wrote in message
...

On Friday, 7 July 2017 20:30:22 UTC+1, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 30/06/2017 22:16, tabbypurr wrote:
On Friday, 30 June 2017 22:09:08 UTC+1, James Wilkinson Sword wrote:

I've had many many cars in my life, and all the FWD ones are way
easier to control. If you go a bit too fast round a corner, the FWD
ones self correct. The RWD ones go more and more out of control until
you either spin round or collide with something.

Someone hasn't learnt how to correct errant car handling. Hint: all
cars mis-handle when pushed too far. Without a single solitary
exception. Ever.

My wife's FWD car misbehaves safely.

If I push it into a corner a bit fast it understeers. I then have to
lift off, which transfers the weight forward and it understeers less.

Boring but safe.

but that's not pushing it to its limits.

My RWD car will go around the same corner with twice the G. I can put
the power down on the exit much sooner - but when it goes, it really
goes. I have to concentrate when pushing it. And if I have to brake in a
corner - brown trousers time.

FWD or RWD should behave the same when braking on a corner, at least when
all other things are equal.

OTOH, it's easy to drive beyond what is the limit for hers. Horses for
courses.

Andy

If you push either beyond its limit you'll find that upto a limited point
the rwd can get round the corner in a partial skid, the fwd won't. I
certainly am not recommending doing so though.

It's probably fair to say FWD is easier for folk with no training,
precisely because engine torque reduces cornering grip so significantly
that all they need do is lift off and suddenly it corners - and lifting off
is what people instinctively do.

If you're trying to get maximum cornering you shouldn't be on the throttle
at all on a corner, in which case fwd vs rwd is pretty much irrelevant.

Better tell that to the rally drivers, they've been doing it wrong all this
time.