From: rll@frieda.mitre.org (Roberto L. Landrau)
Subject: PC's vs. Mac's... was: FWD vs. RWD, Which is best.
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 11:45:09 GMT


In article 100805@usho21.hou281.chevron.com, hhtra@usho21.hou281.chevron.com (T.M.Haddock) writes:
>>  I drove RWD through the 70's - performance and pedestrian.  In the 1981, 
>>  I got my first FWD.  11 years later, I still drive FWD - Dodge Stealth RT.
>>  The family car has been a Chevy Caprice and now a Chevy Surburban.  In my
>>  experience, the FWD handled just as well as any RWD but, in the rain, ice,
>>  and snow, the FWD handled better and I felt alot safer than in the RWD.
>>  IMHO, as always.

I respect your opinion.  My experience has been different.  I have
found FWD's to have better traction in the snow, but RWD's better
braking and stability.  I don't know what other FWD and RWD cars you
have owned, but I hope you didn't come to this conclusion by comparing
the RWD of the 70's to the FWD's of the 90's, as most people do.  It
would be like comparing a 1980 Aries (RIP) or Citation (RIP) vs. a
1990 RWD vehicle.  I have owned different FWD's, RWD's, and AWD's.
They all handle very different.  The AWD is the easiest to drive in
most circumstances (except Boston city traffic: that's where the old
Rabbit FWD does best).

In article <1992Oct1.234325.8379@sol.UVic.CA> atovorni@engr.UVic.CA writes:

> Reply: I drove RWD from the beginning. By '88 or so, I finally switched to
>FWD. Two years later, after two bad wipeouts (one of which started with a front-
>wheel blowout on slush, the other losing rear wheel grip on snow just by 
>using compression after downshifting) and a collision repair fiasco, I gladly
>switched back. 

That's because the tail of most FWD cars is very light.  This makes
them prone to oversteer under heavy braking and in the snow.  I know
quite a few people who have had similar experiences.

> Since then, I have had no problems. Since this is subjective, I am not 
>trying to convert FWD devotees to my way of thinking. You are all entitled to your 
>opinions and I respect them. I also have the right to disagree with those
>opinions, and as an old friend once told me..."there's something really
>quirky about steering with the driving wheels"...That I agree with.

I use the steering wheel to steer...

Tires can only do 100% of the job and that's it.  If you use the same
wheels for both steering and traction, you will have to split that
100% somehow.

-------

This is another one of those arguments that will never come to an end.
It reminds me of the `PC vs Mac' arguments.

#define :)_MODE

Perhaps you can relate more closely to this:

Driving a FWD is like using a Mac: It is great for those who just want
to get the job done without having to know a thing about the hardware
and you don't care about performance.

Driving a RWD is like using a PC: Much more powerful, but it requires
the user to have some knowledge and expertice.

Driving an AWD is like using a UNIX workstation and X windows: simply
the ultimate!

#undef :)_MODE

and for the humor impaired more   :):):):):):):):):)

Seriously, this will go on and on forever.  All we can do is simply
state facts about one vs the other.  As far as `better' or `worse'
that will never be resolved.


--
The opinions stated above are not necessarily my employer's.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Roberto L. Landrau    KC1YP    landrau@mitre.org  rll@linus.mitre.org
The MITRE Corporation  Bedford, MA 01730          rll@linus.UUCP