http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&sid=175&n=156

 

That’s why marques, such as BMW, known for their handling, have refused to switch to front-drive.[COLOR=darkblue]

I wish GM hadnt tried to switch most of its cars over to fwd, now they have to switch back to Rwd. There is a place for some fwd cars but its a small segment, most cars should be Rwd in my opinion. Better late than never I guess.

 

FWD does have a place in non-performance applications. But don't slap an SS on a fwd grocary getter and try to pass it off as performance car.

 

I dont know about everything going to RWD. Sports cars, yes, but not all the others. It snowed here the other day and I was driving through the good part of town where BMW 330's are teenager cars. Going around one turn there were 4 mercedes stacked up that had fallen off the road. Everwhere you looked, boring FWD cars were plodding along with no problems at all while all the BMW's, Mercedes, Porches, ect were going off road, spinning out, or just flat out going no where. I was loving it.

I talked to a tow truck driver who worked 18 hours that day. He said all he pulled out that day where SUV's and RWD cars. In 18 hours he pulled out zero FWD cars.

I like having all the dumbass drivers driving FWD cars during winter. St louis would absolutely shut down everytime it snowed if a majority of the cars where RWD

 

If they all would've just done this years ago and kept things V8 RWD there would be no need to switch.

 

FWD has its place in commuter cars. AutoX proves they can also be made to perform well. I hate it anyway!!

With modern traction control and winter tires I don't believe there is significant dissadvantage to RWD for winter driving.

I would argue that there were 3 or 4 additional reasons other than RWD for the cars in the ditch .... HP, lack of traction control, wide tires, driver "enthusiasm" ...

 

Unfortunatly, no one can afford a whole extra set of tires and my experience with traction control hasn't been exactly impressive.

I would love for there to be more domestic RWD cars for enthusiasts, but for the majority of people out there who only want a car for transportation, FWD is far better, for them and me so I don't have to put up with them everytime it snows.

 

You're saying this after you said you saw a bunch of people driving BMWs, Mercedes and Porsches off of the road?

They can afford a luxury car but not a $200 set of winter tires?

I think most everyone can afford winter tires, people who don't get them are just stupid or lazy.

 

There is most DEFINATELY a difference in how a FWD car performs in the snow and a how RWD car performs in the snow. It is a very significant difference, and the FWD platforms are clearly superior in this regard.

That said...I very much prefer RWD.

 

it all comes down to tires and weight distribution. FWD cars do good in snow because they have thinner tires and more weight over the drive wheels. Most RWD cars out nore are performance cars with lots of torque and wide non-winter tires.

also, lets face it most people don't know how to drive in snow or drive like a d*ckhead

 

Texas winters....the ULTIMATE in traction control.

 

?? I don't know about where you live, but wherever I've been in the snow, 90% of the dead kennedys getting smashed up are the supposedly safe and capable SUV's. Even on the straightaways with no curves or hills, they somehow manage to land squarely in the ditches. the other 10% are cars of all types. RWD/FWD/AWD is not a significant factor in hazardous weather driving; the predominant factor is driver ability, or lack thereof If a driver is familiar with the behaviors and limitations of their car, regardless of drivetrain layout, they are likely to do fine in any condition. Unless some SUV lands on top of them, that is.