[watashi75]

In case you guys are forgetting, Nano is a good example of rear mounted engine RWD!

[joshguy]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

I recently saw a program on TV. A guy who was traversing in the African countryside in a 4X4 (most probably it was a land rover) had a break down and lost power to the rear wheels. He still continues with the FWD till he reaches a steep gradient. But he cannot manage to drive up the gradient.

Then he just turns the car back towards the direction he came from and attempts to drive up the gradient in reverse!!! And he does it easily

The logic here: When there is more weight on the wheels, it has better grip on the road and will not spin. Apparently, the weight of his engine is heavier than the load in the back of his vehicle, so it did have better traction.

Hi ,I also saw this program in NAT GEO.it was a wonder full program.

now coming to point,i recently went to a village in outskirts of chennai ,where there was a steep U turn.My swift could not make it as the full weight of the car was at back wheel and there was not traction on the front wheels. then i had to reverse for about 30ft and came very fast (wheel spinning speed)

Well it all depends on the usage of the individual.for me it is mostly city and highways so FWD is more than enough.

But for people who go on road less routes RWD or 4WD will do better.

Burnt my tyres on every corner that I could safely do so on today's ghat drive.
It wouldnt be possible if it wasnt for rear wheel drive.

[Samir Taheer]

Originally Posted by rippergeo

Burnt my tyres on every corner that I could safely do so on today's ghat drive.
It wouldnt be possible if it wasnt for rear wheel drive.

I presume this was in the Endeavour?

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

I recently saw a program on TV. A guy who was traversing in the African countryside in a 4X4 (most probably it was a land rover) had a break down and lost power to the rear wheels. He still continues with the FWD till he reaches a steep gradient. But he cannot manage to drive up the gradient.

Then he just turns the car back towards the direction he came from and attempts to drive up the gradient in reverse!!! And he does it easily

The logic here: When there is more weight on the wheels, it has better grip on the road and will not spin. Apparently, the weight of his engine is heavier than the load in the back of his vehicle, so it did have better traction.

No need to go to Africa. Can see it all the time in downtown SanFrancisco when it rains. I tried it in my rental SOnata.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by Mpower

No need to go to Africa. Can see it all the time in downtown SanFrancisco when it rains. I tried it in my rental SOnata.

You mean you tried a reverse to climb a steep road in SFO Downtown? Good Lord--that was a dangerous stunt, especially on slippery roads!
I know how steep those roads are, and how many crossings there are.

On a lighter note---did you try it on Crooked Street?

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

You mean you tried a reverse to climb a steep road in SFO Downtown? Good Lord--that was a dangerous stunt, especially on slippery roads!
I know how steep those roads are, and how many crossings there are.

On a lighter note---did you try it on Crooked Street?

No, not street but a driveway. A friend used to live there.

on the streets ..when it rains. fwd cars always get massive wheelspins when they move off from signals

Tried crooked street downhill...they dont allow up hill.

[HKS]

@Topic
Advantages of FWD:

- Lesser cost. There is no driveshaft or rear axle housing to build.

-Reduced weight

- More interior space. No large bumps in the floorpan are required to accommodate mechanical parts.

Disadvtanges of FWD:

-The decrease in vehicle handling ability. With more weight over the front of the automobile, the back end tends to become very light.

-The load placed on the front tires.The tires have only a finite amount of grip, so using some of it for acceleration must decrease it in other areas.

-Lesser grip

- Greater repair cost

[Bailee_Jatt_Boy]

If you live in an area where it snows RWD cars are a pain in the wrong place. There have been numerous instances when I have used my 4X4 to pull out my friends BMWs out of a mess and on many more instances they have borrowed it because their cars are practically useless on those days.

FWD on the other hand handles fine.

I am not sure why (please forgive my lack of technical expertise on this) but a lot performance cars seem to be RWD eg BMW, mustang etc. I wonder why is that?

[raveen_2023]

FWD is for commuters. RWD is for driving enthusiasts.

[vintagepoint5]

My experience with FWD and RWD is:

FWD drive is not good in the long run, get pickup fast, but front axle
get wear and tear faster. Car not balance with road grip compared to RWD, specially when braking in high speed.

Overall Rear wheel drive is more reliable, handling, safety, speed, etc.
I think all expensive cars were RWD and durable in the long run.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

I recently saw a program on TV. A guy who was traversing in the African countryside in a 4X4 (most probably it was a land rover) had a break down and lost power to the rear wheels. He still continues with the FWD till he reaches a steep gradient. But he cannot manage to drive up the gradient.

Then he just turns the car back towards the direction he came from and attempts to drive up the gradient in reverse!!! And he does it easily

The logic here: When there is more weight on the wheels, it has better grip on the road and will not spin. Apparently, the weight of his engine is heavier than the load in the back of his vehicle, so it did have better traction.

Don't know about the Land Rover, but take the case of the Kia 4-speed gearbox on the Mahindra MM540.

The lowest forward gear (highest torque) possible is 3.986:1 which is first gear.
In fourwheel drive with the Spicer-18 transfer case in low-ratio, even this is multiplied by 2.46 to become a massive 9.8:1 gearing ratio.

However observe what happens in reverse gear!

The MM540's reverse gear ratio (even higher torque) possible is 5.315:1.
In fourwheel drive with the Spicer-18 transfer case in low-ratio, this is multiplied by 2.46 to become a gargantuan 13:1 gearing ratio.

Obviously the Jeep will pull more strongly and climb more powerfully in reverse gear than in first gear !!

[MMY56]

Originally Posted by veyron1

and techno, ALL mercedes benzes are rear wheel drive cars; so are bmws, ferraris, lambos,etc. and in the indian range, the current crop of RWDs are- ambys, contys, HM trekkers, the old tempo traxxes, sumos, safaris, all the mahindras, endeavours,sierras, estates (both now extinct),gypsys,etc. and lastly, believe it or not, the first indian electric car, maini reva!!

Totally agreed.
But you forgot to mentione the good old Premier Padmini, its my everyday car.

[kannan666]

Originally Posted by MMY56

Totally agreed.
But you forgot to mentione the good old Premier Padmini, its my everyday car.

But Veyron1 has used the word 'etc' at the end of his list ! Looks like the Omni has not got a mention either !

[ramkris]

See Topgear Season13 Episode 5 for an exhaustive comparison of RWD cars. Though not relevant in India, it is still hilarious.