Which is better in snow / ice. FWD or RWD?

Run_to_da_hills

From a traction and control point of view which would you find the easiiest to drive in these conditions?

pajero12

Front wheel drive of course

MarkoC

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

From a traction and control point of view which would you find the easiiest to drive in these conditions?

1. AWD
2. FWD
3. RWD

pajo1981

FWD by a mile.

corktina

wrong wheel drive is better (grudgingly):rolleyes:

Cunning Alias

You have to ask that? Seriously?

Im starting to realize why there are so many terrible drivers in this weather.

kev91

rwd is more fun but fwd is beter as you have the added weight of the engine of the front wheels for extra traction

MarkoC

kev91 wrote: »

rwd is more fun but fwd is beter as you have the added weight of the engine of the front wheels for extra traction

On ice theres more fun with FWD as the handbrake does the job and fwd pulls you out from anywhere but thats all IF you have winter tyres, rwd is so useless in these weather conditions, so please dont mix drifting and winter driving here

benj

FWD or RWD if you like to reverse everywhere

Nissan doctor

Leaving out 4wd/awd, then there is no question that fwd is better.

But in relation to traction control, depending on the system your car has its fine once you are moving but once you get into seriously icy conditions or hills etc then switching off the traction control is the best way to keep going....only if you have a clue how to drive in the conditions of course.

Run_to_da_hills

kev91 wrote: »

rwd is more fun but fwd is beter as you have the added weight of the engine of the front wheels for extra traction

I drive a RWD transit van although haven't taken it out in the weather yet.

Can put weight in the back. Had FWD newer version last year.

Seweryn

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

From a traction and control point of view which would you find the easiiest to drive in these conditions?

For me is the RWD.

biko

Poll?

FWD imo

MarkoC

Seweryn wrote: »

For me is the RWD.

Because thats your first car ever ?

Seweryn

MarkoC wrote: »

Because thats your first car ever ?

Yes, I have had about 15 cars and all of them were RWD. The recent ones are not as good in the snow as my first car, which was my VW Beetle. I was driving a Beetle for 12 years and it was the best single axle driven winter car. In any slopes all other cars used to get stuck (especially FWD) and the Beetle was happily going forward. Never had winter tyres on .

Ghost Train

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Leaving out 4wd/awd, then there is no question that fwd is better.

But in relation to traction control, depending on the system your car has its fine once you are moving but once you get into seriously icy conditions or hills etc then switching off the traction control is the best way to keep going....only if you have a clue how to drive in the conditions of course.

would question the turning off of traction control, I'd say only turn it off if you're stuck or need to spin the wheels for some reason

but will depend on the car and system it uses

dr.fuzzenstein

Seweryn wrote: »

Yes, I have had about 15 cars and all of them were RWD. The recent ones are not as good in the snow as my first car, which was my VW Beetle. I was driving a Beetle for 12 years and it was the best single axle driven winter car. In any slopes all other cars used to get stuck (especially FWD) and the Beetle was happily going forward. Never had winter tyres on .

Actually you're right there.
Rear-engined and RWD go together well because the weight is over the driven wheels, Beetles really are good in the snow.
Beemers and Mercs should only be taken out on snow and ice with spare underwear in the glovebox.
My Focus gets up the hill we live on quite happily with no problems.
The GF's MX5 (RWD) is completely lost on the same hill, it really is terrible.
So, FWD or, if it has to be RWD then old Beetle, new one is FWD anyway
But best Subaru or on a budget some Suzuki 4WD.

Run_to_da_hills

Seweryn wrote: »

Yes, I have had about 15 cars and all of them were RWD. The recent ones are not as good in the snow as my first car, which was my VW Beetle. I was driving a Beetle for 12 years and it was the best single axle driven winter car. In any slopes all other cars used to get stuck (especially FWD) and the Beetle was happily going forward. Never had winter tyres on .

I cant wait to get my 58 VW bus on the road.

Seweryn

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Actually you're right there.
Rear-engined and RWD go together well because the weight is over the driven wheels, Beetles really are good in the snow.

Yeah, the Beetle is unbeatable in the winter. The grip is right there when you need it most - driving up the hill all the traction moves to your driven axle. And the car is light, which also helps. The only thing you need to keep in mind is not to let it go sideways too far, be careful when the car starts spinning. It oversteers easily and you need to be prepared .
Mercs and BMWs are quite useless, you are right there (I have been driving both) and the Subaru is in a different league, but it is a 4WD...

-Corkie-

Poll fail..

No Skoda or Atari jaguar..:P

Cookie_Monster

all the artic trucks are proving it mid wheel drive that's the business at the moment. :P

peasant

Seweryn wrote: »

Yeah, the Beetle is unbeatable in the winter. - driving up the hill all the traction moves to your driven axle..

Driving down the hill, lift off the gas and your back end overtakes you

Run_to_da_hills

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

all the artic trucks are proving it mid wheel drive that's the business at the moment. :P

They would need there in those artic conditions.

Seweryn

peasant wrote: »

Driving down the hill, lift off the gas and your back end overtakes you

That is the downside, but the car is easy to control. You just need to get a bit of experience with it, that's all .

MarkoC

Seweryn wrote: »

Yes, I have had about 15 cars and all of them were RWD. The recent ones are not as good in the snow as my first car, which was my VW Beetle. I was driving a Beetle for 12 years and it was the best single axle driven winter car. In any slopes all other cars used to get stuck (especially FWD) and the Beetle was happily going forward. Never had winter tyres on .

In that case your vote doesnt count as you had no experiences with FWD cars ... Simplish
Trust me, you will be amazed once you get one for the winter

Seweryn

MarkoC wrote: »

In that case your vote doesnt count as you had no experiences with FWD cars ... Simplish
Trust me, you will be amazed once you get one for the winter

I didn't own one, but I drove some FWD cars and most of them are better than the RWD cars I drive now. However, they are not better than the Beetle. If I have a car to choose to drive through the snow (single axle driven), I would stll take the Beetle.

corktina

peasant wrote: »

Driving down the hill, lift off the gas and your back end overtakes you

all things being equal if you lift off the car will continue in a straight line...

jaffa20

RWD in reverse!

peasant

corktina wrote: »

all things being equal if you lift off the car will continue in a straight line...

Not downhill on ice it won't. Slightly different level of grip, camber of the road, something will cause it to swing it's arse out

Slick50

corktina wrote: »

all things being equal if you lift off the car will continue in a straight line...

But all things are not equal in the beetle because the engine is in the back. While this does help with the weight being over the drive wheels, I think the beetle's first gear had a very low ratio, which also help in these conditions.

Nissan doctor

Tyres have alot to do with it too, and i don't mean snow tyres etc.

Skinny tyres are vastly better on snow and ice then wide tyres.


And about switching off traction control, Most traction control systems cut power when the wheels begin to slip, this of course slows the car down, meaning that's its much harder to keep momentum, especially on hills. Switching it off means you can can use the spinning wheels to keep the car at a constant speed(with proper throttle and steering control) and so keep momentum.