Front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive?

[unkachuck]

Which do you prefer in a vehicle? As I've stated elsewhere, I wouldn't own a front-wheel drive vehicle. Only the automotive corporate giants benefit from the manufacture of front-wheel drive vehicles.

17 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Time expired
	Front-wheel drive.
	6 (35%)
	Rear-wheel drive.
	11 (65%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[badtoworse]

1. I've owned both

Front wheel drive is much better in the ice and snow. You do need to be careful going downhill on a slippery road as the rear end can swing around on you.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. For handling generally, RWD

I'd rather have to deal with a slight amount of oversteer than understeer, it's easier to compensate for once you learn where the limit is.

[joshcryer]

36. With modern traction control this is mooted.

You won't really be able to tell a difference.

[NYC_SKP]

3. Prefer all wheel, but since you ask, I'll take front-wheel ever since a 1981 El Dorado incident.

In the rain, coming up on a turn that ended up having a much tighter radius than I expected, a one year old El Dorado I was driving across country for the owner pulled me out of a turn that, without power to those wheels, would have taken me off the onramp.

PS, this was an American car.

[Honeycombe8]

4. All wheel drive. nt

[guitar man]

5. I've owned both

If you do any of your own mechanic work rear wheel drive is the way to go. Every front wheel drive car I've ever owned has been an utter nightmare to work on.

[DirkGently]

6. Front-drive's trade-offs make sense in many circumstances

RWD is generally better for performance driving and drag racing. But front-drivers work better in a lot of wet conditions people drive in day-to-day. All cars are compromises.

Edit: And the post above re: over / understeer makes a good point. The flip side is that typical drivers deal better with FWD's typical understeer when approaching cornering limits.

[yellowcanine]

10. RWD generally better for towing. FWD generally better in almost all other situations.

[DirkGently]

14. Yes, towing's definitely a strength of RWD.

I'd pick RWD in a performance car (though front drivers can still handle very well) or a tow vehicle. FWD's easier to deal with otherwise.

[JVS]

7. Anything but all wheel drive.

Why would anyone want two drivetrains to worry about?

[RC]

13. Superior traction.

You can go when everyone else is in the ditch.

[laundry_queen]

34. This.

Last year when we had record snowfall and the city couldn't keep up with the plows, I was the only one not getting stuck. (I'm in Canada, so it was a lot of snow. Really.

[KG]

8. owned both, don't care.

prolly gonna own pick-ups from here on out, but that's got nothing to do with the drive train.

[exboyfil]

9. When you are driving a passenger car

and not towing something would a rear wheel drive car be superior? I learned on a rear wheel drive car in the 1980s and switched to a front wheel drive car (my first). Being in the north I would never consider going back. As an engineer I really can't see the advantage of extending the driveline back to the rear wheels. GM has done a heck of a job on holding down the cost of the Cavalier. My first one in 1985 was only about $2K less than the one I purchased in 2002 (which has been nearly a perfect car for me - thank you GM). I guess I may have gotten somewhat better tire life with a rear wheel but other than that???

All five of my cars (Cavalier, Lumina, Escort, Cavalier, and HHR) have all been front wheel drive. I was never that happy with the Escort, I had mixed feelings about the Lumina, and the HHR is still too new to rate (got it in 2009). The two Cavaliers have been great cars.

The corporate giants always give you a choice. I am a little sad to see the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis go away. I did rent them several times for long trips (because of the six passenger capability). Can't say I rented them because of the rear wheel drive though.

[FarLeftFist]

11. RWD is terrible in the snow.

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Exactly, and I live in NY, serious snow country, used to slide with RWD.

What I really need is to just drive a plow.

[RC]

12. Front wheel drive.

Rear wheel drive you have to beef up the suspension and add weight in the trunk to get the traction of front wheel drive.

4WD is best of all. However it can take you out of reach of rescue before you get stuck. Always carry a shovel or two.

[Kaleva]

15. FWD, IMO, is best if one lives in the snow belt.

[Lifelong Protester]

16. In snow, the FWD works for me.

[Kaleva]

17. Spinning dougnuts in reverse while stoned makes FWD the best choice.

[Electric Monk]

18. It really depends what you use your vehicle for and in what driving conditions. nt

[fil62793skx]

19. RWD

[OffWithTheirHeads]

20. If you live in the snow, buy a 4wd or leave. If you think driving is an artform, RWD is a must.

How the hell do you power out of a corner in a four wheel drift with a front wheel drive? Front wheel drive is for folks who think a line through a corner is sprinkled with white powder.

[Ter]

21. Rear, with no cats

Vroom!

[bluedigger]

22. Four Wheel Drive for me.

But I get lost a lot.



Most people are probably best served by front-wheel drive. All wheel drive is good if you live in places that get snow.

Rear wheel drive is pretty much non-existant in non-sports/luxury cars, or trucks.

[Blue_In_AK]

23. Must have front- or all-wheel drive in Alaska

or else you're not going far in the wintertime.

[ManiacJoe]

24. Posts 6 and 10 pretty much cover it.

[dwilso40641]

25. I prefer front wheel drive

Any where it rains or snows front wheel drive offers superior traction and control.

[RockyMtnGuy]

26. For all season driving in CO, it's gotta be FWD or AWD

FWD offers better traction on icy or slippery roads. Rear while drive is great, but in winter, it quickly turns into "rear wheel slide."

[flvegan]

27. Prove up your claim.

"Only the automotive corporate giants benefit from the manufacture of front-wheel drive vehicles."

Do tell.

Full disclosure. I do drive a car made in Japan. It is front wheel drive. Matter of fact, it's the fastest front wheel drive car ever built. It follows a 928S4, a couple Corvettes and a Grand National in my stable. So, I might kind of have some knowledge here.

[JohnnyRingo]

31. FWIW, front drive cars are much less expensive to manufacture.

Using a universal power pod instead of individual drive components eliminates the need for a reinforced unibody or frame. It also simplifies unit versatility when one pod plugs into various platforms. RWD requires at least a half frame at the rear axle.

I'm not dissing FWD, I especially enjoy my LeSabre on winter roads, but for pure sport I like my vintage Triumph TR6.

[unkachuck]

40. just think....

....what they save on not having to cut a hypoid ring and pinion....

[Go Vols]

28. Rear wheel Drive

Will never own a front wheel drive.They push in the corners too much.

[JohnnyRingo]

29. It depends...

I voted FWD for all season basic transportation, but for sport I like RWD. Downshifting a front drive into a corner is risky. On heavy deceleration, RWD keeps the rear bumper behind you.

I've always wondered who votes "pass" or "no opinion" in polls. By definition it means one doesn't care one way or the other. Why bother to register a vote at all?

[LeftyMom]

33. Usually because there's not a good option to express their opinion.

Sometimes it's because of push polling, but in this case it looks like it's because the OP left out options for AWD, 4WD, or variable preferences for different applications.

[LeftyMom]

32. My current car is AWD. I'd be hard pressed to get one without it, now that I'm used to it.

At least living here in the land of standing water, soggy leaf piles and street flooding.

[Kablooie]

35. I like left front drive and right rear. You can do cool wheelies that way.

[meaculpa2011]

37. RWD...

Better handling, better balance. ABS and traction control make all the old "foul weather" arguments obsolete.

[Maine-ah]

38. RWD is pretty much useless up here

from November-April.

[LeftinOH]

39. I will never drive RWD on snow and ice again.. RWD is useless

in the winter. If it's not FWD, I don't want it.

[madokie]

41. One is rear wheel drive the other is all wheel drive

The all wheel drive also has all wheel anti-lock brakes. In the rare occasion of snow and ice it is a go anywhere do anything vehicle.

[fishwax]

42. having grown up and learned to drive in the snowy mountain west, I'm most used to FWD

I wouldn't be opposed to RWD, necessarily, but my preference and familiarity are with the FWD.