From FWD to RWD...

[Scylla]

All I've heard is that the 240 has excellent handling, blah blah blah. &nbsp;But in several threads, I've also heard people saying "Can't take turns fast" etc. &nbsp;I drive an Integra right now, and don't have to slow down too much for turns. &nbsp;My teg handles fine in the rain and even in the snow (only trouble was going up my steep driveway &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp;). &nbsp;What makes RWD so great? &nbsp;I live in a semi-countryside (five minutes of dirt road before pavement), and I don't want to be sliding everywhere.

[MyFirst240SX]

RWD is for the traditional sports/ super car. &nbsp;How many NASCAR, GT, or F1 FWD cars do you commonly see. &nbsp;Not many. &nbsp;From what i have heard about Teg's is they handle really well. &nbsp;how ever im pretty sure RWD gives you a better turning radius. &nbsp;
RWD will let you drift ezier and makes it easier to control to me.
You can do Donuts with RWD.
No more torque steer, i used to drive a maxima i hated that.
FWD is a more economy, built for your mom also kinda deal. &nbsp;
Just my opinion

[adey]

one word: Understeer!
You won't plough through corners in a RWD car! RWD is just more fun. A lot of people like FWD and AWD because you don't have to "worry" about spinning, but I think that's what makes RWD so much more interesting!

[240meowth]

well, consider this, a FWD car, it's front wheels has to deal w/ pulling the car and turning the car, thus, extra stress is put on the front. while a RWD car, it's front tires only have to deal w/ turning, ultimately you get a smaller turning radius.

and by it "can't turn fast", i'd asumme people are talking about, going fast, and turning.

on a fwd car, if you go 60mph and turn, what will happen is you will get understeer, which gets yourself outta shit. and the front wheels break lose, and thus, no more power is put to the ground. and you will eventually gain traction

example:
i turned right @ 60mph on my tercel to make a light, basically i lost traction and it couldn't go anywhere, so eventually i slide 1 lane across, and got traction.

while on a rwd car, if your front wheels break lose, your rear tires still have traction to the car, and still pushing the car, what will happen is, some what of a 180 might happen across 2-3 lanes of traffic. and if you decided to keep the throttle open while you are loseing tractiong, you might pull a 360ish kinda thing.

example:
i was in my friend's cool BMW M3, and he took a right turn @ 60, lost traction, counter steered, yet didn't let go throttle, and ended up doing a 360 ish kinda thing in to a steet light. who is this guy? *caugh* maybe someone named "meowths daddy" on this board *caugh* <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

i didn't provide no wrong information, ese <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/notify.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':notify:'> he he he &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[obruT ES 41S 79&#39;]

Meow, wrong information...

If the front tire loses traction in a RWD car, it will understeer.

Rear tire loses traction in a RWD car, it will oversteer.

What FWD drivers should be concerned about when switching over to RWD cars are taking corners.

Less steering input is needed, and need to straighten out earlier than FWD or risk oversteer in bad traction condition. It causes a weight transfer that isn't pleasent.

Basically, slow into the turn, steer into it. Halfway through, start getting on the gas, and straighten out the steering. If the steering isn't straighten out in certain condition, the momentum of the car going into the turn plus the sudden input of power to the rear wheels will create power oversteer conditions.

Once you are use to the less steering input, you can basically take corners like they are straights. ie: brake, steer, gas, straighten out, and some cases, countersteer, and the car is basically launched out of the corners.

RWD drivers must also pay more attention to weight transfer. A fairly balanced car like the 240SX can be make to understeer, oversteer or go neutral depending on how the driver drives. I personally prefer Neutral with a hint of oversteer. 4 wheel drifts!!!

[DSC]

Generally the people who complain about rwd are the ones who are new to it.
When I first got my car I was here posting about why I can't keep traction in the rain and why I get "ass out" comming out of turns.
A few reasons...This was my first rwd car, this was my first car with more than 120hp, and this my first 5spd.
Now, put me in a RWD car with similar power/handleing abilities as a FWD car and I'm sure I could go faster in the RWD car.

[BlackFox]

I learned on RWD and I'm sticking with RWD &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

It just feels unnatural when I drive FWD, the car doesn't behave like I expect it to. Same goes when switching to RWD I assume, except you probably have to spin out at least once to get to know the car..... then if you didn't wreck your car, you should be fine.

Enjoy the Drive &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp;(understeer) <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

[anthony240]

I drive my sisters' hondas and they have a much wider turning radius, I was surprised at how I can turn around without going into reverse in a normal housing street with the 240.

It felt natural to me when driving the 240, I didn't know it was RWD, I felt it was. I always pay attention to weight transfer now, and I make turns wide, and leave wide, when I go through it fast. I find it actually faster to go through turns in a RWD car than a FWD. FWD you don't have to slow down a lot when entering the turn, but if you go too fast you have to hit the brakes to prevent the car from going off the road.

[West]

FWD's are pulled by the driving wheels and weight is transfered to the back of the car, which results in loss of traction and whorable handling.

RWD pushs the car and all the weight is transfered to the back of the car (your driving wheels) so you get a increase in traction and better handling.

Dirt, rain, snow, its all fun for me in a RWD. Of course thats all I have ever driven. Sure it can be dangerous to people who drive like a jackass and to someone who dont learn how the car behaves before they are forced to learn. My first and only lesson was coming down from camping in my very first 89 Hatchback with 4 friends. I was hauling ass on a dirt road and hit a very sharp turn and ended up doing a 360 and being in the perfect direction to keep going, I probly would have crashed if I was in a FWD car. It scared the shit out of everyone but it was fun a all hell.

Steep driveways do suck for RWD, but you will just need to get lots of speed before going up it in the snow. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Once you learn RWD and all its positive abilities then you will never think of FWD again. But AWD is fun as hell too <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[DuffMan]

The main advantage of RWD is in the seccond half of the corner, where you can power out of it. FWD involves different driving techniques, like lifting off the throttle and engine braking to tighten up the line. With RWD its a ballance of throttle steer. It's a matter of personal preferance more than anything else, though above a certain power level, FWD starts to get rediculous.

There can be cars that handle well in FWD and RWD, but I personally prefer RWD, though a good HLSD can help close the gap.

[Scylla]

Hmmm...good points, good posts. &nbsp;Pretty much the ONLY thing at this point that is keeping me from getting a 240 are the RWD worries. &nbsp;I am used to taking curves fast (live on a mountainy road, lots of S curves...in fact, they filmed a sports car commerical up here once...anyway), and I suppose I could take it slow. &nbsp;But how do you all fare in the snow and rain?

[DSC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Scylla @ May 16 2002,01:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hmmm...good points, good posts. Pretty much the ONLY thing at this point that is keeping me from getting a 240 are the RWD worries. I am used to taking curves fast (live on a mountainy road, lots of S curves...in fact, they filmed a sports car commerical up here once...anyway), and I suppose I could take it slow. But how do you all fare in the snow and rain?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
You would only have to take it slow right at first and then only if your pushing the car to it's limit. &nbsp;You can still whip around those curves w/out worrying. &nbsp;rear wheel drive cars' tails don't just whip out whenever your trying to corner. &nbsp;When you exceed your cars limit of traction FWD may be easier to correct than RWD...but once you get used to loseing traction/countersteering RWD, that won't even be a problem. &nbsp;I've been driving my car for nearing a year now and I've only lost complete traction a couple times. &nbsp;Really, unless your just a bad driver, you won't have any problems with RWD...may take a little getting used to and your rear may slip a bit but you shouldn't have to worry about sliding out of control. &nbsp;

Rain: &nbsp;You simply have to be more careful in RWD, you can still drive plenty fast as long as your imputs (steering/throttle/brakeing) are smooth.

Snow: &nbsp;Don't bother...just say home <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I've driven my car around in the snow and a lot of people do it but its just not a good idea. &nbsp;I had a blast driving when it snowed here (VA)...felt like I was in rally or something....go into a turn and counter steer if you start to slide (big difference from FWD...don't adjust your throttle in a slide with RWD...weight transfer is 10x more important in RWD) and you'll be fine.

[misnomer]

The 240 will handle differently from your teg, likely even better in the twisties. But, it will take getting used to the rwd tendancy to oversteer on a fast corner. As far as weather goes, when your traction with the road is diminished, a fwd car is easier to control. Compare pushing (rwd) the pallets at Home Depot to pulling (fwd), the front essentially cannot be out of alignment with the rear when the car is being pulled by the front tires. Pushing from the rear you will slide around quite a bit easier. HOWEVER, this all only applies in wet weather, when the tires don't have the proper traction with the road. On dry pavement, the 240 pulls one of the highest skidpad ratings in it's class.

[Alias]

I learned to drive in a FWD automatic. When I first drove my friends 240sx, I was like "wow!". It was way diferent. I loved the car, so I got one <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> Dry driving wasn't much diferent, I just used common sense and the laws of physics lol. But driving in the rain was like learning all over again. I have pushed my car as hard as I could in all conditions. This way I know my limits. I have lost control twice in the 3 months I had it, never spun it out thoug. Both of those times it was raining. Take your time and feel it out! I will NEVER go back to an automatic FWD car again!

[Bbandit]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (obruT ES 41S 79' @ May 15 2002,6:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">bla bla bla...prefer Neutral with a hint of oversteer. 4 wheel drifts!!!</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
4 wheel drifts? mmmm sounds familiar &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[nrcooled]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> I had a blast driving when it snowed here (VA).</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
When it snowed in VA &nbsp;I couldn't even accelerate. &nbsp;Everytime I touched the gas the backend slid out <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> not fun. &nbsp;RWD sucks in snow I just park it and drive the ::gulp::focus <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> &nbsp;

In the rain the RWD is the best...just drifting w/o all the tire screeching and danger. &nbsp;Slow speed drifts are fun as shit <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[JpS]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Scylla @ May 15 2002,5:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I live in a semi-countryside (five minutes of dirt road before pavement), and I don't want to be sliding everywhere.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
trust me, the 240 is one of the best cars ive ever had for the dirt... sliding everywhere is part of the fun once you learn how to control your car... besides now that i cant watch WRC on speedvision i just find a dirt road around here and pretend that i'm carlos sainz &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[240 2NR]

Jeez, I hate when people say these cars suck in the snow. &nbsp;These cars do suck in the snow if you have bad tires or summer tires on. &nbsp;If you ever tried with some dedicated snow tires you would realize how nice rwd is. &nbsp;Yes you need to be a bit more careful, but you also gain the ability to throttle steer. &nbsp;

I drove this winter on snow tires and when we got 8" of snow it was drive my girlfriend's altima with all season tires or my 240 with snow tires. &nbsp;We took the 240 and had no troubles, though it was icey under the snow so you could drift at about 5mph.

I also drove one day with some summer biased all season tires when we had half an inch of snow and it was down right scary. &nbsp;They had no grip and any throttle in a turn slid the rear end out. &nbsp;

So yes, these cars are hard to drive in snow with sporty tires, so if you plan to, get some dedicated snow tires.

[Scylla]

Yeah, I live in VA. &nbsp;When we got the snow, my teg only slid a few times. &nbsp;So I should invest in some good snow tires? &nbsp;Any particular brand? &nbsp;I am getting pretty psyched about getting a 240, but want my worries to be all good and assured. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[onebadm5]

just remember this Meowth:

Oversteer is when the passenger is scared.
Understeer is when the driver is scared.

Have a Nice Day <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[DuffMan]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DSC @ May 17 2002,01:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When you exceed your cars limit of traction FWD may be easier to correct than RWD...but once you get used to loseing traction/countersteering RWD, that won't even be a problem.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Heh, RWD is definitely easier to correct than FWD. At least for me anyways, even when I just started driving RWD.

Also like it has been said, the 240 is pretty good in snow with the right tires. Up until a few years ago, Volvos were ALL RWD, and they were designed to be the safest cars for use in Sweden, which obviously has a lot of snow. So the whole FWD is better in snow thing is a big myth.

[240sig]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (WeST @ May 16 2002,12:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">FWD's are pulled by the driving wheels and weight is transfered to the back of the car, which results in loss of traction and whorable handling.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
"Whorable" handling is of course when your FWD car loses traction causing you to slide off the road and hit a prostitute. Much different than horrible handling. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[andrave]

my friend has an integra that he lets me drive fast, and i have an s13 240...
i can drive the 240 wayy faster, especially in the wet. &nbsp;if the car starts to slide, more power tightens the curve. &nbsp;the integra starts to slide, and you have exceeded the speed for that curve and its eat gravel/guardrail time.
plus its way more fun to do donuts in and take sideways through wet city streets at 3 am while your buddy sits wide-eyed and clinging to the tiny little door handle nissan gave him.

[andrave]

oh and for snow tires i drove a car with blizzacks on ice once and they are hands down the best but they are expensive...
i use wintermark or winterfire, i cant remember which.. i get them at sams club for like 40 or 50 each depending on size, and they kick ass on gravel roads, dirt, mud, snow, and ice.
even on wet roads they are very good.
on dry roads traction sucks, but in WVA you dont get dry roads from october-march anyway.

[kanekz]

I just got my 240 less than a month ago. &nbsp;Used to drive a 91 teg. &nbsp;Put it this way... The 240 is a BLAST!!!!! &nbsp;It was tricky at first in the corners, but like anything else, you and the car will become ONE. &nbsp;

Go try bust'n some U's (u-turns) in a open place...hey you might end up doing some donuts even.

I did think about the FWD and RWD issue before I got the 240, but didn't bother me later. &nbsp;My first car was a 85 RX-7 and those things are pretty damn light and fishtailed a few in the rain. &nbsp;I also drove my bro's 88' FC (RX7) which was a FUN too!

I still need HELLA OF ALOT MORE practice though
IDOL: DORI-KING (DRIFT-KING in JAPAN)!!!!!!