rear wheel drive vehicle or drove them for an extended amount of time.

Did you feel that some rear wheel drive vehicles had better control than other rear wheel vehicles?

Try to keep the discussion towards rear wheel drive.
 
I love rear wheel drive, lots of fun. How the susspention is set up can make a big difference in traction though. So yes, some rear wheel are better than others.
 
I have a 1999 Chevy Express van. I would like to get a Toyota Previa. My Mom worries because they used to have a rear wheel drive Previa and it was really terrible in rain. That is why I'm curious about whether some of rear wheel drive ones control better than other rear wheel drive cars.
 
dereksbicycles said:
I have a 1999 Chevy Express van. I would like to get a Toyota Previa. My Mom worries because they used to have a rear wheel drive Previa and it was really terrible in rain. That is why I'm curious about whether some of rear wheel drive ones control better than other rear wheel drive cars.
Click to expand...

Teach her what's traction control mean.

HowStuffWorks "Traction Control Explained"

"RWD" is bad for snow/rain was very old news. My mom's BMW 528i 2000 RWD and no problem with heavy rain, ice, and snow. Thanks to Electronic Stability Control.
 
I like Ford 9 inch 3rd member differential, fitted with Detroit locker Truetrac and Moser axle and Heidt 4 link rear suspension. I never try it...
 
Most of the cars I've owned have been either RWD or 4WD (with the exception being a Volvo S40, and a Rover 214i - better known a lightly-facelifted Honda Concerto)
I'll just run through the list...

Volvo 740 - Big and wallowy, bit like driving a motorised sofa. They can be made to handle very well though with the right parts.

Ford Cortina - not as wallowy as the volvo, but probably not something you'd wanna go drifting in! I always found grip to be an issue in mine, but maybe that had something to do with the tuned 2-litre engine and the cheapo rear tyres....

Ford Seirra - this one had independant rear suspension, so it was a good ride, went sidewards well if pushed, but the 1.6 litre engine meant that power was sadly lacking!

Ford Scorpio 4x4 - ok, it's 4WD, but its 75/25 rear bias so just about counts. Ex-police car so many issues with it, but I never lost control of it, even in my younger dayd as a Hoon! Superb grip - even with cheapy tyres..

Volvo 360 - 2-litre engine and transaxle setup (like the porsche 944) meant that weight distribution was nearly 50/50. Really good roadholding - far better than it had any right to be really. These are popular as professional drift race cars now.

Ford Falcon - never got the back end of this out yet, but it's not got good grip in the rain, or if the roads a slipperly - 153kw through the rear wheels will do that though!

I think it's a law that every new car sold in Australia now has to be fitted with Traction control, or some sort of electronic stability aid. I guess people must think that the car will just stop itself.... ok, I think Volvo are working on that!!
What about people just learning to drive better? When I was working for the army years ago, I did an advanced driving course that taught me how to control a car in a skid, how to read the road properly, how to drive in extremes of weather ( and also how to ram a car off the road with minimum damage sustained if need be :) )
People just seem to drive like nutters these days... so maybe thats just Aussie drivers!!!
 
I never owned rwd cars but I've driven the rental ones and borrowed some.

2006-2010 Mercedes Benz 300E: stable and nimble...spins rear tires easily without traction control on. Not so great in rain or snow.

1970 Datsun 510 4 door with automatic: Lots of body roll, good traction in rain but don't know about snow. Underpowered and slow!

2008-2010 Infinti G37: Great traction (has traction control), very fast and stable control.

1986 Nissan pick up truck: Engine revs everytime you shift thru gears, some body roll and good on gas mileage, bounces and vibrates a lot on rough roads. Great little work truck.

1998 Nissan Frontier: Almost the same as 1986, but more faster and has better suspension for rough roads than the 1986 Nissan truck.

2007-2013 Chevy cargo vans: Good suspension, traction not good in snow....I ended up drifting at times.

2007-2013 Ford Encoline: Feels a little top heavy, not stable at high speeds, vibrates a lot on rough roads. Traction is okay but not great in rain or snow.

1991 Toyota Previa: Feels a little top heavy, traction is good on dry and wet but don't know about snow. We rented that a long time ago in the 90's. I heard it's one of the most reliable vehicles ever made!

?? Lincoln TownCar: wallowy, some body roll, very smooth ride, doesn't feel stable.

2007-2010 Cadillac (forget the model): Fast, good handling, has traction control and smooth ride. Some of bumpy ride vibrates the car, it's tuned for sporty ride not cushy ride like the Cadillac with FWD.

There's some more I haven't thought of....feel free to discuss about my experiences.
 
dereksbicycles said:
Please try to keep this an apple to apple comparison. I'm interested in whether any of you have had more than 1 rear wheel drive vehicle or drove them for an extended amount of time.

Did you feel that some rear wheel drive vehicles had better control than other rear wheel vehicles?

Try to keep the discussion towards rear wheel drive.
Click to expand...

I've driven both RWD and FWD for several years. thousands and thousands of miles. personally - I prefer RWD.

FWD does have a better control especially in winter. many cars are FWD because it's simple - it goes where you steer at. to control a RWD in slippery condition - it takes some skill. many drivers are just ordinary people... so FWD makes sense for them.

most RWD cars tend to be for serious drivers.... like sport cars and german cars.
 
The Highlander said:
Serious drivers? Not really. RWD are so popular for business and nothing do with sport cars.
Click to expand...

I'm speaking generally. don't be too picky over little details.

most sport cars are RWD. RWD is not easy to control for average drivers.... it's easier to regain control from oversteer than understeer. and it's cheaper for an average car to have FWD.

business.... like a town car? cab?
 
Jiro said:
I'm speaking generally. don't be too picky over little details.

most sport cars are RWD. RWD is not easy to control for average drivers.... it's easier to regain control from oversteer than understeer. and it's cheaper for an average car to have FWD.

business.... like a town car? cab?
Click to expand...

Not just sport cars. You forget about school buses,semi-trucks, trucks and big vans and they never have FWD at all due better towing and heavy load. I drove E350 during heavy snow and it was not bad to me as avoid from ice area.

Like Derek have Express van and it was not even sport car.

RWD is cheaper than FWD? Umm no, RWD have more parts than FWD as differential, yoke,four shafts, etc.
FWD don't need them and just need two shafts and that's it.
 
The Highlander said:
Not just sport cars. You forget about school buses,semi-trucks, trucks and big vans and they never have FWD at all due better towing and heavy load. I drove E350 during heavy snow and it was not bad to me as avoid from ice area.

Like Derek have Express van and it was not even sport car.

RWD is cheaper than FWD? Umm no, RWD have more parts than FWD as differential, yoke,four shafts, etc.
FWD don't need them and just need two shafts and that's it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a lot of vans are RWD. I wish that Previa vans weren't RWD. I may try to find one that is 4wd.
 
Even public buses, I never seen them front wheel drive.

And MOST cop cars are RWD, only few FWD. Cops prefers RWD because it is easier to catch speeders than FWD does.

The Highlander said:
Not just sport cars. You forget about school buses,semi-trucks, trucks and big vans and they never have FWD at all due better towing and heavy load. I drove E350 during heavy snow and it was not bad to me as avoid from ice area.

Like Derek have Express van and it was not even sport car.

RWD is cheaper than FWD? Umm no, RWD have more parts than FWD as differential, yoke,four shafts, etc.
FWD don't need them and just need two shafts and that's it.
Click to expand...
 
Don't forget the fact that the real axle cost a lot more than wishbones. These wishbones can't support heavier weight. The advantage of having real axle is that it can support extra weight, at cost of MPG.

Once I went off road with my friends. I had Jeep Wrangler with Dana axles in front and back, FYI each axle cost about $7,500 each (New and retail). A guy rented Dodge 4x4, no real front axle, just wishbones, with skinny axle in back. Know what happened to that rental dodge truck? All front end was damaged, yeah I know it is idiot doing off road like that. My jeep took all the beating, I even went over the logs, rocks, dig in mud, and so forth and ended up pulling that stupid dodge truck that lost front wheel drive, only rear drive works. FWD don't build tough, not using much high quality parts. The real intention is just enough materials to pull barely minimum to meet MPG goal. That is only benefit for FWD.

The Highlander said:
RWD is cheaper than FWD? Umm no, RWD have more parts than FWD as differential, yoke,four shafts, etc.
FWD don't need them and just need two shafts and that's it.
Click to expand...
 
The Highlander said:
Not just sport cars. You forget about school buses,semi-trucks, trucks and big vans and they never have FWD at all due better towing and heavy load. I drove E350 during heavy snow and it was not bad to me as avoid from ice area.
Click to expand...
no I did not forget.

so you're talking about COMMERCIAL vehicle. well yes I know commercial vehicles are RWD because of weight distribution and power but that's irrelevant. why would I talk about commercial vehicle when OP is asking about whether or not if RWD has better control than other RWD?

you should know that maneuverability is not on the top of the list when it comes to commercial vehicle....

The Highlander said:
Like Derek have Express van and it was not even sport car.
Click to expand...
ok and....? what does that have to do with having a better control? that's why I did not talk about commercial vehicle. it's irrelevant.

The Highlander said:
RWD is cheaper than FWD? Umm no, RWD have more parts than FWD as differential, yoke,four shafts, etc.
FWD don't need them and just need two shafts and that's it.
Click to expand...
I never said RWD is cheaper than FWD.

Jiro said:
I'm speaking generally. don't be too picky over little details.

most sport cars are RWD. RWD is not easy to control for average drivers.... it's easier to regain control from oversteer than understeer. and it's cheaper for an average car to have FWD.

business.... like a town car? cab?
Click to expand...
 
Wirelessly posted (sent from a smartphone. )

Geez op said don't want talk about fwd or even 4wd. Then ya guys went overboard.
 
Last edited:
You said you never said "Cheaper" look below your comment in red.

So any discussin about FWD is to be taken out of this thread, can you?

Jiro said:
I'm speaking generally. don't be too picky over little details.

most sport cars are RWD. RWD is not easy to control for average drivers.... it's easier to regain control from oversteer than understeer. and it's cheaper for an average car to have FWD.

business.... like a town car? cab?
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top