FWD-RWD-AWD

[matthewAPM]

I have a serious question. My Yaris hatcback had a tendency to swing the back end around instead of understeer. The tires would grip and refused to send me into an understeer situation. Probably due to my lack of power and torque. However the backend, with it's stiff-as-hell suspension setup and lack of rear weight, wouldn't hesistate to come swinging around and have my nose pointing at the inside ditch. It was easy to control, but it felt...awkward. Would this in anyway be considered oversteer or just rotation?





As for which do I prefer between AWD, RWD, or FWD? First off, I don't have much experience with AWD so I'll omit it completely. I'd have to say it depends on what I'm wanting to do. 2/7 of the cars I've owned have been FWD and I've never had any problems with them. I found their characteristics more predicatible and easier to control. RWD has definitely been more fun in the long run. Being both at drift events and regular track events, the RWD cars have always been enjoyable. So again, I'm not particularly biased towards one or the other.

The reason the yaris does that is because of its setup. What you are feeling is rotation. The reason you feel like its a lot of oversteer is because A. ur not use to it and B. no enough experience in a FWD car. There is a art to driving a FWD car fast. As stupid as it sounds, you steer the car with the gas and brake. coming into a turn, brake, lift towards the apex, then mid turn mat that gas pedel to the floor and thats a FWD turn in some what basic terms. The number one problem people have with driving a FWD car is they drive a RWD car and get use to when the car gets sideways, they steer out of the corner and apply the brakes or apply a little throttle depending on the car. In a FWD when the car oversteers, you are going to steer out of the corner then immediately into the corner applying the gas the entire time.



Yes, FWD can be just as competitive as a RWD car when there are class limitations making the cars equal, but when there are no limitations to drivetrain, RWD will always be used.


Blakeshine007, thank you for admiting you were wrong. Most people on IA wouldnt do that. You have gained my respect sir.

[Ran]

Does the backend start to swing out under braking or does it step out when you get back on the power?

Doesn't really seem to matter from what I've noticed. If I was taking the corner at a high rate of speed, the whole backend would just swing around and then I was forced to correct/control the car with steering and throttle control.

The reason the yaris does that is because of its setup. What you are feeling is rotation. The reason you feel like its a lot of oversteer is because A. ur not use to it and B. no enough experience in a FWD car. There is a art to driving a FWD car fast. As stupid as it sounds, you steer the car with the gas and brake. coming into a turn, brake, lift towards the apex, then mid turn mat that gas pedel to the floor and thats a FWD turn in some what basic terms. The number one problem people have with driving a FWD car is they drive a RWD car and get use to when the car gets sideways, they steer out of the corner and apply the brakes or apply a little throttle depending on the car. In a FWD when the car oversteers, you are going to steer out of the corner then immediately into the corner applying the gas the entire time.

Thanks for the info. The first time I drove the Yaris on a mountain, I was surprised when the backend came around and the frontend didn't understeer. I got used to it, but it never sat quite right with me. As you stated, I don't have enough experience with FWD cars. Too much drifting at Turner Field with my previous RWD cars. lol

Reps for the info.

[EJ25RUN]

Doesn't really seem to matter from what I've noticed. If I was taking the corner at a high rate of speed, the whole backend would just swing around and then I was forced to correct/control the car with steering and throttle control.

Thanks for the info. The first time I drove the Yaris on a mountain, I was surprised when the backend came around and the frontend didn't understeer. I got used to it, but it never sat quite right with me. As you stated, I don't have enough experience with FWD cars. Too much drifting at Turner Field with my previous RWD cars. lol

Reps for the info.

Do you have aftermarket wheel & Tires on it yet?

If not, i think you should get gripper and wider tires and some rims. It should help quiet a bit. You gotta remember Yaris weren't made to go around corners at any rate of speed.

[Ran]

Do you have aftermarket wheel & Tires on it yet?

If not, i think you should get gripper and wider tires and some rims. It should help quiet a bit.

Suspension and wheels/tires were the first things to be done. Full TRD suspension setup (sways, shocks/struts, springs, ect...) coupled to 16x7 wheels and tires. I later swapped those wheels for some 17x7's since I stopped doing mountain runs.

You gotta remember Yaris weren't made to go around corners at any rate of speed.

The Yaris actually has it's own racing cups in various Asian countries.

Also, I no longer have the Yaris. Just FYI.

[EJ25RUN]

Suspension and wheels/tires were the first things to be done. Full TRD suspension setup (sways, shocks/struts, springs, ect...) coupled to 16x7 wheels and tires. I later swapped those wheels for some 17x7's since I stopped doing mountain runs.

The Yaris actually has it's own racing cups in various Asian countries.

Also, I no longer have the Yaris. Just FYI.

I see...

i think with you adding the sway bars, you might have actually stiffened the suspension to far.

Here's the easiest way to explain what im trying to say.

F1 cars slid because the have absolutely NO body roll.

Your suspension might be so stiff that instead of naturally the weight transfer causing the car to get lower on on side, it has to instead push the car out for that weight to go somewhere.

[matthewAPM]

I see...

i think with you adding the sway bars, you might have actually stiffened the suspension to far.

Here's the easiest way to explain what im trying to say.

F1 cars slid because the have absolutely NO body roll.

Your suspension might be so stiff that instead of naturally the weight transfer causing the car to get lower on on side, it has to instead push the car out for that weight to go somewhere.

the chances of him have it to stiff are slim to none.

[EJ25RUN]

the chances of him have it to stiff are slim to none.

RAN is a girl