armin922 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 What are some of the pros and cons of each in the winter? I know FWD is good in the snow but i hear ppl say if you know how to drive rwd in the snow they would prefer that. If theres weight in the back for a rwd, does it make it better in the snow than a fwd? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 FWD can get you where you need if there isn't a whole lot on the ground. RWD will put you into a lightpole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 RWD will put you into a lightpole. FALSE Decent set of tires, extra weight in the back, and a little patience is all you need. I have driven Camaros and 2WD S10's the past several winters and been fine. That being said, if you have access to something FWD, it does make shit easier. I mean it's pretty hard to lose control of something FWD unless you're driving like a complete fuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 I prefer RWD over FWD in the snow. I think that you do have more control over how the car reacts, but because of that you can potentially put yourself in a ditch easier. Although it seemed that it's easier to get RWD stuck for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Is this a serious thread, or an attempt at trolling ? I hear that ice is slippery. Is this true ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 rwd cause you can do donuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Regular people prefer FWD in the snow because the extra weight over the drive tires makes it easier to get moving and climb steeper inclines. However, having the front tires do all the work, plus having a large front bias in weight distribution means that the car will understeer given the slightest provocation. You can counteract this somewhat by using your e-brake. But there are two major issues with that. First, you lack fine control with the e-brake. FOr the most part, you either have grip with the rears or no grip at all. Secondly, not every car has a hand-control for the e-brake. It would be very difficult to use the e-brake in a car that uses a foot control. RWD is favored by some (myself included after 9 years of New England winters in RWD cars) over FWD in the snow because with some experience and a light touch on the gas pedal, you can have greater control over the car's yaw. With a front-engined, RWD car you get the weight distribution understeer but with the ability to finely control rear grip to counteract it. Like a drift car that is set, counter-intuitively, to understeer, this setup gives excellent directional control in the snow. Just don't forget the snow tires at ALL FOUR corners. Now, a mid or rear engined RWD car is different. In this case, while you may be able to get moving almost as easily as a FWD car, the extra weight in the back will give the car a tendency to oversteer naturally. I wouldn't want to play too much with this driveline layout. The difference between grip and oversteer will be so small that a MR or RR layout will likely bite you in the ass and make you kiss the aforementioned lightpole. But when's all said and done, AWD is just plain superior. Better hill-climb, better start off, and better yaw control than either FWD or RWD. But if an AWD car is not an option, I'll pick the RWD car every time. Especially in this area which is so flat compared to NE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Well, the obvious answer is AWD/4WD > FWD > RWD. But, I spent a lot of Winters with 2wd S10s and FS 2wd trucks. Made it through them, but you do have to be smart about it. For commuting to work, I'd take FWD; for having fun, nothing better than RWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 rwd cause you can do donuts. AWD donuts > RWD Donuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 For commuting to work, I'd take FWD; for having fun, nothing better than RWD. I would disagree here. With a RWD car I can come up to a turn in the snow, blip the throttle to get the rears loose and maintain grip with the front. With a controlled slide (not a wild tail-out maneuver) I can follow a much tighter turn, say at an intersection, than a FWD would ever be able to without coming to a near stop. But again, PROPER tires are neccesary for this. Trying to maneuver a RWD in the snow on all-seasons is just asking for frustration and trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan9381 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 where do people usually get the bags of sand to keep in the rear of trucks/suvs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Summary: Use appropriate tires for the season, and don't drive like an idiot. People have no problem plunking down money for "Summer tires" or "Drag Radials" But will run around with bald brokedick A/S tires in the winter. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Summary: Use appropriate tires for the season, and don't drive like an idiot. People have no problem plunking down money for "Summer tires" or "Drag Radials" But will run around with bald brokedick A/S tires in the winter. *sigh* My Disco does just fine on DR's thank you very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Summary: Use appropriate tires for the season, and don't drive like an idiot. People have no problem plunking down money for "Summer tires" or "Drag Radials" But will run around with bald brokedick A/S tires in the winter. *sigh* i run my shit down to the cords like a real gangster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 where do people usually get the bags of sand to keep in the rear of trucks/suvs? home depot has them for dirt cheap (get it?) the short answer to your question is that regular people will favor FWD while car guys will favor RWD (in an AWD-less world). what Draco-Rex has said is pretty much all you need to pay attention to. snow tires are the most understated investment you can make. not only will they give you much better traction in snow, but they are designed to have maximum grip at much lower temperatures than all-season tires, even on dry pavement. invest in a narrow set of steelies with good snow tires and it doesn't matter what kinda car you're driving. that said, I'll always prefer RWD in this weather. living in new england for 16 of my 23 years with a father who only drives RWD BMWs has given me enough experience to know that no one is really in control on the fluffy white stuff, but the best you can do is practice car control in a parking lot. most people are terrible in the snow because they don't know how their car will act in any circumstance. so practice. get out there and see what it takes to get your car to lose control, then see what it takes to regain control. in short, it doesn't matter what you drive; put snow tires on it and spend lots of time learning to drive in adverse conditions and NEVER EVER TAILGATE IN THE SNOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 where do people usually get the bags of sand to keep in the rear of trucks/suvs? Lowe's. You can get five 60# bags for less than $20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan9381 Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Lowe's. You can get five 60# bags for less than $20. damn...that is cheap. sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 I pulled a couple of 4wd's out of the ditch with my two wheel drive last winter.... nothing is idiot proof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jizzle Juice Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 FWD can get you where you need if there isn't a whole lot on the ground. RWD will put you into a lightpole. Wrong! I drove my t/a all last winter. Only problem i had was I got stuck at work and have to leave my car over the weekend. But that's cause Honda did shit for plowing. Just know how to drive and you'll be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furloaf Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 FWD being better in the snow is a myth. Quality tires and driver skill matter much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 I like this type of weather, you get to see people who think cars just take them places wonder why they aren't going anywhere even though they are doing all the things they normally do just like no variables have changed. I vote RWD. I learned to drive on one of the worst, an 84 toyota 2wd with a really tiny flatbed. Dad always kept a set of Wintermarks on it, but it was still a very fun truck to drive in the winter. Actually all three of us kids learned to drive in all weather with that truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 I would rather have RWD and go into a spin where I at least have some control than a FWD vehicle that leaves me unable to steer or brake, just plow straight at whatever is in front of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 my 2wd s10 is a beast in the snow. I throw one of the big wooden pallets in the back and don't have any trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 I like this type of weather, you get to see people who think cars just take them places wonder why they aren't going anywhere even though they are doing all the things they normally do just like no variables have changed. I vote RWD. I learned to drive on one of the worst, an 84 toyota 2wd with a really tiny flatbed. Dad always kept a set of Wintermarks on it, but it was still a very fun truck to drive in the winter. Actually all three of us kids learned to drive in all weather with that truck. lol. I learned to drive in the winter in a 1989 Chevy 3500 Dually 2wd with 80k highway tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 Experience and skills beat all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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