FWD vs. RWD

Perhaps *you* can't. I've never had a problem doing just that.

DS

I don't understand how RWD is "unstable." It seems that you are giving an argument like Consumer Reports. By the description of their tests and the results given, they would rather a Ford Explorer slam head-on into oncoming traffic because it is unable to change lanes fast enough, but a Trooper that is able to complete the maneuver faster than the Explorer should "fail" the test. The Trooper would complete the test on all four wheels faster than the Explorer, but at even greater speeds, it tips, rather than slides.

Thus, the safer and better handling vehicle "fails" the test, while the one that crashes at a slower speed passes.

RWD seems to be in the same boat. The overall limits for RWD are generally higher than an equivalent FWD car, but the failure mode is one that people like to label "unstable" (as if a crash at a lower speed in the other configuration is somehow better).

Marc For email, remove the first "y" of "whineryy"

"Daniel J. Stern" wrote

You can make the front wheels dig down through snow on a REAR-DRIVE car? That I've got to see.

Never said I could. Read more carefully.

DS

I beg to differ. If you have a FWD and a RWD vehicle of the same weight, and same air resistance, it takes the same amount of energy to propel them down the road, whether that energy is applied to the front set of wheels or to the back.

You may certainly argue that different transmission designs, gear ratios, etc. may waste more or less energy, but to assume that lower fuel economy is a result of RWD is silly. The Japanese were producing RWD economy cars back in the 70's and 80's that had MPG figures then that still exceed many FWD domestic cars built today.

I challenge you to ask 20 people on the street what set of wheels on their vehicle is driven by the engine. I think the responses will disillusion you.

Ted

And if this is how you establish traction in snow, you don't know how to drive in snow.

Ted

"MoPar Man" wrote

The unibody stiffener down the middle of the floor in FWD cars is always far smaller than the tunnel in RWD cars.

As to knowledge of which wheels are driving, Aunt Mabel may not be aware but her sons certainly are.

You can say that again! Around here it's the rain not the snow, and in the fall when it starts raining we generally have at least 1 major smash-bang accident that clogs the freeway every single day through the months of October and November until the morons all relearn the rain driving that they forgot during the previous 4 months!!!

Ted

I think that engine displacement is far more important to fuel economy, and not so much because of weight reasons, but more so because the larger engines encourage people stomping on the accellerator then slamming on the brakes, which is a real mileage killer in city driving.

Ted

I think this is more a function of the drivers being so pathetic that they can't drive a RWD car decently in the snow, so the race organizers must have to ban them to keep the drivers from hurting themselves.

Ted

Even in dirt rally races the RWD cars finished last...even the FWD beat them, only to lose to Subaru's 4WD...Now all the rally cars have

So, one would guess in snow, RWD has no chance...

For the average blowhard driving around in a few inches of snow...no problem, with some weight in the back, but it's always nice to carry around some friends to help push...just in case.

But it's good to note that the RWD still finished the race, no chance to win...

And all this talk about sliding the rear end and drift steering, you lose a lot of time, that's why you see racers keep the sliding to a minimum.

There was this cool euro race (real track racing not nascar) I was watching on cable, two types of cars, Alfa Romeo (sp?) and BMWs, the Alfa were front wheel drive, and the 3 series BMWs would get ahead going through a corner, but on the straight away the alfa would have the advantage (turbo), so they would catch up, until the next turn, etc, etc...

I think the winners were BMW, BMW, Alfa...

Good track, dry payment racing.

How many people rally to work or school when it snows?

In summary of the thread so far then:

2) Chacun a son gout

(Maybe depending on driving conditions.)

I suggested similar summary in a thread about manual vs automatic elsewhere....

DAS

--

In Northern New England, about half the population. Well, OK, not to school, but maybe to the ski mountains.

read my reply to my original post,

Thank you

I don't think the other poster read all the msgs. The question wasn't about "just getter there" He ask which is better (one vs. the-other), and it seems FWD is much better in the snow (rally-ing or commuting) as stated it has been proven on the track, in the snow, you name it.

But if you own a true sports car or luxury car, it's got to be RWD (or