Torque Cars chat forums - View Single Post - diference between rear and front traction

waynne · 25-01-2007, 01:20 PM

A simplified answer to your question:

Front wheel drive: FWD - the car is pulled along. This means the car is very stable and on a fast bend pressing the throttle will generally help you corner although the car will have a tendency to turn wide as it loses traction (understeer). It is hard to get more than 250bhp on the road with FWD without losing traction and grip as the front lifts up on acceleration.

Rear wheel drive: RWD - the car is pushed along. The back will tend to veer out wider than the front of the car on a tight bend causing oversteer. This is not as easy to control and can catch the unwary driver out. You can put very silly amounts of power through RWD as the back presses down on acceleration so grip is maintained.

RWD is more fun, unpredicatable to the unwary and therefore dangerous.
FWD is safe and what most car makers give you.

25-01-2007, 01:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
waynne Administrator Torque King Car: A3 1.8T Sport Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Deal, Kent UK Posts: 6,369	A simplified answer to your question: Front wheel drive: FWD - the car is pulled along. This means the car is very stable and on a fast bend pressing the throttle will generally help you corner although the car will have a tendency to turn wide as it loses traction (understeer). It is hard to get more than 250bhp on the road with FWD without losing traction and grip as the front lifts up on acceleration. Rear wheel drive: RWD - the car is pushed along. The back will tend to veer out wider than the front of the car on a tight bend causing oversteer. This is not as easy to control and can catch the unwary driver out. You can put very silly amounts of power through RWD as the back presses down on acceleration so grip is maintained. RWD is more fun, unpredicatable to the unwary and therefore dangerous. FWD is safe and what most car makers give you.