snow handling Options

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

That is the traditional view. But due to what I've seen lately, I question it. There is no doubt that FWD is easier to control. And my experiance with mud trucks says that if you loose your front, you are screwed, but if you loose your rear you have a chance. I think it's not that FWD is worse than RWD in the snow, it's just that RWD isn't as bad as it's made out to be. But, it just takes more skill to use. I don't know, I'll have to test several cars in the snow with RWD, FWD, and AWD to actually know.

Since I've already 'tested'... it's true what has been posted. AWD>FF>FR>MR/RR... but if you're not an idiot... none of them are that bad...

What about the old beatles? They did great in the snow and they are RR. The Porshe Boxter is said to do well. AWD would definately be best. How much of a rear difference would there be in general across the FF - FR cars, if set up right. I think that is key. If it's a boat, obviously, it won't do as well in the snow. But if it's light and doesn't have loads of torque, would it really be that bad? The only thing FR I've driving in the snow was a Wrangler. It wasn't bad, but being so short, when it spun it would spin all the way around and fast. After you got the hang of it, it wasn't bad though, just had to expect it to do that.

[Kwanza26]

What about the old beatles? They did great in the snow and they are RR. The Porshe Boxter is said to do well. AWD would definately be best. How much of a rear difference would there be in general across the FF - FR cars, if set up right. I think that is key. If it's a boat, obviously, it won't do as well in the snow. But if it's light and doesn't have loads of torque, would it really be that bad? The only thing FR I've driving in the snow was a Wrangler. It wasn't bad, but being so short, when it spun it would spin all the way around and fast. After you got the hang of it, it wasn't bad though, just had to expect it to do that.

You can't measure people's abilities and skill when it comes to something like this... because a BAD AWD driver will do poorly in snow versus a good RR driver in snow. However... you level the playing field and take out the driver and look at it purely from a grip and weight transfer standpoint. MR/RR's will never perform as well as AWD in snow... DUH! because they transfer weight to the drive wheels which in turn will struggle for traction. FF cars don't have terrible weight transfer, so they don't hurt as much as FR cars. AGAIN... if you're not an idiot... none of them are that bad...

[Zimluura]

a little off topic, but in the *ice* they say that awd doesn't help. which i guess might be true, but imo, rwd really really hurts in the ice.

[SpoonR530]

I definitely agree that it all comes down to the driver. Many rally cars used rear wheel drive. All though you sacrifice traction, it gave the rally car driver the ability to "dance" when sliding through turns. Not sure but I think Carlos Sainz said this when the Celica rally car became AWD.
The bugs handle great in the snow for a few reasons. They are RR which just puts more weight on the tries (great for traction), They have air cooled engines (great for cold weather), and bad ass heaters!
IMO with the FF set up our Celica's actually handle quite well in the snow. But chains and or Studded snow tires will help.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

MR/RR's will never perform as well as AWD in snow... DUH! because they transfer weight to the drive wheels which in turn will struggle for traction.

Dune Buddies and other RR cars do better than the 4WD trucks at off roading. It's fun to see actually. The 4x4 trucks trying to climb hills and what not, and then the dune buggies fly right up them. That's also why they say Hilter had a better "jeep" in WWII. His was just a modified Beetle. I'm more than willing to except that it is the driving and not the car. But, I've got issues with this RR thing. Oh, AWD helps on the ice, and would actually be the best hands down. The reason they say it doesn't help is because 4 wheels forward doesn't help when stopping anymore than 2 wheels forward. People get cocky in there AWD cars and think they can stop faster than a FF or FR cars. My buddy in his jeep thinks that. He drives like a tard. I told him my car with studs up front would stop better on an icy road than his jeep, and he actually argued with me because my car doesn't have 4WD.