Quote:
Originally Posted by Elk
FWD often is better at getting moving in snow because FWD cars are front end heavy - the engine and entire driveline (tranny, diff, half-shafts, etc.) are in the front. RWD cars are more weight balanced merely as a consequence of design.
The RWD equivalent is loading the trunk with sand.
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This. FWD cars are often 65% weight over the front axle, because it's engine, transmission, diff, etc, all up front. RWD cars are closer to 50/50 because the diff is in the back, and some driveline parts help balance the car.
The *only* reason FWD cars are in *any* way better in the snow is due to the additional weight over the drive wheels. This can be achieved in RWD by throwing weight in the trunk.
Note that when you climb a hill with a car, the weight shifts rearwards, so FWD loses its advantage the steeper the hill gets, and RWD gets closer to parity.
Starting with 'only' 50% of your weight over the rear wheels, then backing up a hill, is the worst of both worlds. Now you've got (say) 45% of the weight over the drive wheels.
One major advantage of RWD in poor weather is you aren't trying to accelerate and steer with the same wheels. It sucks when you're driving FWD in slippery conditions, turning slightly, and suddenly the wheels break lose.. now you have no forward drive OR steering.