Front wheel or rear wheel drive?

Question

I live in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
It is a decently hilly place and like anywhere in Michigan, it snows quite a bit.

Which is better??

Answer 1

if you live in snow country you need all wheel drive or 4WD, nothing else will do. if you can't afford AWD or 4WD, front wheel drive is your next bet bet, but it's light years behind the AWD. FWD allows you to more easily detect slippage when you hit ice because the wheel 'lightens.' with RWD you're more likely to fishtail and get turned around in a hurry.

good luck

Answer 2

Clealry, FWD is superior for snow traction. I think that question was settled decades ago. Rear drive, with appropriate winter-specific tires will however, work better than FWD on crappy all-season tires all day long. I used to run rings around my wife's Civic in the snow while driving my Bridgestone Blizzak shod Mazda RX-7 - not exactly the ideal winter beater.

AWD is, in my opinion, a total waste. The only thing it helps with is acceleration, everything else is a negative. My Bridgestone Blizzak and Nokian (respectively) shod FWD cars easily keep up with any AWD vehicle (and can blow by some) in the worst snow while offering better stopping and turning performance. AWD is completely unnecessary if you use winter-specific tires, and the tires are cheaper than the AWD option. AWD just adds extra cost and weight to the vehicle, doesn't do anything to help you stop or turn in the snow (like good tires do) and costs you in reduced gas mileage compared to a 2WD.

Answer 3

Front wheel drive, because the extra weight of the engine is right over the drive wheels, adding to traction.

Answer 4

Sorry in show contry all wheel drive and front wheel drive is best.

Answer 5

front, because it is easier to steer in snow or up higher hills.