Redpill me on the RWD/Base Taycan

[taycanpath]

Alright, so we know RWD/Base is the most available allocation/easiest to get. After test driving, the truth is, I don't need any more power nor the Cross Turismo space. No problem with RWD in the winter time - haven't had an issue as long as I've had quality winter tires. I would also end up saving a nice chunk of $.

Now while I like to drive spiritedly, I'm no driving enthusiast, so I don't have the attachment to my vehicle being "tail happy" or having the "RWD driving dynamic". How much does the RWD taycan need to be pushed before one can expect that to happen? Would something like adding rear axle steering/PTV decrease the potential of it happening? Not entirely sure how that would interact with the physics of the RWD driving dynamic. I'm coming into this preferring the driving of the vehicle to be as close to the AWD driving dynamic as possible. Or maybe I could start from scratch and learn to appreciate the RWD driving dynamic? I'm trying to be openminded and appreciative of all perspectives available to me.

So for the RWD lovers and people who have experienced the RWD at length and would like to give some feedback, what do you think I should consider? Treat me as if I am a relative novice to RWD.

Sponsored

 

[Archimedes]

You’re concerned about sliding the rear? Unless you turn off the nannies off and drive like a total knob, you’re not going to slide the rear at all. Disregard the keyboard warriors who claim they slide their car around. It’s almost always total fiction.

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

NEW Porsche Taycan RWD Review: Why This Is The One To Buy | Carfection 4K - YouTube. (well, not a new clip but still probably all you needed to ingest that red pill.)

 

[taycanpath]

You’re concerned about sliding the rear? Unless you turn off the nannies off and drive like a total knob, you’re not going to slide the rear at all. Disregard the keyboard warriors who claim they slide their car around. It’s almost always total fiction.

Yeah, sliding the rear. What kind of nannies would begin beeping or stopping it from happening? Porsche torque vectoring? I actually forgot about that option.

 

[taycanpath]

NEW Porsche Taycan RWD Review: Why This Is The One To Buy | Carfection 4K - YouTube. (well, not a new clip but still probably all you needed to ingest that red pill.)

I actually watched this video. He says it feels nimble and you get the RWD dynamic, but I don't know much about how that really feels. Treat me like I'm a relative novice to RWD.

 

[whan]

Nannies are just traction and stability control that are in all taycans. Realistically, as someone who doesn't really push your car, you won't feel much of a difference between an AWD and RWD taycan. Both are rear biased platforms (unlike front wheel drive AWD cars) so will for the most part feel the same.

 

[taycanpath]

Nannies are just traction and stability control that are in all taycans. Realistically, as someone who doesn't really push your car, you won't feel much of a difference between an AWD and RWD taycan. Both are rear biased platforms (unlike front wheel drive AWD cars) so will for the most part feel the same.

Ah, traction and stability control. Gotcha. I'll look up more about how those relate to the Taycan's engineering.

 

[Archimedes]

Yeah, sliding the rear. What kind of nannies would begin beeping or stopping it from happening? Porsche torque vectoring? I actually forgot about that option.

Traction control and stability control. Every car has these safety features. Nothing to do with PTV or RAS.

Most people wouldn’t even be able to tell whether the car they were driving was RWD or AWD.

 

[taycanpath]

Traction control and stability control. Every car has these safety features. Nothing to do with PTV or RAS.

Ah, seems I have some learning to do. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[dflohr]

We have a 2021 RWD with now 15k trouble-free miles. No doubt best vehicle ever owned.

It's plenty fast and handles great for a big heavy car. Highly recommend rear axle steering, air suspension, and ACC. Glad we got the standard battery as we have never needed the big battery the way we use the car. Tried Innodrive free trial and thought it was a waste..

Depending on where you live, perhaps you could do the Porsche driving experience to gauge better if the RWD is right for you.

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

It's probably difficult to transmit "feels" over the inet/with blog posts, but that won't stop me from trying. (Yes, even though I haven't driven either of the RWD or AWD versions of the Taycan.)

Transmitting power (in the "motivation" sense) to the front wheels necessarily introduces some degree of "muting" into the steering feedback presented to the driver via the steering wheel. In normal driving that may be perceived as "heaviness" or "slowness" as you apply steering inputs - in fact, it's both. In abnormal driving (say, hard acceleration while steering), the front wheels will be asked to drive/apply force in the axis of the movement, and steer - change said the orientation of said axis - and so that feeling of inertia and general imprecision is greater. (In some cars, unequal lengths of the shafts transmitting the rotation to the wheels causes "torque steer", which is ugh.. nasty.)

By comparison, a RWD would have (comparatively) less weight on the front axle, fewer "mechanical" filters in the steering path (from contact patch through steering mechanism - which may be an electric motor - and to your fingertips) and thus feel more responsive/nimble. In the 911, for instance, RWD coupled with the rear-biased weight distribution feels like the car rotates about you, around a center of rotation behind you. By contrast, the same model in AWD would definitely offer a different feel - but how significant that is depends, of course, on the observer. The difference won't be quite as stark in the Taycan, but if you're inclined that way then the video above should be all it takes to convince you; I find Catchpole to be one of the best reviewers in the sense of conveying his feelings, and comparing them to those instilled by other cars. (Chris Harris goes too much sideways for my taste.)

And if that doesn't work, go drive one .

(edited to fix the English ?)

 

[taycanpath]

We have a 2021 RWD with now 15k trouble-free miles. No doubt best vehicle ever owned.

It's plenty fast and handles great for a big heavy car. Highly recommend rear axle steering, air suspension, and ACC. Glad we got the standard battery as we have never needed the big battery the way we use the car. Tried Innodrive free trial and thought it was a waste..

Depending on where you live, perhaps you could do the Porsche driving experience to gauge better if the RWD is right for you.

Thanks for the input. Side question about the innodrive. I have enjoyed the lane centering feature for those long highway stretches on my past cars, which is why I was considering adding innodrive option. Was it the lane centering that felt like a waste to you? But if you mention the trial, I suppose that means I can add it at any time after purchasing? That seems way better than paying the extra 3.5k or whatever it is.

 

[dflohr]

Thanks for the input. Side question about the innodrive. I have enjoyed the lane centering feature for those long highway stretches on my past cars, which is why I was considering adding innodrive option. Was it the lane centering that felt like a waste to you? But if you mention the trial, I suppose that means I can add it at any time after purchasing? That seems way better than paying the extra 3.5k or whatever it is.

We were able to get the free 90 day trial FOD Innodrive + ALK download. (ACC required) Found it worked when the highway lane markings are good and consistent. If I did more long straight interstate highway trips might have had more value. Spooked me on fast sweeping turns. On shorter trips, the car is fun and engaging to drive so didn't bother with it at all during the free trial.

 

[taycanpath]

It's probably difficult to transmit "feels" over the inet/with blog posts, but that won't stop me from trying. (Yes, even though I haven't driven either of the RWD or AWD versions of the Taycan.)

Transmitting power (in the "motivation" sense) to the front wheels necessarily introduces some degree of "muting" into the steering feedback presented to the driver via the steering wheel. In normal driving that may be perceived as "heaviness" or "slowness" as you apply steering inputs - in fact, it's both. In abnormal driving (say, hard acceleration while steering), the front wheels will be asked to drive/apply force in the axis of the movement, and steer - change said the orientation of said axis - and so that feeling of inertia and general imprecision is greater. (In some cars, unequal lengths of the shafts transmitting the rotation to the wheels causes "torque steer", which is ugh.. nasty.)

By comparison, a RWD would have (comparatively) less weight on the front axle, fewer "mechanical" filters in the steering path (from contact patch through steering mechanism - which may be an electric motor - and to your fingertips) and thus feel more responsive/nimble. In the 911, for instance, RWD coupled with the rear-biased weight distribution feels like the car rotates about you, around a center of rotation behind you. By contrast, the same model in AWD would definitely offer a different feel - but how significant that is depends, of course, on the observer. The difference won't be quite as stark in the Taycan, but if you're inclined that way then the video above should be all it takes to convince you; I find Catchpole to be one of the best reviewers in the sense of conveying his feelings, and comparing them to those instilled by other cars. (Chris Harris goes too much sideways for my taste.)

And if that doesn't work, go drive one .

(edited to fix the English ?)

Stellar explanation. I appreciate it.

 

[Fish Fingers]

Taycan has excellent traction for a RWD car.
Partly due to the weight, mostly to do with the excellent Porsche engineering.

The only time I Iose traction daily driving is say, turning out of a junction and the rear wheels accelerate over a wet grid. Just a nano second of rear wheel torque slip before the nannies sort it out.

There are also reports on here from people who live in snowy areas, who say it performs well in snow.

Over the AWD models you do lose some performance. Mostly just accelerating off the line (limited?) but its still very quick once moving.
On the plus side you get a lighter car (it's already heavy) with no motor over the front axle and more precise steering feel.

I had a BMW M2 previous and that felt like a tradition RWD sport car.
My RWD Taycan is nothing like that. Way more sophisticated and engineered. Completely different feel.

Sponsored