Are FWD cars such a bad thing

[The Snout]

FWD is fine for most people and their needs from a car. For others, whether it's recreational sporty or they just prefer to tow that way, they prefer RWD.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Kable72

Less consumption until you try to tow the same load with a RWD. FWD aren't supposed to be used for towing because all the weight is on the rear of the car but there isn't any drive at the rear. Not saying you can't because you quite clearly do but there is a reason RWD dominate when it comes to towing.

So, why will consumption automatically go up at a higher rate than a RWD car due to the fact the car drices the front wheels?

In my Focus, towing 600kg added exactly 2l/100 to my freeway consumption.

If the car would have been RWD I'm sure the figure would have been around the same under the same circumstances.

If you were towing heavy loads on a regular basis, you would drive a car more suitable to the job, if you were not, then again, there is no reason to go RWD.

[GT-spec15]

I grew up on a steady diet of RWD and learned to appreciate that layout.

Fast forward to now and I drive a WRX - the benefits of AWD being truly wonderful in the real world, especially in wet conditions.

That said, I don't mind FWD in smaller vehicles. A friend's RenaultSport Clio was an absolute blast! I would not want FWD in a larger/more powerful car though.

Aside from being too expensive, the recent Focus RS's limiting factor was its FWD layout. An easy win for STi and Evo X which both gave AWD at similar money.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Wretched

You need to get out of 1950's and into the 21st century.
Have you driven a Focus RS, ST, Fiesta ST, Renault Clio Sport, Megane RS265, etc? All are FWD but will shame many more powerful RWD cars around a track.

When you were growing up people used to start their car with a winch, lighting was provided by a candle and wheels were made of wood.

Don't bother mate it's clear he has a hatred for anything other than a falcon. I'd love to see a rwd falcon keep up with many a hot hatch on a track or your favourite twisty.

[Rockape]

[GT-spec15]

Let's not get too excited about FWD.

It's a compromised layout, designed to make production cheaper. Yes - FWD technology has improved massively over time but a RWD/AWD car will still be a better overall tool.

I am not a FWD hater, but they have limitations.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Don't bother mate it's clear he has a hatred for anything other than a falcon. I'd love to see a rwd falcon keep up with many a hot hatch on a track or your favourite twisty.

I couldn't care less about how my car performs around a track as it has never seen one and probably never will.
There are many other factors which are far more important to me and these small fwd cars fail dismally in those areas.

If I wanted a sardine tin id save my self all the money and just get one from my local supermarket.

[GT-spec15]

It really depends on the car!

An XR6T with FWD would be a horrible thing to drive, but a RenaultSport Clio is fantastic.

[stevanford]

As an everyday car, It doesn't bother me to own a FWD car. I also know how good a FWD hot hatch can be, but for me, there is nothing like RWD.

[superyob]

FWD seems unnatural to me... like walking around using your arms instead of your legs. Is there any point to it?

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by superyob

FWD seems unnatural to me... like walking around using your arms instead of your legs. Is there any point to it?

Cheaper to manufacture, less drivetrain components, no tunnel is a plus in small cars....etc etc

[Kable72]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So, why will consumption automatically go up at a higher rate than a RWD car due to the fact the car drices the front wheels?

In my Focus, towing 600kg added exactly 2l/100 to my freeway consumption.

If the car would have been RWD I'm sure the figure would have been around the same under the same circumstances.

If you were towing heavy loads on a regular basis, you would drive a car more suitable to the job, if you were not, then again, there is no reason to go RWD.

Betcha the RWD will feel better on the road than the FWD while towing. I've towed with FWD cars before, against my will, and it felt sketchy as hell. Towed with my old BA falcon about a week after and it felt much better and much more capable.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by stevz

I couldn't care less about how my car performs around a track as it has never seen one and probably never will.
There are many other factors which are far more important to me and these small fwd cars fail dismally in those areas.

If I wanted a sardine tin id save my self all the money and just get one from my local supermarket.

Way to miss the point. It's all well and good to point out FWD flaws and overlook the rest.
I understand FWD isnt for everyone.
Sardine tin, far from it but again each to their own, good to poke fun at small FWD cars but when someone does it about your Aussie made falcon you get your knickers in a knot. But seems you just want to push your opinion onto everyone.

I can see the benefits of RWD, I've had numerous. Whilst they do a lot of things well, they aren't for everyone.
I have no need for a RWD car but that by no means makes them bad. Anyway no point arguing about it though.

[GT-spec15]

If your Focus ST was available in RWD for the same $$ would you have done that?

[Alan D Segal]

Originally Posted by superyob

FWD seems unnatural to me... like walking around using your arms instead of your legs. Is there any point to it?

You'd get massssssive bulked up arms, pecs and shoulders from that bro! Nobody would have to ask you if you even lift then.

On a serious, more on-topic note, I really don't see the point of all the "hurr durr fwd baad, hatchs for girls" posts. FWD has been mainstream for decades and isn't going anywhere. I remember reading a motoring article from 1980 talking about how more cars are going to FWD and how it is cheaper to manufacture etc. and nothing has changed.

People can have a preference - they always do - but it is like saying strawberry icecream sucks because I prefer chocolate. I care, but other people prefer strawberry, like both, prefer whatever is cheaper or not like icecream at all.

EDIT: at the end of the day most peoples' cars are mainly used for transporting them from A to B on public roads and there are a wide range of FWD, AWD and RWD cars that can achieve that no problems!

[mik]

i have driven quite a few fwd cars , i do concede fwd in some vehicles can be fun at times having owned a flying brick for a few years, but to me the torque steer thing gets most bloody annoying after a while, even in these modern advanced sporty ones that supposedly are much better they still have some torque steer, i guess if your pottering around in traffic day in day out, its not for me though,
while fwd do have less moving parts, they are not a whole lot of fun if any serious work needs to be performed on them, motor gearbox and diff all in the one area (oh good fun)this is another reason i like conventional layout vehicles, the other thing is if your on cambered road in the wet, and break traction in a rear wheel drive car it steps out in the rear end towards the gutter no loss of steering, in a front wheel drive, break traction in the same circumstance it pulls you into the gutter at the front end and loss of steering, a much less desirable outcome, and yes i know traction control , but traction control is not always smoothly implemented.
of course if you drive properly according to conditions it is less likely to be a problem, but to me rear wheel drive has distinct qualities that i like(not forgetting towing) and the slight advantage fwd has in fuel economy through less frictional losses i don't give a stuff about, to each his own though.

[66FAIRLANE]

Originally Posted by Neale

is a FWD car really such a bad thing?

Yes

Yes

[Vesper Martini]

For all those talking about towing, if you have a large Van or Boat most people have already migrated to an SUV or Kingcab ute from the trusty Falcon.
for smaller loads like a 6x4 trailer. I see no problem, when towing you should always change you driving habbits anyway
For those after the RWD feel, im afraid youll need to migrate to a BMW or worse still GM!!

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

The reasons I hate wrong wheel drive are as follows:

1. Torque steer. Its not fun when you nail it and the thing wants to send you towards the nearest pole.
2. Understeer. Its not fun when you want to turn and the car keeps going straight.

How is torque steer any different to a powerslide that points you towards a pole at greater speed? Oh thats right your giggling like a schoolboy when you hit the pole.
Im pretty sure most commuter cars, falcon included, tend to mild understeer when pushed as designed as its commonly held a more safe attitude for average drivers.
JP

[GT-spec15]

^^ Correct. Mild understeer is a 'safe' handling characteristic for the masses.

Torque steer isn't a massive issue like it was back in the 'Cordia Turbo' days, but the feel of the car is still quite different to RW or AWD.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

For all those talking about towing, if you have a large Van or Boat most people have already migrated to an SUV or Kingcab ute from the trusty Falcon.
for smaller loads like a 6x4 trailer. I see no problem, when towing you should always change you driving habbits anyway

As an example my AU falcon ute has a towing capacity of 1600kg's braked and a towball load of 160kg's a Mitsubish 380 (last large front driver) has exactly the same towing capacity...exactly and same towball load.
Now having towed some very large loads (mobile billboards 2 tonne static) for years I have a bit of experience in towing. Wouldnt do it in a Ute a sedan maybe but a full size 4wd was always the preference, always want the tow vehicle to be bigger then a stressed load.
I agree RWD has its place but its not because of more fun or cause girls don't drive them. If you cant have tail out fun in a fwd your not trying hard enough or don't know what your doing 20 years of owning and racing a Mk1 escort coswort and suzuki swift race cars taught me that!

JP

[FPV GTHO]

I've driven small and medium FWD cars and with soft suspension they were fun to drive close to the limit, as it didnt take much speed to get there. I learnt to drive in those cars so I'm fairly comfortable with under steer and not quite with oversteer. I still wouldn't want my BF to be FWD though as its almost 1800kg with me in it and 175rwkw. To move it around takes alot more throttle input than an 80kw/1000kg small car or a 1400kg/140kw car.

[tezxr8man]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

It's a financial decision. Easy weight reduction, less parts, more compact drive train = reduction in consumption... saving money.

That's it right there, a financial decision, i have noticed all car companies do is make cars that they think we should have based on how much they can make out of them and thats it these days. they used to try and make a car and have pride in them.Now it's all ruled by the been counters and the focus is on how much they can squeeze out of a car dollars wise

That is the only reason why there is even front wheel drive in the first place

If BMW can make RWD and be profitable why can't any one else???

[ebv8]

if you're ever going to tow something heavy fwd is useless, I have seen a magna try and take a boat out the the water and ended up in the drink
ever driven a large fwd car on a loose gravel road? and try and navigate a tight bend?
for most a FWD large sedan would be ok but for all who tow a boat, drive on dirt roads and prefer a RWD what else is affordable? a commodore
not everyone will be able to afford the AWD SHO Taurus, they will buy the povo pack FWD 2.0l ecoboost
I would buy a proper 4WD or a Commodore

P.S. I just bought a Fiesta but I still have my Commodore Wagon for the towing and trips away

[Alan D Segal]

Originally Posted by ebv8

for most a FWD large sedan would be ok but for all who tow a boat, drive on dirt roads and prefer a RWD what else is affordable?... I would buy a proper 4WD or a Commodore

Well that's a good point. A lot of people I know who tow things (mainly caravans) and go anywhere near a gravel road do buy proper 4WDs. Seems to be a big market for them. They've been replacing large sedans for towing duties and as family cars for years mate.

[GT-spec15]

Dual cab 4x4s really do make a great multi role vehicle.

Gone are the days of them being rough, agricultural pigs - most are like a car inside now!

[mike_nofx]

FWD cars are built for 2 reasons:
Cheap to manufacture.
Safe handling.

Sure some FWDs go well, for example Focus ST, but imagine if they put the same level of engineering towards developing a RWD Focus... It would be a beast.

Why are there no FWD "no expense spared" drivers cars, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW. Not shopping cart models, models designed for the enthusiast?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

FWD cars are built for 2 reasons:
Cheap to manufacture.
Safe handling.

Sure some FWDs go well, for example Focus ST, but imagine if they put the same level of engineering towards developing a RWD Focus... It would be a beast.

Why are there no FWD "no expense spared" drivers cars, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW. Not shopping cart models, models designed for the enthusiast?

The discussion is not about high end exotics where there is far too much power being generated to be put through the front wheels. The discussion is about using FWD for everyday "shopping carts" and the general consensus is there is nothing wrong with it nor with RWD.

The issue is the blanket statements coming from the uninformed sections of the forum who have NFI about any car post 1970's that will throw down comments stating FWD is rubbish, evil, etc without looking around the market and seeing how wrong they are.
I am not into the RWD vs FWD argument, i'll go with a car that suits my needs and if it is FWD then so be it (my current car is and it handles brilliantly). Ultimately I would love a 135i M (RWD).
But to bag a car based on the wheels it drives without understanding the purpose of it (and driving it) just shows the lack of maturity some here have. Sure you don't have to like FWD cars but no need to act like spoilt child about it. Most have never driven a well sorted FWD car like the Focus, Fiesta, Mini, Renault, etc to see how well they do handle.

FYI, BMW will be moving the 1 series to FWD with the next gen models.

[peteypete]

After my experiences driving my parents honda accord, i will never EVER go FWD. maybe AWD, because I've had good experiences in FWD cars such as a WRX STI, but I would never purchase a FWD.
I hate that pulling feeling on the steering wheel, especially when trying to go around bends with a bit of speed, its like the cars trying to control itself.
I hate the 'dead' feeling of the steering as well. It feels to me like it was lifeless and electronic, but when driving my falcon and other RWD cars like my brothers BMW or my old mans F250, it feels more natural (if that even makes sense)
It also dwells on my mind and while driving that the back wheels aren't really attached to anything but the chassis.. Probably not a big deal but I just personally think it's wrong lol.
But that is really just my opinion and it could all be a mental thing. I'm sure if I had no idea what a FWD or RWD or a kW or a nM or an LSD or tsu tsu tsu was, I wouldn't even notice nor care.

[GT-spec15]

No 'right' or 'wrong' answer here folks.

How good is it that we have so much choice in the market! Something for everyone.