How does driving a mid-rear or rear engine car feel?

[WatchMeDoMe**]

I've never driven a mid-rear or rear mounted engine car. I would like to know what it feels like...can you really feel the difference? Can you feel the weight of the engine in back of you compared to in front?

 

[uncommon]

haven't gone fast enough for it to matter.

 

[RerouteToRemain]

Well most mid or rear engine cars that i know of are very expensive sports cars or an old vw beatle.
For example i have been in a lamborghini aventador, ferrari 360, ariel atom, audi r8, 911 turbo, all mid engine. They all felt very different.
I own a c6 z06 corvette and have been in a nissan gtr, dodge viper, etc and they all feel different.

Its all about the weight distribution 50/50 and most mid engine cars are set up perfect for this and also for a good center of gravity. It is also something that you most likely wouldn't be able to tell unless you were pushing a car hard at a track. Again i think this would be hard to say because i think most cars feel different.

For example my z06 is 51f/49r so it has good weight distribution.

 

[MC3521]

I drove a Ferrari 599 last summer and it was a pretty unreal experience. The car is balanced well and fast doesn't even describe it. All I can say is that for as big and heavy as the car is it felt like the car already knew what I wanted to do before I did it.

Sorta felt like being shot out of a cannon.

The engine is something like a mid-front engine from what I was told.

 

[Eric O]

I've driven a handful of mid and rear engine cars. The mid-engine handle the best due to the weight distribution but you won't notice unless you're on a track or on really windy roads that you feel comfortable driving on (and can let loose).

I have a 911 right now (which is a rear engine) and you have to make sure you don't over steer if the roads are wet but other than that you won't notice any difference between rear and mid-engine (unless you're flying). Prior to that I had a 944 turbo that had 50/50 weight distribution and handled wonderfully. The cayman S also flys. I'd love to drive a Cayman R.

I've driven worked Vetts, worked mustangs, SRT8s and various other front engine sports cars and I prefer rear or mid-engine cars over them as far as handling goes or in general when I think about it.

 

[Car]

feels analog

 

[Doughbelly]

I've driven several mid/rear engine sports cars, some on tracks.

As other posters have mentioned, all performance cars feel different but most high performance cars are generally very well balanced anyway.

The biggest difference that the tail slides out even faster when you lift throttle oversteer when you're at the limit of your tires. This is especially true in the 911 series, which aren't even technically mid-engined, but rear-engined. If you ever go take a performance driving course or have a good instructor teaching you, you will get this hammered into you.

Best balanced car I've ever driven was a mid-engined NSX.

 

[ralphc1]

As has been said, the rear wants to step out easier and backing off the throttle won't correct it as easily. It takes some time to get used to. We hot rodded Corvairs back in the day and built some VW buggies. The front end gets light under acceleration but when you back off to transfer some weight to the front, the rear steps out. At higher speeds, aerodynamics can help hold the front down like on Indy or F1 cars. It's a different animal.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

if you drive one don't do this:

 

[Doughbelly]

Backing off the throttle is probably what caused the oversteer in the first place.

TS, if you want to get some seat time, find out where the local SCCA meets are. You can't throw a rock at SCCA events without hitting an MR2, which has many of the defining characteristics of the MR layout without being an overly expensive track queen other guys won't let you drive.

 

[Groundswell]

A few posters have covered it well. One other thing, though, is that I always feel more in touch with the mid-engine's audio feedback.

 

[naked duck]

I've never driven a mid-rear or rear mounted engine car. I would like to know what it feels like...can you really feel the difference? Can you feel the weight of the engine in back of you compared to in front?

You should get a VW Beetle.

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

Backing off the throttle is probably what caused the oversteer in the first place.

TS, if you want to get some seat time, find out where the local SCCA meets are. You can't throw a rock at SCCA events without hitting an MR2, which has many of the defining characteristics of the MR layout without being an overly expensive track queen other guys won't let you drive.

I came in here to post this.