Re: So what's good about FWD?

[Mike Williams <daserde@ucla.edu>]

At 12:10 AM -0800 1/19/97, Psychotic Don't-you-dare-tickle-me Elmo wrote:
>>Ok, so what people are saying is:
>
>>1. Yes, FWD performs better in a low-traction situation purely because
>>   of the nose-heavy weight distribution.
>
>Sooooo, lemme get it straight -- since it's nose heavy, FWD, front-engined
>vehicles can stop better and get better traction due to weight transfer.\

No, it is due to the fact that when the front wheels start spinning, it is
easier for the average driver to get their traction back and to keep
control of the car.  When the rear whells start spinning, you can end up
having th tail kicking out and have the person land off the road.  That is
a bit scarier for the people.

>
>>3. People like to have lots of understeer.  (You'd think they'd rather
>>   stay on the road...)
>
>That sure doesn't right. If they're experiencing understeer, I assume
>they're *steering*. If they're steering in the first place, wouldn't it be
>not retarded to assume they're steering to stay on the road or something.
>If they're goal is to stay on the road, why would they want lotza
>understeer?

The understeer gives the person more control because if they go off the
road head first, they are likely to be a bit safer.   But when the person
goes off the road in an oversteering car, they go flying out of control and
unless you are very skilled, you really cant recover very well once you end
up backwards.  With teh understeering nature, it is easier to recover
because you are going to be facing in the direction that you are moving.
And the understeering nature builds on the normal persons response of
lifting off of the throttle.  In an oversteering car, if a person lifts off
of the throttle, they are very likely going to end up kicking out the tail
and flying off the road.  Most people do not kow how to recover from that.
But in understeer, if they let off of the throttle, they will slow down and
eventually they will slow down to the point that they will be able to
regain control of teh car.
>
>>But why doesn't anyone build a rear-drive, *rear-engined* economy car?
>
>I believe those are called Poosche -- it drives like it sounds -- it'll go
>nowhere you want to go. (;
I know that you are probably joking about this.  But if i am not mistaken,
isnt the 911 one of the best cars on the road in performance and handling.
And remember, Chevrolet tried this with the Corvair, and that kinda
flopped, although it was actually starting to have promise by the end of
it's life...oh well...thanks Ralph....
>
that is just my many cents.....
ehhe...IMHO