 While AWD would be great, the cost, weight, and power loss due to it would be a BIG negative.
This debate seems to keep showing up here, I think it's been in at least 2 or 3 threads that I can think of.
FWD, stock vs. stock will USUALLY outperform RWD in snow. That's a given. But the facts about the two platforms are this:
FWD was brought to market for one reason, manufacturing cost. That's the biggest single reason why there's so many of them out there. They're cheaper and easier to build for the OEM, that's it.
As for actually driving them, RWD has been, and will continue to be the choice of the performance crowd for several reasons. The drivetrain components are seperate and therefore are quicker and easier to modify. The weight distribution is much more balanced (easier to obtain that heavenly 50/50 ratio). Drag racing is MUCH easier with RWD due to the laws of physics dumping traction-giving weight TO the drive tires, as opposed to AWAY from them. As for road racing, generally RWD cars are the choice and WILL outperform FWD cars but, there ARE some VERY good FWD cars that manage to post some very respectable track times.
Overall, the BEST road track car would probably be an AWD one though.
Bottom line, as I've said a million times before, FWD is a great, economical package that can GENERALLY compete with RWD cars in 80% of normal driving, and maybe 50% of performance driving. But that's it. |