Snow: FWD .vs 4WD

Polypro · 08-18-2005, 01:45 PM

Girlfriend's buying an Escape. 4WD is $2,500 more. Two Ford engineer types (friends of hers) and the dealer, are saying 4WD is not better than FrontWD
in the snow. I've never owned front wheel drive. What's the scoop? From what I've found, FrontWD is pretty good in the snow, but what's better?

Thanks,

P

BigA · 08-18-2005, 01:51 PM

From my experiance 4wd will be the best, it offers all four wheels for traction, that said front wheel drive is pretty good in the snow and I would opt for it if you get small to medium sized snows, if you live in very hilly areas or a place that measures snow by the feet four wheel drive is deffinately worth the cost.

JamesB · 08-18-2005, 02:00 PM

It depends on the snow. FWD is better then RWD, but when the snow is heavy on the ground 4WD will have tons of tracktion.

jaimr · 08-18-2005, 02:02 PM

I live in the snow belt in Ohio so we get a good bit of snow. My wife has a front wheel drive and I of course have a 4x4 Titan. She gets around OK but can not get up our drive sometimes. I of course have no problems. So to answer your question...no, front wheel drive is not better then 4 wheel drive. If that was the case, all off road trucks would be front wheel drive.

hogboy · 08-18-2005, 02:06 PM

They are definitely handing her a line. They probably want to get rid of the FWD's off the lot. This one is a no brainer. End of story.

BigA · 08-18-2005, 02:10 PM

I have to say FWD is not always better then RWD as James stated, Last winter we had a 16 inch snowstorm here and my rear drive ram I had made it down around fine while the FWD cars were getting stuck because the snow was up to thier bumpers. I had 350 pounds of concrete in the tail for traction however.

Quad T · 08-18-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polypro

Two Ford engineer types (friends of hers) and the dealer, are saying 4WD is not better than FrontWD in the snow.

Sorry, I know you said some of those people are friends of your girlfriend, but my reaction is 'pass the crack pipe'...

I was born and live in Rochester, Buffalo is 75 minutes to the west of me and Syracuse is 90 minutes to the east of me. These 3 cities are all within the top 15 snowiest cities in the USA!

There is no way anyone is going to convince me FWD is better in the snow than 4WD. Someone might be able to convince me that Subaru's AWD is better in the snow than 4WD, but FWD, no way!

Sure, FWD is better than RWD, but if serious deep snow is on the menu for the day, go Subaru Outback with good snow tires or go 4WD truck or SUV with good snow tires and weight over the rear axle.

FWD better

Let me guess, they got a bunch on their lot they want to get rid of...

baseballfanz · 08-18-2005, 02:17 PM

4 is better than 2 no matter if it's front or back drive (in the snow ofcourse).

Quad T · 08-18-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigA

I have to say FWD is not always better then RWD as James stated, Last winter we had a 16 inch snowstorm here and my rear drive ram I had made it down around fine while the FWD cars were getting stuck because the snow was up to thier bumpers. I had 350 pounds of concrete in the tail for traction however.

Completely unfair comparison. You are not comparing FWD to RWD you are comparing GROUND CLEARANCE... Of course the Ram made out better, it was not dragging its anatomy through the resistance of the snow.

One of the simplest reasons FWD is so good in the snow is the same reason the old VW Bugs were so good in the snow, the drive wheels have an engine sitting right on top of them.

Vector · 08-18-2005, 02:18 PM

Im with Quad T

I live in Michigan, we get a ton of lake effect snow, it gets deep here. I own FWD, RWD and 4WD. The only toy I will drive with snow on the ground is the 4WD.

Front wheel drive is not even close in the snow.

Justintoxicated · 08-18-2005, 02:25 PM

ok try to convince me AWD is better than 4x4, with 4x4 you have 2 drive wheels with AWD you only have 1...

Add lockers to 4x4 and you have true 4WD.

buzzkillwill · 08-18-2005, 02:37 PM

Well...

I had a CRV, that my wife now drives and I can tell you that thing goes throught the snow with no problem. Heck, my driveway is on a hill, and last year with between 7-10 inches, it took that driveway with no sweat. It does great, so if your GF gets the Escape, get the 4Wd version, you won't regret it!

jaimr · 08-18-2005, 02:54 PM

maybe the saleman meant to say a FWD would get better gas mileage in the snow vs. a 4WD.

**Helinut1970** · 08-18-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polypro

Girlfriend's buying an Escape. 4WD is $2,500 more. Two Ford engineer types (friends of hers) and the dealer, are saying 4WD is not better than FrontWD
in the snow. I've never owned front wheel drive. What's the scoop? From what I've found, FrontWD is pretty good in the snow, but what's better?

With respect....I cant believe you are seriously asking that question. Man that is a really good saleman if he/she convinced you that the FWD is better than the 4x4 in the snow. And if you believed it... Ive got some land I want to sell ya. Sure its a swamp but you can still build in it!

bestatchess · 08-18-2005, 03:17 PM

"Two Ford engineer types (friends of hers) and the dealer, are saying 4WD is not better than FrontWD in the snow."

I have a hard time believing that any automotive engineer would make such a ridiculous assertion.