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First of all, some of the FWD vs. RWD arguments are generalizations. Yes, you can easily find examples where a 2-seater RWD roadster is lighter than a FWD coupe or sedan.

Second of all, the debate put out there isn't just for racing and and on-track shenanigans -- otherwise, yeah, of course there'd be no debate. Who cares about ice and fuel economy in Forza? :) I put the question out there more to spur conversation about both real-life driving (something we all do), and our preferences in-game.

For one, I was pretty surprised at all that FWD has redeeming qualities and some people actually PREFER FWD over RWD.

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Che "No Game Info" Chou
Turn 10 Community Manager
http://forzamotorsport.net

Im down the middle.
FWD is perfect for daily driven vehicles, and any vehicle to be driven in bad weather.
RWD is perfect for sporty cars, for experienced drivers, and for cars that aren't going to be driven in lots of bad weather.
Just depends on where you live and how you drive.

matt666:

This might seem random but on the Nurburgring, the Carrera GT is qucker than the Bugatti Veyron.
Carrera GT = RWD
Bugatti Veyron = FWD

LOL Veyron is AWD. No supercar will come in FWD, especially mid engine, front wheel drive haha.
Anyway the Carerrar GT is more a pure sports car. The Veyron, although an engineering masterpiece, does lose a bit in it's sportiness due to huge weight and tons of luxury items.

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diskreet:

Im down the middle.
FWD is perfect for daily driven vehicles, and any vehicle to be driven in bad weather.
RWD is perfect for sporty cars, for experienced drivers, and for cars that aren't going to be driven in lots of bad weather.
Just depends on where you live and how you drive.

matt666:

This might seem random but on the Nurburgring, the Carrera GT is qucker than the Bugatti Veyron.
Carrera GT = RWD
Bugatti Veyron = FWD

LOL Veyron is AWD. No supercar will come in FWD, especially mid engine, front wheel drive haha.
Anyway the Carerrar GT is more a pure sports car. The Veyron, although an engineering masterpiece, does lose a bit in it's sportiness due to huge weight and tons of luxury items.

Yeah, well, 1000 hp or not, I think some folks may find it hard to justify a million-plus dollar purchase without some bling bling amenities. :)

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Che "No Game Info" Chou
Turn 10 Community Manager
http://forzamotorsport.net

From what I know the Veyron never saw the nurburgring with a proffessional driver. I heard that bugatti didnt put it on the track because they didnt had anything to prove (But well, with internet, we hear many thing....

Drows:

In real life, I drive FWD, but in game, im not able to do that because of my agressive driving. I drive a crx in real life, and its a lot of fun to drive. But I cant be at ease in game like real life. As for rwd, the only RWD I drove in real life was my dad nissan b2200. But on dirt road, it was quite fun (was a dirt road but it was a public road so I didnt push it).

I've driven both FWD & RWD cars and to be honest I like both. I'm currently owning a RWD car with engine in the rear aswel, the handling is great, powersliding is alot of fun... for road driving I think this is for sure better than FWD. RWD with engine in the front I don't really know, the weight ratio and drivetrain are different etc.

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-bertone x19-

wheelman_13:

4.  Only FR (& AWD of course) cars suffer the added weight of a driveshaft and rear end, MR cars garner no such weight penalty.

It's becoming less of an issue. Aluminum driveshafts aren't unheard of. Domestically, the Crown Vic police package came with an aluminum driveshaft. Some of the Corvettes did as well. A company I used to be with quoted HT on aluminum rear end housings for Ford.

In the custom/hot rod world it's been common for awhile. There are specialty shops that can make you any driveshaft config you want at very reasonable prices.

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A small but vocal customer...

Front wheel drive for daily use.

Rear wheel drive for fun.

Pods for racing.

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cabbghd2:

wheelman_13:

4.  Only FR (& AWD of course) cars suffer the added weight of a driveshaft and rear end, MR cars garner no such weight penalty.

It's becoming less of an issue. Aluminum driveshafts aren't unheard of. Domestically, the Crown Vic police package came with an aluminum driveshaft. Some of the Corvettes did as well. A company I used to be with quoted HT on aluminum rear end housings for Ford.

In the custom/hot rod world it's been common for awhile. There are specialty shops that can make you any driveshaft config you want at very reasonable prices.

in the custom/racing world, carbon fiber drive shafts are becoming pretty common... that stuff is stiffer than almost any metal when it comes to torsional stress and you can't touch it's weight savings with a 10 ft pole (no matter what material that pole is made of )

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I'm 24 years old and I drift shopping carts.

I've driven RWD and FWD.  Between the two, I find RWD to be much more fun.

FWD is better for inexperienced drivers, but a RWD cars offers a lot more freedom and potential.  You get to maximize the use of all 4 tires, not just the front 2; oversteer isn't terribly difficult to deal with if you know what you're doing, and you don't have to worry about understeer.

I'll admit the RWD sucks in the snow (I got to drive a Chevy Caprice in the snow, weeee), but it's still driveable, and the problem can be remedied with a couple of sandbags in the trunk.

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Just to further complicate things, Audi, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Subaru use different technologies in thier AWD's.

Audi's Quattro/Haldex type differential controls split the front to rear biases, even between models.  Most standard Quattros function as FWD unless the front loses traction, and then the transfer torque to the rear.  In the sportier RS models the torque is biased more to the rear.

The Evo, Skyline, and Sti awd systems all handle differently too. 

With torque biasing, clutch type limited slip, and mechanical locking diff. evn the RWD and FWD cars can handle differently within a given model.

So what are we really discussing?  Weight vs. power vs. work load distribution.

 

This is a neat topic that could probably be debated forever.  Everyone will tell you something different as far as what's the best. :)   Here's my take on the subject.

The most cost effective way to manufacture a vehicle is Front Wheel Drive.  All the drive train parts are up at the front in one location.  This just happens to be beneficial for driving in certain conditions as the engine's weight is on top of the drive wheels.

The most efficient way of putting power to the pavement is rearwheel drive.  If it wasn't so there wouldn't be so many high performance cars made that way.  :)   Why is it done?  Simple.  When a car starts to accelerate, its weight shifts toward the back (elementary inertia).  When this occurs more force is placed on the rear wheels of the car.  More weight on the rear wheels means that's where you should be putting your power.

In all wheel drive I see the benefits of both systems as well as detriments.  If the front wheels are used for anything other than a bit of assist I'm not sure how effective they  are actually going to be, though, especially in a mid engine vehicle where the weight of the engine isn't even situated over the front wheels.  I'm not sure though.  I'm willing to be enlightened on the whole AWD subject :)

 

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Leathersoup:

This is a neat topic that could probably be debated forever.  Everyone will tell you something different as far as what's the best. :)  

 

...couldn't have said it better myself, this is proably the 1st time i've been on here & not got wound up cos there's no new info on Forza 2 when Che has posted a new thread  (..I feel your pain Paladin!)

I'm not gonna go into the technical do's & don'ts on both rear & front wheel drive as i'm not a tech head just a motorsport fan who loves cars in general...In real life I drive a Peugeot 206 & since I had some Eibach coilovers fitted it has been great fun, especially on the tight lanes at the back of the village I live in...as i've never owned a RWD car I can't comment on them but I have driven a few on various track days, the best being a BMW M3...an absolute monster of a car! I'd have to say RWD in real life is great of you can put the power down without worrying about wrapping it round a lampost & would definately have one if I had the funds to do more regular track days, but on the road I love driving my FWD Pug & just feel more comfortable about giving the loud pedal a decent prod every now & again than I would if I was in a powerful RWD.

As for Forza I have always preferred FWD cars as they are definately a lot easier to handle than the high powered RWD's, especially with the Fanatec as well as I seem to do hell of a lot of sawing at the wheel when i'm in one even if I have got a good setup on...just down to lack of skill basically & not having the patience to perfect it but that's all gonna change for Forza 2. The APR Celica tuned to B1 is my fave car in Forza btw...absolutely love it!

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Ok in my opinion both rear wheel drive and front wheel drive have pros and cons tha tgo on forever.  And since I like drifting in Forza Motorsports and I have not conquered it with the rear wheel drive car yet.  The answer to the is question is  that I like all wheel drive.  I mean having all wheels spinning and the wind rushing through my hair cause the ceiling fan is on me is the most wonderful feeling in the world LOL.  Bu tserioiusly I like them both and to choose between would be like choosing one of the olsen twins.  Both doable .  Peace out

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Ok here it is... A Forza Edition F430 Risi Competizione GT2 class Race Car -Leave Feedback-

cabbghd2:

wheelman_13:

4.  Only FR (& AWD of course) cars suffer the added weight of a driveshaft and rear end, MR cars garner no such weight penalty.

It's becoming less of an issue. Aluminum driveshafts aren't unheard of. Domestically, the Crown Vic police package came with an aluminum driveshaft. Some of the Corvettes did as well. A company I used to be with quoted HT on aluminum rear end housings for Ford.

In the custom/hot rod world it's been common for awhile. There are specialty shops that can make you any driveshaft config you want at very reasonable prices.

While I agree that a lightweight aluminum or carbon driveshaft does take a step toward mitigating the weight differential (as well as helping tranmit power more efficiently), one must also take into account the rear diff (and center diff where applicable for AWD), and associated hardware  vs. the simple half shafts from an FF or MR.  There will always be a difference, just not as large. 

I also concede that, generally, FF cars are much more practical for daily use vs FR and definately more so than MR.  I would argue that AWD could make a case based on an enhanced capability for handling inclimate conditions like rain, standing water, deep snow, etc.(but yeah, nothing has grip on a sheet of ice).  My friend's Subaru Legacy GT is far more sure-footed in the wet than my MR2.  So if you live where that happens alot, AWD could make more sense than FF.

 

the half shafts usually have a smaller diameter(and diffrent connection method) then the full drive shaft and rear dif(as well as transfercase on certan mountings of AWD) making them a little weaker off the block then FR veichles.

if you think about it, take a steel pipe about 10ft long with an external diameter of 21/2 inches and an internal of 1 inch and weld a handle to one side and try to torque it around, you might be able to get about a 5 - 10% on a good burst, on a pipe around a foot an a half long with an external of 1 inch and no internal diameter with handle attached when torqued it won't budge, but you are more likely to sheer off the handle. it comes down to what is easier to replace. the driveshaft you have just split or the front drive assembly you have just stripped the teeth off of.

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the beatings will continue until morale improves.

height launched from = 6 feet
distance traveled = 15 feet
appx speed = 80km/h
backwards, sideways, and landed in a bog.

RWD vs. FWD.

I have both cars. RWD Mazda rx7 with a LSD, and a FWD w/o a limited slip differential.

Here's the thing:
Physics.

A car cannot do too many things at the same time given the balance of the car. For a car to turn a corner (and this is ALL about cornering), a FWD car will have tendencies to have all the weight towards the front during cornering. When weight is in the front (pulling action of the car) and the wheels are spinning, you're likely to to reduce speed until the weight is central balanced in order for the car to move around the corner. And if you go too fast only one thing can happen: UNDERSTEER. I've experienced it, and it's definitely NOT pretty. I've done this at the Car and Driver road test for different class cars, testing their handling abilities before, and when a car understeers, you don't turn at all. Instead, your steering wheel shake and you move forward. (for all simulators, take note of the wheel feedback when understeering). Thus i knocked over a few cones. Why? because i went into the corner WAY too fast. So what does a FWD have to do before cornering? slow down to appropriate speed based on the neutral balance of the car.

In a RWD, the situation is different. Because your wheels are "free" to have only one job, it's is more likely to do what you want it to do. The pushing action always have weight balance towards the rear, so when a car goes around a corner too quickly, oversteer happens (when no weight is transferred to the front). Again, i personally own a mazda rx-7 (FD3s) and i've driven BMWs (great DAILY driver) and Lotus Elise (bad daily driver, but AWESOME).

AWD is tricky. VERY tricky. It really depends on the computer differential really to sense which tires needed the more torque. In the EVO 8 (which i've also driven) is really really really awesome. How it handles cornering is just unbelievable. It handles just like a rear wheel drive car around corners (corner entrance and exits) but yet has all the benefits of an AWD.

anyway, when a corner comes up,  usually the FWD car must brake MUCh earlier to take the corner quickly than a RWD car. And not only that, corner exits = slower too as the moment you hit the throttle to accelerate out, too much acceleration = understeer. RWD car, you'll have to handle the oversteer if it's too much, but at least it's manageable :)

I drive FWD out there, I never had the opportunity to drive RWD or AWD so my "knowledge" is based on Forza and my love of motorsport(watching as much as I can ^^)...as a result it is not "legitimate".

I'd say up to 300-350HP with LSD and technology now the FWD cars can be very competitive, in the same power range the AWD are as well, over 400HP its AWD and RWD territory, over 600HP its RWD territory or AWD with most torque sent to the rear wheels (like Porsche).

For everyday use I'd say FWD first cause it's cheaper and doesn't need that much gas compared to the others !

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NihonCar.com - JDM news

I am not a gearhead or a racecar driver but do enjoy cars much like the rest of you. In the real world I prefer RWD in the summer, 4WD in the winter. I live in Maine so that would explain why the 4WD. On Forza, I prefer FWD to RWD hands down. I also like the AWD cars better than the RWD ones. I guess maybe because I'm too trigger happy to get the RWD cars to drive correctly.

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From the article...

chespace:

Why FWD Sucks...

• Smaller Turning Radius: Since the driveshafts for FWD cars are located in the front, this may decrease the overall turning circle of the car.

I scanned through this thread and didnt see it mentioned so excuse me if this has already been pointed out...

First, I am not sure why a smaller turn radius would ever 'suck' as the tighter the car lets you turn the better, second,  FWD as well as AWD cars usually have a LARGER turning radius.

Seems you got your terminology backasswards again.

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MS 360 Wheel: Gek Spec

When it comes to dry pavement give me rwd all day.  Its just more fun.  fwd or awd was better why don't the majorty of top of the line performance cars us it.  The vast majorty of race cars are rwd.  Don't get me wrong awd does let you put power down sooner out of tight corners.

I will take awd or even fwd in snow if I need to be somewhere quickly, but most of time I like to have fun while driving so I stick with my rwd.

Fwd is well in my eyes was pushed so hard by the auto industry as more of a safety thing, an cheaper to build.  Lets face it most people behind the wheel of a car will either a) panic an tense up, b) not beable to control there car in a dangerous situation, or c) both a an b.   Its true  awd is best for those people but fwd is fairly close an cheaper so that is why there are so many of them on the roads. 

 

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GT: kman 8