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The difference is that the front wheels drive the car on a front-wheel-drive car and the rear wheels drive the car on a rear-wheel-drive car. Which one is better depends on your priorities pertaining to what you want the car to do.
Front wheel drive is bad physics. Not just bad physics, horrible physics. Having the traction and steering on one axle is just stupid. However, taking into account how cheap and uncreative auto makers are, the benefits of FWD in cost and interior room make it a good compromise for people movers operated well below the margins of performance by persons who do know know or care about the greater control, driving ease and comfort of RWD.
I'd say FWD is great in a minivan.
Last edited by Wilson513; 01-04-2011 at 06:23 PM..
Reason: Spelling
If your not a picky enthusiest front wheel drive is practical in most situations. 18 years of FWD and no problems yet.
You cant really burn out and kick it sideways and make an ass of yourself with FWD though, so you are limited.
RWD offers more control over the vehicle and a better weight balance, which is why most sports cars are driven by the rear wheels. You don't have to deal with torque steer like you do with high horsepower FWD vehicles. For the longest time 250 hp was seen as the max you could have in a FWD vehicle without too much torque steer, but these days that number has been bumped up to about 300. The sky is the limit with RWD.
Most say that RWD is worse in the snow, but I disagree as long as you have a decent set of snow tires. RWD allows you more control when you lose traction by being able to steer with the throttle. With FWD, you have little to no ability to steer when you lose traction.
I had FWD for nine years and now I have switched to RWD and have no desire to go back. It's just a better driving experience.
I have seen so many RWD cars stuck or fishtailing all over the place in the snow. I've never had major issues with my FWD Altima and have driven in some nasty weather.
If your not a picky enthusiest front wheel drive is practical in most situations. 18 years of FWD and no problems yet.
You cant really burn out and kick it sideways and make an ass of yourself with FWD though, so you are limited.
hogwash. you can do burn outs in a fwd car, and you can kick the rear end out, you just need to know how to do it. the nice thing about front drive is that it is easier to get out of a skid of you know what you are doing.
that said, i prefer rwd cars for my drivers over fwd cars.
Subaru's are great, one of the best AWD systems. Great in rain, snow/ice, gravel, etc.
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