School me on front wheel drive

[Omeletpants]

I'm more familiar with AWD on my Audi, but wondering on the latest front wheel drive systems in bad weather. Do you feel safe drving a FWD car in a Chicago winter

 

[botfly10]

Well, FWD is nothing new and it won't be better than AWD.

That main thing about FWD is that both the engine and tranny sit over the front wheels, which are also the drive wheels. Also, there are always people in the front of the car, further adding weight close to the the drive wheels. This results in good traction, preventing the the tires from floating over snow.

The drive wheels also "pull" the car rather than "pushing" it like happens with rear wheel drive. This prevents fishtailing where the rear of the car can try to overtake the front and cause a spin out, especially around corners. Basically if the rear of the car is sliding around in FWD, it doesn't even matter. The car is just gonna continue in whatever direction you have the front wheels pointed.

But in my experience, front wheel drive provides plenty good enough traction to plow through snow and rain with no problems.

 

[1COBearsfan]

Basically what Bot said. I will add that you can get away with a little lower quality tire with an AWD car that FWD.

Just for reference, my g/f drives a fwd ford escape & I drive a mustang gt year round. In winter I HAVE to have a great set of snow tires. All she needs is a decent set of all season tires. If we had an awd car it probably wouldn't matter at all what tires we had on it unless there was more that 8 inches of snow on the ground

 

[Sunbiz1]

Traded in the Caddy for an Audi, lol.

The real question is, why would someone past retirement age who can afford multiple luxury cars be living in this shit hole of a town.

Hope U enjoyed that road construction I avoided all summer.

 

[Omeletpants]

Traded in the Caddy for an Audi, lol.

The real question is, why would someone past retirement age who can afford multiple luxury cars be living in this shit hole of a town.

Hope U enjoyed that road construction I avoided all summer.

Shit for brains, I'm younger than Walter Payton would have been. Shouldn't you be filling your basement freezer with body parts?

 

[botfly10]

lol

 

[botfly10]

Anyway, FWD does almost just as good as AWD. The only difference is you have to have a little bit of snow driving skills. Its perfectly safe.

But its not like AWD where snow driving is almost exactly the same as regular. Actually, people in AWD SUVs are the worst in snow, imo. They whip around like its impossible for their car to slide and seem to cause more accidents than anyone else, especially on the highway.

 

[nvanprooyen]

These Omelet vs. Sunbiz comments have been killing me lately. Lol.

 

[1COBearsfan]

Actually, people in AWD SUVs are the worst in snow, imo. They whip around like its impossible for their car to slide and seem to cause more accidents than anyone else, especially on the highway.

+100. I get so nervous when someone on an awd SUV is driving near me when it's snowing.

Omelette & Sunbiz sittin in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G

 

[Omeletpants]

These Omelet vs. Sunbiz comments have been killing me lately. Lol.

Killing you? You might get your wish. He has world class collection of femurs in his basement freezer.

 

[Crystallas]

I have a jeep grand 94' grand cherokee 4x4 with the bullet proof inline-6 for bad weather and a Fusion FWD for my daily driver. RWD is also fine for me in bad weather. The secret isn't FWD or AWD, it's all about having a proper differential. A LSD makes snow driving a breeze.

But there is a storm about every 4 years that makes me happy to have the 4x4 option. I just don't see how it makes sense, other than luxury, to pay extra for gas and maintenance, for 300+ days of the year on the daily driver.

However, if you aren't skilled with your car, or get distracted easily, PLEASE buy an AWD model. You'll be one less person I need to avoid on the road. Or at least get one of the models that has the computer doing all of the pedal work for you.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I don't know shit about cars but yes FWD is fine in winter. Probably not as good as AWD (I've never driven one) but a lot better than the RWD's I've had the misfortune of driving.

 

[ShiftyDevil]

I have a jeep grand 94' grand cherokee 4x4 with the bullet proof inline-6 for bad weather and a Fusion FWD for my daily driver. RWD is also fine for me in bad weather. The secret isn't FWD or AWD, it's all about having a proper differential. A LSD makes snow driving a breeze.

But there is a storm about every 4 years that makes me happy to have the 4x4 option. I just don't see how it makes sense, other than luxury, to pay extra for gas and maintenance, for 300+ days of the year on the daily driver.

However, if you aren't skilled with your car, or get distracted easily, PLEASE buy an AWD model. You'll be one less person I need to avoid on the road. Or at least get one of the models that has the computer doing all of the pedal work for you.

My first car was an 99 Cherokee with the inline 6. Engine was so easy to work on, I loved it. Cooling system was pretty shit though.

 

[botfly10]

Driving RWD card in snow on LSD can be fun as hell. LOL. Seriously though, even with limited slip, if you get good at driving in the snow, it can be fun to get you rear swinging way out around corners.

We used to do the same in little FWD cars. Just crank the E brake around corners and its like you are doing power slides... So you get goin too fast to corner, then crank the wheel, hit the e brake, and whip around that ***** sideways, only to come out of it on the straight away... fun shit.

 

[Bear06]

I have a jeep grand 94' grand cherokee 4x4 with the bullet proof inline-6 for bad weather and a Fusion FWD for my daily driver. RWD is also fine for me in bad weather. The secret isn't FWD or AWD, it's all about having a proper differential. A LSD makes snow driving a breeze.

But there is a storm about every 4 years that makes me happy to have the 4x4 option. I just don't see how it makes sense, other than luxury, to pay extra for gas and maintenance, for 300+ days of the year on the daily driver.

However, if you aren't skilled with your car, or get distracted easily, PLEASE buy an AWD model. You'll be one less person I need to avoid on the road. Or at least get one of the models that has the computer doing all of the pedal work for you.

What do you think of the new 2013 Ford Fusion? I think it looks awesome! It looks 10x better than the Camry, Accord and Altima. Also what do you think of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee getting a diesel engine? IMO it's a great move by Jeep.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Shit for brains, I'm younger than Walter Payton would have been. Shouldn't you be filling your basement freezer with body parts?

LOL, you're either lying or father time ran your ass over repeatedly.

And my freezer runneth over, I'll be by at halftime today to borrow yours.

Blue house, right?

 

[nwfisch]

opcorn:

 

[Crystallas]

What do you think of the new 2013 Ford Fusion? I think it looks awesome! It looks 10x better than the Camry, Accord and Altima. Also what do you think of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee getting a diesel engine? IMO it's a great move by Jeep.

I hate the new look of the Fusion, but I haven't driven one yet, so I would be a Special person opinionated prick to draw much more of a conclusion, merely based on what I have read. I would also have to be pretty naive to base a full opinion of a vehicle on looks alone, I leave that kind of thinking to the women who pick their cars based on color, more than something considerably more reasonable. Although I think the wanabee Aston Martin looks might still be a deal-breaker for me, which is sad, because it still might wind up being one of the best cars on the road.
Also, the same goes for the Jeep(not being able to base an opinion on something, without actually experiencing it personally). I only own the Jeep that I have, because I'm an opportunist, and paid $500 for it and already know the engine and transmission inside and out.

Diesel as an option is only good, if the engine itself is a good design. The A630 I do know, and it's an okay engine for diesel standards. It's a high production motor, so part costs will be down if Fiat sells enough of them. I just don't expect them to be 1million mile motors, like many of the similar engines, and I'm weary of compressed graphite blocks, as it's strong, but not as durable as a hybrid. Like carbon fiber(a graphite composite), very strong, but with flexing and wear, carbon fiber creates a lot of stress fracturing over time and after the same wear and tear, its comparable alloys remain better. So this engine was indeed designed to be somewhat disposable(which is bad for the environment, worse than saving a buck at the pump.)

 

[Bear06]

I hate the new look of the Fusion, but I haven't driven one yet, so I would be a Special person opinionated prick to draw much more of a conclusion, merely based on what I have read. I would also have to be pretty naive to base a full opinion of a vehicle on looks alone, I leave that kind of thinking to the women who pick their cars based on color, more than something considerably more reasonable. Although I think the wanabee Aston Martin looks might still be a deal-breaker for me, which is sad, because it still might wind up being one of the best cars on the road.
Also, the same goes for the Jeep(not being able to base an opinion on something, without actually experiencing it personally). I only own the Jeep that I have, because I'm an opportunist, and paid $500 for it and already know the engine and transmission inside and out.

Diesel as an option is only good, if the engine itself is a good design. The A630 I do know, and it's an okay engine for diesel standards. It's a high production motor, so part costs will be down if Fiat sells enough of them. I just don't expect them to be 1million mile motors, like many of the similar engines, and I'm weary of compressed graphite blocks, as it's strong, but not as durable as a hybrid. Like carbon fiber(a graphite composite), very strong, but with flexing and wear, carbon fiber creates a lot of stress fracturing over time and after the same wear and tear, its comparable alloys remain better. So this engine was indeed designed to be somewhat disposable(which is bad for the environment, worse than saving a buck at the pump.)

I knew you were going to say that! The Fusion looks too European for your taste I'm guessing, a lot of people think Ford hit a home run with the new Fusion but most of them including myself haven't driven one so we'll see how it drives. One thing for sure is that they didn't do a good on the MyFord Touch, from what I have heard it's still laggy and slow, they should learn from Chrysler they have a really good, simple and fast navigation system.

 

[Crystallas]

I knew you were going to say that! The Fusion looks too European for your taste I'm guessing, a lot of people think Ford hit a home run with the new Fusion but most of them including myself haven't driven one so we'll see how it drives. One thing for sure is that they didn't do a good on the MyFord Touch, from what I have heard it's still laggy and slow, they should learn from Chrysler they have a really good, simple and fast navigation system.

Too European? You mean copying the AM design, then yes. But if you think I have a problem with "European" looks, based on not liking the way the Fusion looks, then IDKWTF you're smoking. Good luck trying to stereotype me :lol: