Honda Car Forum

It took me many, many years before deciding to buy a minivan. I have a
sedan,
an SUV and will add a minivan to the fleet.

I test drove the 2004 Sienna and the 2003 Odyssey. While the Sienna does
have many nice features, they are basically catch-up to the Odyssey but
demand
a premium. In the current economic situation, I am looking for good deals
and
the Odyssey clearly has the advantage.

As for RWD, can someone really explain what are the advantages of RWD over
FWD. I just can't see how RWD can manage snow and ice.

"John Horner" <jthorner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vjabl66dlq8e5a@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "DTT" <dtmstran@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:697a20b8.0308041041.247bc99@posting.google.co m...
> > Someone heard from the dealership that it will have a 3.8L to keep up
> > with the Quest and Sienna. Make lot of sense, otherwise, Honda will
> > have to drop price to compete. Is it true?
>
> With the redesigned Sienna, Quest and Ford products on the market in 2004
I
> think Honda is going to see a big drop in Odyssey sales. When the new
> Odyssey came out it put a real dent in Sienna. Now the Sienna has topped
> Odyssey in most ways and will take that bite back.
>
> Honda's home market sales in Japan are off big time this year because they
> are not keeping pace with the competition. I suspect we may see the same
in
> North America in 2003 or 2004 because Honda always lags in giving the
market
> what it wants. Pilot was 5 years late compared to Toyota. Still no Honda
> RWD vehicles or pickup trucks. How can Honda afford to leave the largest
> segment of the No. American market (pickup trucks) to everyone else?
>
> John
>
>

In article <ECBZa.12239$jg.4345625@news1.news.adelphia.net> ,
"Tang Wong" <tangwong@adelphia.net> wrote:

> As for RWD, can someone really explain what are the advantages of RWD over
> FWD. I just can't see how RWD can manage snow and ice.

Oh, it can; just look at Volvo, for instance. RWD only until just a
couple years ago, and in northern Europe to boot. Trust me, a Volvo can
go through snow just fine. They also use good snow tires and they have
exeperience driving in snow.

The advantage of RWD over FWD is this: the rear wheels do one thing,
drive, while the front wheels do another thing, steer. When you bunch
up both driving AND steering in the same two wheels, neither function is
able to be done as well as if you put them on separate wheels.

That being said, the above is useful only to people who drive at 7/10s
and above. That would be race car drivers, primarily; very little
everyday road driving is done anywhere near that.

So, let's qualify your question a bit: what are the advantages of RWD
over FWD **in everyday regular driving**?? None. And since all I do is
everyday regular driving, commuting, road trips, etc., I choose FWD.

The next question is, why do I choose FWD for those tasks? ARE there
any *advantages* to FWD over RWD in everyday driving? Yes, there are.
With the complete drivetrain installed up front under the hood, I get a
better packaged vehicle for my passenger comfort--no drive shaft going
through the car to the rear. Also, more of the weight of the car is
over the front tires, the driving tires--giving them better traction in
the wet.

Disadvantage: with so much stuff under the hood, you may see repairs
costing a bit more because it's that much harder to get to even simple
things. But then, with engines being as complex as the space shuttle
nowadays, it really doesn't matter. EVERYTHING is expensive to repair.

Better handling that is why all top of the line vehicles are rear wheel
drive. all of the Daytona etc cars are rear wheel drive it is not just
marketing: The advantages are a compact and cheap unit. More space inside
the vehicle suitable for small cars. and better traction in snow.
"Tang Wong" <tangwong@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:fzA_a.1388$Nc.829254@news1.news.adelphia.net. ..
> Thanks. Very well put. I suspect RWD is also being used as a marketing
tool
> to differentiate "ordinary" FWD from "special" RWD.
>
> "Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
> news:XVBZa.98520$BU2.66537@fe09.atl2.webusenet.com ...
> > In article <ECBZa.12239$jg.4345625@news1.news.adelphia.net> ,
> > "Tang Wong" <tangwong@adelphia.net> wrote:
> >
> > > As for RWD, can someone really explain what are the advantages of RWD
> over
> > > FWD. I just can't see how RWD can manage snow and ice.
> >
> > Oh, it can; just look at Volvo, for instance. RWD only until just a
> > couple years ago, and in northern Europe to boot. Trust me, a Volvo can
> > go through snow just fine. They also use good snow tires and they have
> > exeperience driving in snow.
> >
> > The advantage of RWD over FWD is this: the rear wheels do one thing,
> > drive, while the front wheels do another thing, steer. When you bunch
> > up both driving AND steering in the same two wheels, neither function is
> > able to be done as well as if you put them on separate wheels.
> >
> > That being said, the above is useful only to people who drive at 7/10s
> > and above. That would be race car drivers, primarily; very little
> > everyday road driving is done anywhere near that.
> >
> > So, let's qualify your question a bit: what are the advantages of RWD
> > over FWD **in everyday regular driving**?? None. And since all I do is
> > everyday regular driving, commuting, road trips, etc., I choose FWD.
> >
> > The next question is, why do I choose FWD for those tasks? ARE there
> > any *advantages* to FWD over RWD in everyday driving? Yes, there are.
> > With the complete drivetrain installed up front under the hood, I get a
> > better packaged vehicle for my passenger comfort--no drive shaft going
> > through the car to the rear. Also, more of the weight of the car is
> > over the front tires, the driving tires--giving them better traction in
> > the wet.
> >
> > Disadvantage: with so much stuff under the hood, you may see repairs
> > costing a bit more because it's that much harder to get to even simple
> > things. But then, with engines being as complex as the space shuttle
> > nowadays, it really doesn't matter. EVERYTHING is expensive to repair.
> >
>
>