Weird how different people seem to get different preferances from similar experience. I would take fwd drive in the winter long before rear wheel. I find fwd much more surefooted in most aspects of foul weather driving.
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I would, too. FWD has two major advantages over RWD. One is the components are lighter (better fuel economy), cheaper, and easier to install on an assembly line. The other is, dramatically better traction, handling and stability in foul weather.
The big disadvantage is, the solid lump of iron on a RWD axle is bullet proof, but the axles of a FWD will bruise like a peach if you just leery them look art a deep pothole or a curb. You're more likely to have expensive axle repairs with a FWD.
Having said that, the electronic stability programs on new cars pretty much make it a coin toss as to which one is better.
Incidentally, FWD Sprinters and similar vans are quite popular in Europe. Loaded or unloaded they have better traction and control than the RWD models, especially with the ESP controls. But they also have better roads, no Detroit potholes.
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