Flightoficarus 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) Hey all, So I did a search on this first, but nothing came up. Anyways, this isn't necessarily a RWD vs FWD debate, as I've already looked into much of that. The thing is, I'm looking into a different car, all of which are RWD, and I've always had FWD cars. Essentially, I just need to know HOW much "worse" it may be to drive in the rain. Think along the lines of sporty/pony/muscle car type stuff, NOT a truck. I live in WA, where I rarely have snow to worry about, but it rains fairly often outside of late spring and summer. I've been told that I will be just fine as long as I don't try anything stupid (i.e - trying to take a turn too fast, slamming on the brakes). Or is it just completely different? What I'm looking into will be a modest power increase, but not some 400+ HP beast, for reference. Edited March 30, 2010 by Flightoficarus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elite_Deforce 1 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 I'll tell you what I tell everyone who brings FWD v RWD v AWD. If you can't handle any of those in any weather condition, then you should not be driving in those conditions (some exceptions for AWD, obviously). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2007DBR9 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 Just so long as you are careful you shouldn't have a problem. Just drive the same way you would a FWD car - if you push it too hard it understeers. If you push a RWD car too far, the back kicks out. That's the only difference. Plus it is easier to control a slide than it is tostop a FWD car understeering. Make sure you have decent tyres though! I drive a Vauxhall VXR8 in heavy rain (this is Scotland, trust me when I say heavy rain!) and I haven't had any issues. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bfeeney 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 DBR's right. If the back end kicks out let off the gas and it's pretty easy to recover (unless you are too far gone), be sure you don't overcorrect or the back end will snap back and you will be in the same predicament on the opposite side. I learned how to drive my Trans-Am in an empty parking lot on snow and after about a half an hour I had a good idea of what to do and what not to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr. joint 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 It all boils down to your own driving style. Honestly a rear wheel drive car would be fun to drive aggresively but on normal driving, even in the rain, there really is not much difference. +1 on having good tires. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bfeeney 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 Yeah, tires are a given. Hydroplaning isn't fun. (because it's usually unespected) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Isaac 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2010 Many people think they are invincible in AWD cars. They find themselves wrapped around a tree. As ED says, you have to know how to drive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flightoficarus 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Alright, all of this sounds good to me. RWD it is with my next car then It sounds like it's really more about knowing how your car handles in certain conditions than relying on a certain type of drivetrain. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jammo 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Theres a bloke where I live who answers to the nickname Beethoven, because he rolled over 2 Ford Capris (both 3L versions) in the rain, 1 powersliding underneath a railway bridge, and the other powersliding through the McDonalds drive through! (he caught the kerb on the way out) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2007DBR9 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Yeah, tires are a given. Hydroplaning isn't fun. (because it's usually unespected) Oh god no, had a few nasty exeriences doing that! Actually had one last night in the Vauxhall - we have been having a lot of heavy rain. I hate the horrible moment when the steering just goes light and you know that you have no control over what the car will do. Luckily there was nothing coming the other way to I got out of that one fine Many people think they are invincible in AWD cars. They find themselves wrapped around a tree. As ED says, you have to know how to drive. +1 I found that you can get carried away driving the Audi - as in you can drive at silly speeds in snow and rain and there is still loads of grip. What you aren't prepared for is that fact that regardless of what wheels are driven, your brakes aren't affected. When you are hammering along a snowy road at 60+ and hit the brakes and nothing happens... You know you are in trouble! Talk about a false sense of confidence!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2007DBR9 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Yeah, tires are a given. Hydroplaning isn't fun. (because it's usually unespected) Oh god no, had a few nasty exeriences doing that! Actually had one last night in the Vauxhall - we have been having a lot of heavy rain. I hate the horrible moment when the steering just goes light and you know that you have no control over what the car will do. Luckily there was nothing coming the other way to I got out of that one fine Many people think they are invincible in AWD cars. They find themselves wrapped around a tree. As ED says, you have to know how to drive. +1 I found that you can get carried away driving the Audi - as in you can drive at silly speeds in snow and rain and there is still loads of grip. What you aren't prepared for is that fact that regardless of what wheels are driven, your brakes aren't affected. When you are hammering along a snowy road at 60+ and hit the brakes and nothing happens... You know you are in trouble! Talk about a false sense of confidence!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bfeeney 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Many people think they are invincible in AWD cars. They find themselves wrapped around a tree. As ED says, you have to know how to drive. Over here it's amazing how many 4x4 Jeeps you see in the ditch. AWD is only good if you know what you're doing and you don't let your ego go to your head. DBR, Don't wreck your Vauxhall, It's an awsome car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2007DBR9 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2010 DBR, Don't wreck your Vauxhall, It's an awsome car Don't worry, that was the first and last time driving it hard on a wet road! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr. joint 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2010 Talking about rain, the past few days have been really weird. It's summer here, a lenten season holiday, and yet the skies were overcast this morning. There's always a hindsight of rain and it's pretty fuckin' hot! I wish it would rain hard (just to cool things up a bit.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2007DBR9 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2010 Talking about rain, the past few days have been really weird. It's summer here, a lenten season holiday, and yet the skies were overcast this morning. There's always a hindsight of rain and it's pretty fuckin' hot! I wish it would rain hard (just to cool things up a bit.) You think that's wierd? 4 days ago it was warm, sunny weather. 3 days ago it was floods. 2 days ago it was snow! Now it is very sunny but freezing!! Stupid weather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
