2wd -rear wheel drive - any cornering problems ?
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
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budebeach
2wd -rear wheel drive - any cornering problems ?
Considering 2WD rather than 4WD ( less to go wrong mainly), and will be mostly road driving, but because rear wheel drive does it drive differently. Any tips? pros or cons? My husband says that they always used to say it's better to be pulled rather than be pushed!
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egor110
When we looked around we were told 4wd handle better and that the trouble with 2 wd drive is you a 2.5 turbo diesel all coming through the rear wheels which could be 'intresting' in the wet at roundabouts etc.
I've got a 4wd the m.p.g advantage of a 2wd is hardly worth talking about and it does handle much better than you expect.
My advice don't worry about 2/4wheel drive look at the vechicle which is in the best overall condition.
I've got a 4wd the m.p.g advantage of a 2wd is hardly worth talking about and it does handle much better than you expect.
My advice don't worry about 2/4wheel drive look at the vechicle which is in the best overall condition.
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Colin Lambert
Welcome Budebeach,
I have owned a 2wd Bongalow for just over a year. I bought 2wd for exactly the reasons you stipulate, less to go wrong and like wise the Bongolow as I have no need for a freetop, again less to go wrong and much better centre of gravity. Those rooves are very heavy.
I have had no trouble at all with driving rwd. The technique in the wet is substantially different to that of a front wheel drive car but only if you are pushing on too hard. If you 'lose it' in a rwd the way to save it is different to that of a Front wd.
I think, if I may be so bold, that your Hubby has got it the wrong way round.
I am so old!! that when I started driving in 1963 it was rear or nothing. All of us that have had to drive RWD cars are imho better qualifyed at car handling as they are more trickey to handle in slippery condidtions.
BMW and Jeremy Clarkson are always wittering on about rwd being the purist enthusiasts way to be propeled.
This is fine if you are drive a sports car or high powered car and you want to drive skillfully and have more fun. BUT for everyday driving front wd has got to be safer and more relaxing. Think about it. Have you ever tried to 'push a piece of string'??
So to sum it up.
If you are going to drive your Bongo as it should be driven, as a 2 ton truck, (it is NOT a sports car) and assuming you live in Kernow (Bude?) and are therefore unlikely to meet snow too often. then my advise is, keep things simple and go 2wd (slightly better consumption as well.) I get 33+ on a run keeping the rev counter below 2,500 rpm as much as possible.
Best of luck.
I have owned a 2wd Bongalow for just over a year. I bought 2wd for exactly the reasons you stipulate, less to go wrong and like wise the Bongolow as I have no need for a freetop, again less to go wrong and much better centre of gravity. Those rooves are very heavy.
I have had no trouble at all with driving rwd. The technique in the wet is substantially different to that of a front wheel drive car but only if you are pushing on too hard. If you 'lose it' in a rwd the way to save it is different to that of a Front wd.
I think, if I may be so bold, that your Hubby has got it the wrong way round.
I am so old!! that when I started driving in 1963 it was rear or nothing. All of us that have had to drive RWD cars are imho better qualifyed at car handling as they are more trickey to handle in slippery condidtions.
BMW and Jeremy Clarkson are always wittering on about rwd being the purist enthusiasts way to be propeled.
This is fine if you are drive a sports car or high powered car and you want to drive skillfully and have more fun. BUT for everyday driving front wd has got to be safer and more relaxing. Think about it. Have you ever tried to 'push a piece of string'??
So to sum it up.
If you are going to drive your Bongo as it should be driven, as a 2 ton truck, (it is NOT a sports car) and assuming you live in Kernow (Bude?) and are therefore unlikely to meet snow too often. then my advise is, keep things simple and go 2wd (slightly better consumption as well.) I get 33+ on a run keeping the rev counter below 2,500 rpm as much as possible.
Best of luck.
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Glynanderson
Hi,
I have a 2WD Bongo, and bought it for similar reasons, less to go wrong but also better m.p.g.
However, reading other members 4WD m.p.g. claims makes me think that I havn't gained anything on that score!
I seem to get around 28 m.p.g. (although I do still drive it like the VR4 Legnum I sold to but my Bongo)
It certainly does feel a bit twitchy on corners, haven't tried 'pushing' it in the wet though.
I guess a 4WD will always give better traction, even on a 2 tonne brick.
~I seem to be rambling a bit! I think what I wanted to say was, go for the 4WD, looking after any bongo (2 or 4WD) isn't a cheap hobby) so you may as well get the extra benefits of 4WD. It's worth it just to pull away in the snow when other drivers are sliding about all over the place.
Cheers,
Glyn
I have a 2WD Bongo, and bought it for similar reasons, less to go wrong but also better m.p.g.
However, reading other members 4WD m.p.g. claims makes me think that I havn't gained anything on that score!
I seem to get around 28 m.p.g. (although I do still drive it like the VR4 Legnum I sold to but my Bongo)
It certainly does feel a bit twitchy on corners, haven't tried 'pushing' it in the wet though.
I guess a 4WD will always give better traction, even on a 2 tonne brick.
~I seem to be rambling a bit! I think what I wanted to say was, go for the 4WD, looking after any bongo (2 or 4WD) isn't a cheap hobby) so you may as well get the extra benefits of 4WD. It's worth it just to pull away in the snow when other drivers are sliding about all over the place.
Cheers,
Glyn
Colin Lambert said If you are going to drive your Bongo as it should be driven, as a 2 ton truck, (it is NOT a sports car)
Which is very true....if you drive within the limitations of the Bongo and the road conditions you should have no problems....I have had none
Why " push it "..?.....One day on a trip from Ipswich to Clacton we were overtaken on a bend by a BMW in a hurry....he was taking risks......due to the other traffic and the winding roads through Essex we never lost sight of him for 15 miles and actually beat him to a car parking space as he was in so much of a hurry that he missed the car park entrance and had to reverse....we took great pleasure in his misfortune.....the story of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind..
....so drive safe and stay safe and your Bongo will never let you down.... 
....Alan
Which is very true....if you drive within the limitations of the Bongo and the road conditions you should have no problems....I have had none
Why " push it "..?.....One day on a trip from Ipswich to Clacton we were overtaken on a bend by a BMW in a hurry....he was taking risks......due to the other traffic and the winding roads through Essex we never lost sight of him for 15 miles and actually beat him to a car parking space as he was in so much of a hurry that he missed the car park entrance and had to reverse....we took great pleasure in his misfortune.....the story of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind..
....so drive safe and stay safe and your Bongo will never let you down.... ....AlanAlan...still plodding on....!
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Veg_Ian
I'm a big fan of 4WD after having a RWD Spacecruiser many years ago. I got stuck on ice so many times I swore I would never have another 2WD van. I live near hills in Derbyshire and regularly take the dog out in the snow and ice over the moors for walks. My last van was a Townace with switchable 4WD and made all the difference. Having said all that I probably only ever needed the 4WD less than a dozen times a year but it certainly got me out of some tight spots. Now if I lived in Cornwall, I would probably use it maybe once a year if that and if they happened to get a freak snowfall like last year.
I think what I am saying in a roundabout way is, it's horses for courses. If you need it get it but be prepared to put up with the overheads. If you don't then keep it simple as Colin said.
So I would go with Colin's advice and say if you live in Cornwall or on the south coast - stick with 2WD.
I think what I am saying in a roundabout way is, it's horses for courses. If you need it get it but be prepared to put up with the overheads. If you don't then keep it simple as Colin said.
So I would go with Colin's advice and say if you live in Cornwall or on the south coast - stick with 2WD.
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shakey
2wd freetop, no problems with handling or cornering, front/rear wheel drive or 4wd drive will always get a good debate in the pub. I prefer rwd, that way I can play with the rear traction and still have steering in dodgy conditions (country boy raised on rwd Fords). I also attended lots of minor accidents when 4wd first became fashionable on the school run, and had to explain that no matter how many driven wheels you have, if you are on ice or snow, you will still fall off the road if you don't slow down! Shakey
Shakey-
Vanmanerik
Handling
I think that if you have the correct tyre sizes fitted front and rear as per the manufacturers specification it helps with braking, steering, roadholding etc. I would not trust my van by putting the same size tyres as you read about on the forum.
Why did the bongo designers spend so much time, energy and money on designing and road testing the vehicle for some-one with no qualifications to decide it will be 'OK' to put other size tyres on, it could upset the whole balance of the vehicle as well as making your van insurance null and void. Remember there is a question 'Have you made any modifications to the vehicle?' Well by not putting the correct tyre sizes on then YES you have made a modification, and if you do not metion this then you could well be in a pickle if you have to make a claim.
Why did the bongo designers spend so much time, energy and money on designing and road testing the vehicle for some-one with no qualifications to decide it will be 'OK' to put other size tyres on, it could upset the whole balance of the vehicle as well as making your van insurance null and void. Remember there is a question 'Have you made any modifications to the vehicle?' Well by not putting the correct tyre sizes on then YES you have made a modification, and if you do not metion this then you could well be in a pickle if you have to make a claim.
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moonshine
Budebeach,
2WD vs 4WD, FWD vs RWD, it's all a matter of personal choice. I for one was brought up with rear wheel drive, so that is what I got used to. I have driven FWD, and I don't like it. Horrible problems with torque-steer etc. Wouldn't have one as a gift. I much prefer to keep the steering and power transmission separate on a vehicle with only one set of driven wheels. If RWD is the choice for BMW, Rolls Royce, and Jaguar, I guess they must know something.
I have a 4WD Bongo, and I reckon it's just great!
2WD vs 4WD, FWD vs RWD, it's all a matter of personal choice. I for one was brought up with rear wheel drive, so that is what I got used to. I have driven FWD, and I don't like it. Horrible problems with torque-steer etc. Wouldn't have one as a gift. I much prefer to keep the steering and power transmission separate on a vehicle with only one set of driven wheels. If RWD is the choice for BMW, Rolls Royce, and Jaguar, I guess they must know something.
I have a 4WD Bongo, and I reckon it's just great!
I have a 4WD Bongo (owned 20 months). My father has a 2WD Freda (owned 18 months). As we quite often drive them in convoy, we have noted the following facts:-
• Traction at low speed (pulling away from wet junctions) the 2WD WILL wheel spin/skid at moderate throttle, while you can floor the 4WD with no drama!
• MPG 4WD- 24-30 2WD-28-32
• For handling and acceleration the 2WD feels MUCH quicker and has sharper steering.
• For some of the grass camp sites we have visited this wet summer, I have appreciated not having to be careful where I park; the same cannot be said for the 2WD.
• I have had the judder when pulling away at slight angles (roundabouts). It is not caused by the 4WD system; the rear LSD is the problem, cured with synthetic gear oil.
• Both have Mazda alloys with the MAZDA RECCOMENDED 215’s all-round!!!!!
I wanted a 2WD and ended up with a 4WD. My father wanted a 4WD and ended up with a 2WD. Overall it makes little difference and we are both happy with our vans.
Andy.
• Traction at low speed (pulling away from wet junctions) the 2WD WILL wheel spin/skid at moderate throttle, while you can floor the 4WD with no drama!
• MPG 4WD- 24-30 2WD-28-32
• For handling and acceleration the 2WD feels MUCH quicker and has sharper steering.
• For some of the grass camp sites we have visited this wet summer, I have appreciated not having to be careful where I park; the same cannot be said for the 2WD.
• I have had the judder when pulling away at slight angles (roundabouts). It is not caused by the 4WD system; the rear LSD is the problem, cured with synthetic gear oil.
• Both have Mazda alloys with the MAZDA RECCOMENDED 215’s all-round!!!!!
I wanted a 2WD and ended up with a 4WD. My father wanted a 4WD and ended up with a 2WD. Overall it makes little difference and we are both happy with our vans.
Andy.
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egor110
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Colin Lambert
Moonshine,
As you, I was brought up on rwd. But I must point out that Jaguar now use Front and 4wd on their X type. Basically because it is a Dagenham dustbin in a posh frock!
One point that has not been mentioned, and may or may not be of any use to anyone is that my RWD Bongo has an excellent turning circle. almost as good a a London Taxi. Whereas my Saab, Front wheel drive, has a rubbish turning circle. Any FWD (as opposed to 4WD) turning circle suffers because you cannot crank a universal joint round to the same degree as a non driven front wheel. Those crumblies amongst us will remember the infamous Triumph Herald that could turn in almost it's own length, but at severe cost in rubber if used too often.
As you, I was brought up on rwd. But I must point out that Jaguar now use Front and 4wd on their X type. Basically because it is a Dagenham dustbin in a posh frock!
One point that has not been mentioned, and may or may not be of any use to anyone is that my RWD Bongo has an excellent turning circle. almost as good a a London Taxi. Whereas my Saab, Front wheel drive, has a rubbish turning circle. Any FWD (as opposed to 4WD) turning circle suffers because you cannot crank a universal joint round to the same degree as a non driven front wheel. Those crumblies amongst us will remember the infamous Triumph Herald that could turn in almost it's own length, but at severe cost in rubber if used too often.