Cars with rear wheel drive are the worst to drive in stormy, inclement weather, so why are they still made? Why don't they just focus on front wheel drive and 4x4?
2007-01-09 08:33:35 · 8 answers · asked by eyeswideopen37880 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Higher performance cars need the room in front for the engine. FWD vehicles have the engine and transmission sitting sideways under the hood. Larger displacement engines wouldn't be able to fit sideways under the hood very well. Besides, with traction control, vehicles like the Lincoln LS perform very well with rear wheel drive.
2007-01-09 08:37:19 · answer #1 · answered by kdog 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I drove a 2WD Ford Ranger pickup for many years and didn't have any trouble in stormy weather, it was rear wheel drive. You just need to know how to drive. There are fewer cars made with Rear wheel drive anymore a lot of car companies have switched to rear wheel or front wheel drive with all wheel drive available. People buy them because they are more fun to race and easier to work on than a front wheel drive vehicle. I've had a few front wheel drive cars and they are great in the snow as there's more weight on the front end of the car to help with traction where as with a rear wheel drive there isn't much weight back there maybe the fuel tank and that's about it. Car manufacturers are noticing this (finally) and aren't designing as many rear wheel drive cars anymore.
2007-01-09 11:22:14 · answer #2 · answered by Bill S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because front wheel drive vehicles are the WORST performance-wise. Notice the rear wheel drive cars aren't made to carry nine people?
How about considering the rear-wheel drive cars themselves?
Mercedes SLK, Lotus Elise, Porsche Boxster, Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda S, Chevy Corvette C6, BMW M5- all cars you see on the racetrack. Many racing organizations have what's called "homologation rules" which means that in order to race a particular car, a manufacturer must make and sell a minimum number of that car to the public.
And the best reason? Because I could get around better in a Monte Carlo during a blizzard than most people in their Lexus SUVs. Snow driving is more about operator skill than the car.
2007-01-09 10:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rear wheel drive is NOT the worst in a storm, it only seems that way to people who are used to being pulled around by the front wheels. With RWD, you have the added benefit of USEABLE compression braking. Front wheel drive became popular with the auto manufacturers because they could use a pre-assembled all in one drivetrain and just drop it in. No seperate engine transmission, driveshaft, and differential/axle. Major savings for them in parts cost and labor. Front wheel drive isn't still here because it's better, but because they convinced the masses to buy it. If the weight over the drive wheels is such an improvement, who do so many still put cement blocks in the trunk?
2007-01-09 12:57:48 · answer #4 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When designing a car from scratch, many things are considered, such as weight balance, horsepower, towing possibilities, gas mileage, etc. A vehicle that has more horse power will need to be a rear wheel drive due to weight balance and weight shift under acceleration. Also, if you tow a heavy load, then you need rear wheel drive. Ever wonder why NASCAR and drag race cars are not front wheel drive? They wouldn't last and could not compete. Look at it this way, why do the make chocolate ice cream when all we need is vanilla. Variety is what makes this world and life wonderful. A little something for everybody.
2007-01-09 08:42:42 · answer #5 · answered by rex_rrracefab 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because of the problem of torque steer when too much power is used with front wheel drive. When a front wheel drive car breaks traction from too much power, you loose steering control of the car.
When a rear wheel drive car looses traction from too much power, you can still control it.
So you typically see front wheel drive in lower power cars as it is cheaper to produce, and rear wheel drive in high power cars as it is easier to control.
2007-01-09 08:43:37 · answer #6 · answered by Mad Jack 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You get better acceleration (weight shifts to the back wheels giving them extra traction) and larger dealing with with a rear-wheel tension motor vehicle (in front-tension automobiles the tires would desire to improve up and additionally turn the vehicle, this is a super form of artwork for in simple terms 2 tires). front-wheel tension automobiles gets a sprint better gasoline economic gadget simply by fact they don't would desire to spin a driveshaft to power the rear wheels. many times economic gadget automobiles and kinfolk sedans are front-tension at the same time as activities and muscle automobiles are rear-tension. Thats it!
2016-10-30 11:11:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is all to do with driver skill I personally feel more in control in a rear wheel drive vs FWD
2007-01-09 08:39:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋