Are there any advantages of having a FWD over a RWD?

Question

My Ford Probe is a FWD and my mates bag it out about it... they all have RWD btw..

Answer 1

FWD gets better gas mileage by pulling the car rather than pushing it.

Answer 2

I owned several FWDs in a row. At first I really didn't think there was a difference. My current car, though, is RWD, and I really do notice a difference! Especially in rain (we don't get ice and snow here). It's easier to break loose in the rear end and fishtail. I just have to be careful.



I don't know if it's the geometry of the back wheels pushing or the idea that the front-engine, front-drive car has better traction. Sometimes I think I might pile heavy weights in the trunk to see if it makes a difference.



The only bad thing about FWD is CV boots. The boots cost a lot to replace after about 100,000 mi., and if you don't the CV joints go to hell and that's even more expensive. Still, it's a problem I've never had.

Answer 3

With a FWD car when you will loose control you'll have under-steer situation. That means that the front wheels will tend to go straight because they won't have friction. This situation is controlled easily by less pressure on the gas pedal.

With a RWD car when you will loose control you'll have over-steer situation. That means that the rear part of the car will tend to "open" its curve and you will start sliding. This situation is more difficult to be controlled and it needs much more experienced driver (more or less press on gas pedal and reverse steering).

With the RWD you have more information from the steering about the traction and smoother roll because the power is transmitted to an other set of wheels instead of the steering ones. But you are loosing traction easier in rain, snow, ice conditions.

With an electronic stability system installed things are better but still the traction raw from worst to better is RWD-FWD-electronic 4WD - AllWD.

Answer 4

Ask yourself this have you ever herd about a FWD Ferrarri lamborghini Porche Mazaratti Jaguar Aston Martin Bentley.

A FWD car has only one advantage in my book and thats in snow and only the 0 to 2 MPH get go.

The down sides of FWD cars are many.

FWD cars are way easier and cost less to make. They just build up the front end of the body to take the stresses or accereration, turning, braking, holding up the engine AND transmission. They just put all the engine, trans, suspension, all on a cross member and shot all that right into the cars body from underneath. Also this takes less metal to build a FWD car so its lighter. In a FWD car if you get bumped in the rear at an angle the car looses control much more than with a RWD car.

RWD cars are way more complex and expensive to build than any FWD car.

NOW AWD cars that a different story all together.

Best FWD car I have ever seen is the old Saab 900 with the equal length drive axels. Most FWD cars have torque steer and thats really annoying to people who drive rear wheel drive cars normally. Most manufactures have lessoned the torque steer but its still there.



FWD cars in my book are cheap cars.

Answer 5

It depends what you use the car for.



Racing/Performane cars usually have RWD for better acceleration and handling at high speeds.



FWD is often better in snow and slippery conditions and is better for a basic family car. Also FWD gets rid of the hump in the middle of the care and gives more room in the passenger compartment.



I think FWD gives a gas mileage boost too, because the drive train is shorter and more efficient.



Over all, though, full-time AWD is better for both safety and performance. But they're more rare.

Answer 6

Sharper cornering, and power slides are a breeze.

Answer 7

better in the snow