zyl_kenny: In addition to earlier comments, it depends on d type of road you're plying
With all electric gadgets turned off (traction, stability etc) fwd fares better on roads with a lot of sharp bends. RWD rides tend to spin out

But when under strictly monitored conditions (
2.8-liters maximum displacement, 225 to 275 hp power) comparing fwd mazda6s to rwd bmws and lexuses or even d awd audis.... D mazda6 outruns them all. That's on even roads tho[color=][/color]

zyl_kenny: In addition to earlier comments, it depends on d type of road you're plying
With all electric gadgets turned off (traction, stability etc) fwd fares better on roads with a lot of sharp bends. RWD rides tend to spin out

But when under strictly monitored conditions (
2.8-liters maximum displacement, 225 to 275 hp power) comparing fwd mazda6s to rwd bmws and lexuses or even d awd audis.... D mazda6 outruns them all. That's on even roads tho[color=][/color]

BOUNTYDOG: Anyway nothing can make me prefer the FWD over RWD cos even when I have to think that its the driving wheels that still steers makes me feel insecure driving the FWD.then u have the problem of the shaft.and old mercedez will still turn 360 on a spot & hold the steering without any fear but for the FWD an old mazda dare not try it.when on highway the RWD will propel fast as much still with much stability.
Please can anyone list the RWD cars they know,cos I think its just the german thing.

automine: Torque steer is a drawback that is peculiar with front wheel drives at top speed. when on top speed, the car becomes unstable because the same wheel (front wheels) that is driving the car is also steering at the same time. however, with RWD it's no problem.

magic cheche: I have driven both and can categorically say RWD all the way. Long live Mercedes benz, long live Germany and long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

platinumricky:
Mercedes has FWD vehicles. the A,B and V Class range are all FWD. BMW doesn't hv any FWD on sale but that's likely to change very soon (the next generation 1series and the up-coming 1series GT will use their new FWD platform).

Siena:

If BMW goes FWD with their newer compact models, it would mean they're going to use the platform of the newly-revamped BMW Mini. I've seen the floorpan of both 2012 BMW 1 series, and 2012 BMW Mini. Floorpans are very similar, the Mini has most of the BMW 1 series rear suspension mounting points, but it remains FWD or AWD in the BMW Mini Countryman Crossover.

I doubt BMW will ever go FWD though...

platinumricky: Traditional BMW purists won't be happy about this. As long as the accountants and shareholders of BMW AG want returns on their investments, their FWDs will likely make it to production. The 1series is the only car in its segment with RWD and its interior dimensions are smaller than its rivals.

Siena:

If BMW goes FWD with their newer compact models, it would mean they're going to use the platform of the newly-revamped BMW Mini. I've seen the floorpan of both 2012 BMW 1 series, and 2012 BMW Mini. Floorpans are very similar, the Mini has most of the BMW 1 series rear suspension mounting points, but it remains FWD or AWD in the BMW Mini Countryman Crossover.

I doubt BMW will ever go FWD though...

ba7man: BMW is comming out with a small FWD vehichle positioned with the 1-series soon but cheaper.

Siena:

It'll be interesting to see the reception it'll receive, when it makes it to the showrooms.

Wallie: There's no doubt that people will buy a fwd BMW especially since it will be an entry level model and will serve as an entry point to aspiring professionals to know the brand. BMW needs a car to compete with the Civic, RSX, Mazda 3 etc. With all the new models seriously creeping up in price, the introduction of a new model will fill in the void created at the entry level. There was a time when the 3 series was an entry level car but today, you can configure a brand new 3 series that will cost about the same as a top of the line 5 series of about 10 years ago.

Instead of a fwd platform, I would have loved to see BMW's response to the Toyota/Subaru FT-86/BRZ/FRS but I guess having the Mini platform already makes it a no-brainer economically not to build a new platform. I like the new 2L twin turbo 4 cyl engine and will buy one, even if it is a hatchback, if they put it in a small light weight rwd platform.

Ikenna351:

See how this poster twisted this post just to make It look as if FWD is an improvement on RWD. You said Mazda6 FWD outruns RWD BMW s and even AWD Audis. Can you be that biased? Are you comparing 2.8 liter (probably a v6) FWD Mazda with 1.8 liter I-4 RWD BMW? Why didn't you state the engine sizes, hp and maximum engine torques of both cars and lets understand you better.

The simply truth is that most car manufacturers changed to FWD vehicles because they are cheaper to produce, compared to RWD configuration. The less the cost of production, the more the profit. Benz and BMW maintained RWD configurations when other brands shifted to FWD, because they have fans that are still willing to spend more to buy those their products that cost more to produce, knowing what they gain driving them.

Ikenna.

platinumricky:
Civic! mazda 3! Я U̶̲̥̅̊ kidding me?! That's way too down-market. U̶̲̥̅̊ seem to forget that BMW is meant to be a premium brand. Going too low will dilute the brand..the mini brand can cater for the 'boy racer' crowd.

zyl_kenny:


You could be a little bit more polite with your post.
Quest is : rwd and fwd, which is better?
A lot of ppl have said d right things. Some are also wrong. When we make comparison, we need to state the terms. Are we referring to speed? Handling? Safety? Etc
Different cars and manufacturers excel in different aspects. A lot of ppl erroneously bliv that german cars are d best. Yes, maybe. IN THEORY! But have they actually MET each other on the track? Let them proof their worth. And when comparing, we compare cars with SIMILAR engines, SIMILAR displacement, SIMILAR power (like I stated earlier which IKENNA didn't have d time to notice). An LIVE example would be races. Where similar cars come together and ACTUALLY PROOF their worth. In races there are strict rules, strict conditions that must be adhered to. Eg wikipedia says. That mazda races in the GTA class of SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. Which includes cars like audi, acura, lexus,BMW to mention but a few. C[b]ars have similar engines and power. Mazda6 finished FIRST in that competition despite the fact that they use "stop start" as opposed to "rolling starts" used in other races which is to FWD's disadvantage. Mazda6 also came 1st and second in touring driver races.[/b] en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda6#cite_note-2

....

That is not to say that other drive trains don't have their aspects of specialization, but personally, I'd go with FWD any day. They're generally safer too

Competition Adjustments: In order to keep the competition close within the Pirelli World Challenge series, competition adjustments will be made to a vehicle model when deemed necessary. Competition adjustments will primarily be done through adjustments to the base weight, the engine speed limit and/or the required restrictor size.

R.E.W.A.R.D.S. System: Rewarding of Equalizing Weight Assigned to Reduce Driver Sensitivity, referred to as “REWARDS Weight,” is a weight equalization system based on the addition and subtraction of ballast weight based on the finishing position of individual drivers in the previous race(s). The goal of the REWARDS System is to provide close ontrack competition between a diverse variety of cars in the top third of the field. REWARDS System weight adjustments are in effect for the next race in which a driver competes in the same class. The maximum additional weight is 7% in GT and GTS and 5% in Touring Car.

Weight adjustments (in pounds) are as follows:

GT and GTS
1st +2.25%

2nd +1.5%

3rd +0.75%

4th–5th 0

6th 0.75%

7th -1.5%

TC (TOURING CAR)
1st +1.5%

2nd +1%

3rd +0.5%

4th–5th 0

6th -0.5%

7th -1%

TCB (TOURING CAR B-SPEC)
1st +1.5%

2nd +1%

3rd +1%

4th +.5%

5th 0%

6th -0.5%

7th -1%

8th -1.5%

Wallie:

Kenny, you're not seeing the entire picture. This is more of a race to determine better drivers than to determine better platforms. I say this because the series is set up to neutralize a winning platform. There's a reason why you will almost never see a FWD platform competing is races having cars with hp greater than 300.


http://www.world-challenge.com/series.php?page=seriesfacts

Wallie: The old argument of push (rear wheel drive) vs. pull (front wheel drive)! Which one is better? It depends on your use.

1. Need more wet traction in a low powered car (less than 300 hp)? Front wheel drive because of the weight of the engine weighing on the tires. If the car is high powered, tires and quality of electronic aids will determine traction.

2. Care only about fuel economy? Front wheel drive because it is usually lighter due to all the drivetrain components being in the front.

3. Your car has more than 300 hp? Rear wheel drive because you won’t get the torque steer and understeer of front wheel drives. Front wheel drives are trying to steer the car while also pulling the car. In a rear wheel drive, the front wheel steers the car and the rear wheel pushes (drives) the car.

4. You are passionate about driving feel? Rear wheel drive because the steering feel is unadulterated.

5. You want the fastest low powered car you can buy? Neither because the actual car, its engine and electronic aids (traction control, dynamic stability control) determines how fast the car will be.

6. You want the fastest high powered car you can buy? Rear wheel drive.


All wheel drive complicates things a little because it gives you more traction but at the expense of more weight and drivetrain losses, which means that all else being equal, it will be slower than a rear wheel drive except when wet.

zyl_kenny:
I completely agree with you. That's why I said. "It depends in the conditions".
How many AVERAGE nigerian drives a TRUELY sports car? In real racing, you won't see a fwd car. But the AVERAGE nigerian would drive an AVERAGE car. Fuel economy, speed, safety and comfort are very important. FWD excels here. You want more power? Then go for RWD or AWD. That why mazda or acura didn't put up their FWD cars for such races. Instead they switch to other trims that have RWD or AWD.