What's all this about Rear Wheel Drive making a comeback?

[annasuave]

I'm hearing some buzz lately about RWD making a comeback. Better weight distribution, better power distribution, blah blah blah. I'm certainly no rally car driver, but I recall having RWD vehicles in the past and having the alarming rear-wheel spin out going on in the winter (back end spinning out and going off the road with the back end leading the way). In bad conditions, I've also lost traction/control on the front end and it seems to me that the front end going slippery is easier to bring back under control, and is more intuitive in steering out of a skid.

I think I'm like most drivers - if I'm skidding it's because of too much sped in a curve, or braking too late in a corner.

Discuss?

[Chill Cosby]

The advantages of RWD are pretty huge for temperate climates, but in Canada in general and especially Calgary the excessive winter conditions make all of the benefits irrelevant.

RWD is simply terrible in the snowy and icy conditions compared to FWD or (especially) AWD. I remember the worst, most terrifying winter I've ever experienced behind the wheel being in a RWD without winter tires. It was absolutely terrible. With FWD and AWD you can get away with a good set of all-seasons.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

The advantages of RWD are pretty huge for temperate climates, but in Canada in general and especially Calgary the excessive winter conditions make all of the benefits irrelevant.

RWD is simply terrible in the snowy and icy conditions compared to FWD or (especially) AWD. I remember the worst, most terrifying winter I've ever experienced behind the wheel being in a RWD without winter tires. It was absolutely terrible. With FWD and AWD you can get away with a good set of all-seasons.

I would say if you have good weight distribution (not a truck with an empty bed) and winter tires, a RWD vehicle is slightly easier to lose traction in than a FWD one, but much, MUCH easier to regain it.

[PIMking]

but RWD has a better fun factor

[burn_this_city]

I like RWD because the tires that steer aren't trying to plant the power in slippery situations. Modern RWDs with traction control and winter tires are just as effective as FWD. I also prefer the way it handles in a drift situation.

[PIMking]

I've only had one RWD vehicle, it was an '89 LX mustang with a 351w in it. I've owned several AWD cars, audi, and sports car. Most often I have FWD.

I would love another AWD car, turbo 6 speed with about 250-300Hp would be a fun little car to have. But I really want a Diesel pick up, if the big three put a small diesel in a half ton truck that would be awesome!

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

RWD is simply terrible in the snowy and icy conditions compared to FWD or (especially) AWD.

Have you actually driven a newer RWD?

Originally Posted by PIMking

if the big three put a small diesel in a half ton truck that would be awesome!

Dodge launched a 1500 diesel for 2014. I would expect the other two to follow.

[Canehdianman]

And the new Colorado should have a diesel option in 2016

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Have you actually driven a newer RWD?

Yeah.
Bro, do you even lift?

I'll take a FWD in equivalent conditions 8/10 times. I'll take a AWD 10/10.

[Northendzone]

Don't call it a comeback, it has been here for years.......

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

With FWD and AWD you can get away with a good set of all-seasons.

That's the problem with most people, this sentence couldn't be further from the truth.

All season tires are not made for Canadian winters, they harden at higher temperatures than Canadian winters are.

Most people, yourself included I'm guessing, think more about taking off and not so much about stopping. It doesn't matter if your vehicle is FWD RWD or AWD, they all stop the same with all seasons. And In Canada, that's not very well.

[Vulcan]

FWD is better in the snow and ice but that's about it. I grew up driving rear wheel cars and trucks and they are better handling in all other situations. Oh yeah you can't do a power slide in the snow hooey in front wheel drive.

[cam_wmh]

I'll try to simply. (open to corrections, from those in the know)

1.) Tires. Tires that are young, and befit the driving conditions are the most important for traction. The compound in All Seasons, can't possibly adapt to the wide variance of temperatures in Canada, vs a specfic seasoned tire. (the "gumminess")
Essentially, if a Canadian car is driven year round, all seasons are a cheap way out. WINTER TIRES SHOULD BE LAW in all, but a very select regions
A studded winter tire, on AWD/FWD/RWD gives the most dramatic, positive traction result. Exponentially.
And conversely, Summer tires turn into hockey pucks in cold weather.

I shouldn't actually identify the drive system as "second", but to give an accurate depiction, it should be, 6th or 7th.

2.) For winter, it's understanding how your car will react when it loses traction.
All AWD systems, have a bias, whether it's Front or Rear.
FWD vs RWD -- each behave differently under lose of traction.
RWD will oversteer. FWD will understeer.

Yes, for conversation purposes, AWD is surely best. FWD is "usually" easier to anticipate, and RWD following last. This is of course, with all things coming equal.



The ultimate problem I see, is that tires are such a disposable and often replacement product on a car, that they will cheap out on arguably the most important traction piece on the vehicle.

[combustiblefuel]

I myself prefer RWD than FWD. RWD tends to track less.


I remember taking out a Dodge caliber my buddy owns for a spin. It wanted to follow every little groove in the road.

[afc wimbledon]

Rear wheel drive with a short throw 5 on the floor, top down wind in what's left of my hair, driving the way god intended.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

Yeah.

Genuinely curious as "simply terrible" seems to be quite the hyperbole. Different for sure, but far from terrible.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

That's the problem with most people, this sentence couldn't be further from the truth.

All season tires are not made for Canadian winters, they harden at higher temperatures than Canadian winters are.

Most people, yourself included I'm guessing, think more about taking off and not so much about stopping. It doesn't matter if your vehicle is FWD RWD or AWD, they all stop the same with all seasons. And In Canada, that's not very well.

If you drive for the conditions AS works well for Alberta winters. We don't get a lot of snow and a large majority of the winter is being driven on dry pavement.

Now if I lived in a snowbelt, i'd probably fork out the money for snow tires and rims. Right now my m/s tires on my Ford Escape work fine.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Genuinely curious as "simply terrible" seems to be quite the hyperbole. Different for sure, but far from terrible.

Yeah, it was a bit hyperbolic.

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

That's the problem with most people... Most people, yourself included I'm guessing...

"Get away with" is not the same as "optimal performance" or even "preferable performance."

I'm also not the "most people" you keep referring to, whoever they are. I run top of the line winter tires every year. Wouldn't do it any other way.

All-season tires are tires you can "get away with." Want tires that are a real problem? I got caught still running my summer sport tires yesterday. Death trap (but the tire discussion isn't really to do with the RWD discussion).

[cracher]

Did 4 straight winters in a RWD 305hp car. Took it out to kicking horse dozens of times in the snow, no problems. You have to consider that in the 70s and 80s, all you had were RWD cars without traction control, torque vectoring, esp, abs, etc etc... and no global warming either. People did just fine back then. I don't see winter as a good reason to sacrifice summer time fun.

[rbochan]

RWD

Because I hate doing donuts in reverse.