FWD Handling

[les88]

I have been driving RWD vehicles all my life and when you push it too much or an oil slick lets the back go, without thinking I will correct the slide.
With the VW FWD if the same happened I don't know what I would do, so I need some practice of controlling the vehicle. Any ideas pls
les

[gerhard]

I have been driving RWD vehicles all my life and when you push it too much or an oil slick lets the back go, without thinking I will correct the slide.
With the VW FWD if the same happened I don't know what I would do, so I need some practice of controlling the vehicle. Any ideas pls
les

You actually don't do anything - the vehicle has stability control (or ECS) which does it for you.

When you turn in too hard the BANG from the ECS brake application will get your attention.

Find a corner on a suitable piece of road (on private property, of course ) and just keep going in a bit harder and turning a bit more savagely until you get the ECS kicking in.

[Greg Roles]

Gerhard is right Les, I'm a RWD fan and long time user myself, and the best thing you can do is find a grassy paddock and try it for yourself. The stability control is very very good, but don't let the noise freak you out.

FWD tends to understeer, and the best thing I figure you can do is stop with the loud pedal and let the front regain traction, but again the stability control does this for you. I've had a few plays with it both on and off, and like you I'm keen to do a bit of track / skidpan work, just so I can get a feel for the thing. It IS very different, and NOT as much fun!

It's WAY better than Fords immense power loss version by the way!

[ChrisR32]

If you are unfamiliar with the way a FWD behaves, best to spend the money and do an advanced driver training course. Some insurance companies also give you a discount for doing one.

[Transporter]

I have been driving RWD vehicles all my life and when you push it too much or an oil slick lets the back go, without thinking I will correct the slide.
With the VW FWD if the same happened I don't know what I would do, so I need some practice of controlling the vehicle. Any ideas pls
les

Just for normal driving and bit more than normal driving you will be ok.
My advice is that for more than "normal" driving DON'T turn the ESP off you will crash the car if you push it beyond it's limits (doesn't matter how many years you drive), if you didn't practice enough in conditions where you can lose control and regain control again and again (in FWD car). Ideal conditions would be wide road (private road) covered with snow, ice or flooded with water. IMO, if you have enough training in winter (mean snow winter) conditions in FWD car with or without ESP you beat anybody in RWD car with ESP in rain or any slippery conditions.

P.S For every day driving on public roads even if you have to swerve suddenly or brake suddenly you will be much safer and the FWD car will stay on the road for much longer that RWD. Especially with ESP. Advance driver training is good and I would recommende it to everybody but you don't need it just because you changing from RWD to FWD I would say you need it (almost must have it, if you live in the country where snows in winter other wise it could be safer to garage your car for winter and use public transport instead) when you would be changing from FWD to RWD.

[Guest212]

i alternate between rwd and fwd all the time.

its not a massive difference if you're not pushing the limits.

the golf/jetta will correct your sillies very quickly and easily. BUT it is not a replacement for bad driving.

Find a grassy paddock and have some fun. Mud can be washed off and it hardly wears your tyres. A dealer salesguy told me that the GTI's do the most awesome slides after a bit of handbrake yanking action - but I haven't tried yet, too worried I'd stuff up and hit a tree or something.

[Peter Jones]

Try picking up a copy of this book.Makes for an interesting read.

The Front-Wheel Driving High-Performance Advantage

http://www.amazon.com/Front-Wheel-Driving-High-Performance-Advantage/dp/0879382988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230956237&sr=8-1

Pete

[SoVeReIgN]

Lift off the throttle (or a very slight tap on the brakes, but VAG cars dont let you use the brake + throttle at the same time) and usually LESS steering angle will sort you out.

But understeer is much more progressive than any oversteer in anything i've driven so you really have to be trying to take out a curb.
Hitting an oil slick will probably have the same effect in both cars though, the wheels just sliding without control, quite scary when if it happens to you - A couple of driving courses have told me the best thing to do is just brake

[Guest212]

- A couple of driving courses have told me the best thing to do is just brake

best thing to do on a public road by far. Minimise the speed of the impact.

you cant always guarantee that you will regain control of the vehicle and avoid what is coming for you really.