Car buying involves shoving as much information on your chosen vehicles into your head as possible. But it can all be a bit overwhelming. But it’s important to get the basics right. Things like engine, transmission, rear, all, or front-wheel drive.
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Those last three are very important depending on where you live. We try to determine the better drive for your car between the front-wheel and rear-wheel drive.
Advantages of Using a Front-Wheel Drive Car
Enthusiasts often poke fun at other enthusiasts who own front-driven cars by calling their car “wrong-wheel drive.” But what’s so bad about it, and what does the term “front-driven” mean?
Essentially, it refers to the layout of the wheels on a car that are directly powered by the engine. A car with a front drive means that only the front two wheels are powered by the engine via the transmission.
This layout offers plenty of benefits. First and foremost, it uses fewer materials than a rear-wheel drive car. There’s no big driveshaft going to the back of the car, which helps weight and thus fuel economy. For this reason, you’ll struggle to find a rear-wheel drive “economy” car. In some cases, front-wheel drive cars also offer better traction, as the engine’s weight is over the front wheels, pushing them into the ground and helping grip.
Advantages of Rear-Wheel Drive Cars
But there’s another way. Most cars made before the popularity of front-driven cars rose were rear-wheel drive. This is also the pick of many enthusiasts, who say it offers a more “pure” and balanced driving experience. Some car buyers get irritated by this configuration for its poor traction in poor weather. But, there’s an easy fix most people overlook.
Tires are everything on a car, especially a rear-wheel drive one. A front-wheel drive is sometimes needed to keep optimal traction in bad weather conditions. No, the engine’s weight usually isn’t over the rear wheels, but good tires more than compensate for this. Plus, tire technology is so good now those rumours of weighing the back down with sandbags are just rumours.
Which of them is the Best Option
To determine which is best for you, it’s important to consider what you want your car to do. Do you want a fun weekend toy? Rear-drive is probably best. Looking for the economy and nothing else? Front-wheel drive is for you. But, no matter what, the best decision you can make for your car is a good set of tires. They’ll help you stay on the road and safe, front or rear-wheel drive regardless.
