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Top 20 Fastest FWD | Front Wheel Drive Cars 0 to 60 mph - Specifications
Ford Taurus SHO 3.5 V6 Performance Pack - [2013]0 to 60 mph time - 5.2 seconds
Ford Focus RS500 - [2010]0 to 60 mph time - 5.4 seconds
Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2.0 Turbo - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.5 seconds
Dodge Neon 2.4 SRT-4 - [2002]0 to 60 mph time - 5.6 seconds
Honda Accord Coupe EX-L - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.7 seconds
Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed - [2011]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 3.8 V6 - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Volkswagen(VW) Golf R 2.0 Turbo - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Vauxhall-Opel Astra OPC 2.0 Turbo - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 Cup - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Volkswagen(VW) Scirocco R 2.0 Turbo - [2009]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Toyota Aurion TRD 3.5 V6 - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Mazda 3 MPS 2.3T - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Renault Megane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26R - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Seat Leon Cupra R 2.0 20v - [2009]0 to 60 mph time - 6.0 seconds
Fiat Coupe 2.0 20V Turbo - [1996]0 to 60 mph time - 6.0 seconds
Nissan Sunny GTi R - [1992]0 to 60 mph time - 6.1 seconds
Alfa-Romeo 147 GTA - [2002]0 to 60 mph time - 6.1 seconds
Top 20 Fastest FWD | Front Wheel Drive Cars Top Speed list
Again RWD is no where as good as FWD and depending on where you live it can be pretty bad. I've been to Kansas and I'm guessing you don't have to drive up something like this:
You may actually be better off in a RWD drive truck in conditions like that but frankly you'd have to be moron unless you're in AWD/4WD vehicle that sits higher.
We don't have many hills like that, but we do have some nasty hills in a few places. Unless you get some heavy snowfall, I'm betting RWD with some quality snow tires will still get you up that hill just as well as a FWD car.
If you are really that concerned, then buy yourself something AWD. You'll actually find more high performance cars in AWD than FWD.
I have a rear wheel drive Caddie and I paid attention in Drivers Ed and can drive in snow just fine. The fishtales I do are way cool.
My drivers ed is more than million miles experience and I'm only in my early 40's. I'm not saying you can't use RWD in the snow and as matter fact the cars I learned to drive in the snow were all RWD. Most of those miles were in large single axle trucks also rear wheel drive.
What I am saying is if you want the best performance in the snow you want at least a FWD. That picture I linked to does no justice to how steep that road is, no problems at all and I don't even have snow tires. I wouldn't never even consider trying to do it in the rear wheel pickup truck with snow tires because I know I'm either going to get stuck in the middle of the road or end up in the ditch.
There is two significant differences. You have better traction on the drive wheels because of the engine weight. Just as important A RWD wants to push you forward in a straight line and if your front tires are losing traction that's the way it's going to go. With front wheel drive you are being pulled forward and the direction of travel the car wants to go is wherever you are pointing the tires.
Top 20 Fastest FWD | Front Wheel Drive Cars 0 to 60 mph - Specifications
Ford Taurus SHO 3.5 V6 Performance Pack - [2013]0 to 60 mph time - 5.2 seconds
Ford Focus RS500 - [2010]0 to 60 mph time - 5.4 seconds
Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2.0 Turbo - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.5 seconds
Dodge Neon 2.4 SRT-4 - [2002]0 to 60 mph time - 5.6 seconds
Honda Accord Coupe EX-L - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.7 seconds
Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed - [2011]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 3.8 V6 - [2008]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds Volkswagen(VW) Golf R 2.0 Turbo - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Vauxhall-Opel Astra OPC 2.0 Turbo - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.8 seconds
Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 Cup - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 - [2012]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Volkswagen(VW) Scirocco R 2.0 Turbo - [2009]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Toyota Aurion TRD 3.5 V6 - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Mazda 3 MPS 2.3T - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Renault Megane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26R - [2007]0 to 60 mph time - 5.9 seconds
Seat Leon Cupra R 2.0 20v - [2009]0 to 60 mph time - 6.0 seconds
Fiat Coupe 2.0 20V Turbo - [1996]0 to 60 mph time - 6.0 seconds Nissan Sunny GTi R - [1992]0 to 60 mph time - 6.1 seconds
Alfa-Romeo 147 GTA - [2002]0 to 60 mph time - 6.1 seconds
Neat list except the bolded cars are AWD. Maybe some more are, but these are the ones that jumped out at me.
we brought our mustang up with us when we moved back from SC to WI last fall. Put on a set of good snow tires (ran 18" goodyears on it) and between that, a couple bags of sand in the trunk, and the car's traction control; it was pretty darn good in our snow up here. I was actually quite impressed.
Now granted it's not a newer 420+/-hp GT, but still has the 300hp v6 so not a complete slug either for power lol.
But based on that experience, plus the many years living here that i only drove rwd cars in winter, i'd have no trouble continuing to do so in the future. Yes there are some cars i wouldn't mess with in the snow but most can be driven if common sense (and again, snow tires) are used.
I also have no issues with a fun fwd toy, have had them in the past and our daughter has a blown rsx as her fun car. Note that car is driven only in summer, just because something has fwd doesn't make it a snowbuster if its been modded.
There is two significant differences. You have better traction on the drive wheels because of the engine weight. Just as important A RWD wants to push you forward in a straight line and if your front tires are losing traction that's the way it's going to go. With front wheel drive you are being pulled forward and the direction of travel the car wants to go is wherever you are pointing the tires.
Not necessarily. FWD cars tend to understeer (continue going straight despite what direction the wheel is turned) when skidding. Punching the gas, just spins the tires which we all know does not gain you traction. The disadvantage is that you're asking the front wheels to turn and provide acceleration, but there's only a limited amount of traction available. At that point, all you can really do it brake.
With RWD, you may fishtail a bit, but the car will still rotate. With careful steering and throttle, you can at least be pointed in the right direction when you start sliding in a turn. It does take practice, but that's what big empty snow-filled parking lots are for!
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I'm not saying you can't use RWD in the snow and as matter fact the cars I learned to drive in the snow were all RWD. Most of those miles were in large single axle trucks also rear wheel drive. 
