# Have you never driven a rear-wheel-drive car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388 "2014-01-09T20:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/21 "2014-01-10T02:38:25Z")
1. My first car was RWD, but I got FWD in 1975. When I married, my wife got a RWD car. I would drive both in the 80s and early 90s. Winters can be tricky here, and when I had both a FWD and RWD car from about 1982 to 1999. When I started to skid, my first thought always was “which car am I in?” ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/22 "2014-01-10T02:55:10Z")
I learned to drive in a 1961 Mercury Comet, and I still prefer RWD. Manual transmissions, too. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/23 "2014-01-10T03:06:33Z")
43 and my first 2 cars were FWD stick driven in a decade’s worth of Wisconsin winters. It was the most ‘in control’ of a car I ever felt. I got my first RWD vehicle 4 years ago. I can throw it into 4WD in really bad weather but in that inbetween stuff I hate RWD. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/24 "2014-01-10T16:39:11Z")
Most of my vehicles have been RWD. A 1978 MGB, 1974 Fiat 124, 1990 Mustang GT, 1991 Mustang GT, and 1995 F-150. The Mustangs could be a little squirrley if you were quickly pulling out into traffic on a slick road. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/25 "2014-01-10T17:05:44Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > 70 years old. > > Guess what kind I learned in. First 2 guesses don’t count. :rolleyes: A Citroen! A Mini! Nope, I’ve got it: your dad’s Cord! Hah. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/26 "2014-01-10T17:52:11Z")
I’m 33 and half of my cars (2/4) have been RWD, including my current coupe. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/27 "2014-01-10T19:08:39Z")
I’m 30 and just got my first front wheel drive. It’s also my first automatic. Lets see: 98 Jeep Wrangler: 4x4 03 Mustang GT: RWD 05 Yamaha XT 225: RWD 05 Yamaha FZ6: RWD 07 Mustang GT: RWD 10 Ranger: 4x4 98 SVT Cobra: RWD 08 Miata: RWD 14 Escape: FWD ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/28 "2014-01-10T19:18:00Z")
I’ve only ever owned RWD cars and drive them in all weather with no issue. I don’t have a problem with FWD, and don’t find there to be much difference in modern versions under most circumstances, especially since manufacturers design most production cars with a bias for understeer, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/29 "2014-01-10T20:07:01Z")
76 RWD was all that was available; I drove and bought my first FWD when I was 38. I’ve had a few of each since. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/30 "2014-01-10T20:08:47Z")
I’ve had only two FWD cars out of a myriad of rear-wheel drives. I don’t care for FWD; the car I have now torque-steers from stop signs and traffic lights on snow and ice, no matter how gently I start. I can’t do control drifts around snowy corners. It gets stuck in snow much easier. It’s far more expensive than rear-wheel drives to fix anything from the engine to the transmission to the steering because everything is piled on top of everything else. I am not enamoured with it, to say the least. “FWD is better in snow” is a myth perpetrated by the car companies to sell FWD, beginning in the late '70s. Because it’s so bad, four-wheel drives and all-wheel drives are selling better than they would if rear-wheel drives hadn’t practically disappeared. Hurrumph. Something or other about my lawn; I can’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/31 "2014-01-10T20:32:29Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > I learned to drive in a 1961 Mercury Comet, and I still prefer RWD. Manual transmissions, too. I learned on a 1962 Ford Falcon back in 1968. I didn’t drive anything but RWD until 1978 when I bought a Honda Accord. Since then all my cars have been front wheel drive except for a 1982 Volvo 240. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/32 "2014-01-10T21:29:41Z")
I’m 38, started driving in 1996. All of my vehicles have been either FWD or AWD. ---
**Author:** ![Toledo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@Toledo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toledo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/33 "2014-01-11T04:07:34Z")
Seven out of the twenty I’ve owned have been FWD. I learned on (and first several cars were) RWD, pretty much the only choice in the 60’s if you stayed domestic. Some of the FWD cars (2CV, SAAB,) were toy cars, not my only car. Current rides are FWD and AWD, so electronically gussied up that it’s hard to tell FWD from RWD in ‘normal’ driving. I did a bit of a test during our recent snow, and the FWD was a bit better at starting, but the AWD seemed more stable in motion. Just my feeling. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/34 "2014-01-11T05:41:35Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > 70 years old. > > Guess what kind I learned in. First 2 guesses don’t count. :rolleyes: > > If you don’t know what a 10 speed Roadranger with a 3 speed Brownie all over electric two speed axles is, then you just ain’t old. Heh-heh… I’m not quite as old as you **GNS** (I’m 53) but I _ **do** _ know what a "10 speed Roadranger… " is. 😃 FTR, I’ve never even _owned_ a FWD car, except for an 85 Olds’ Toronado that I bought for my 1st wife. (Since I hardly ever drove it, I figure that one doesn’t count. 😛 ) 6 full sized vans and 8 full sized trucks (1/2 & 3/4 ton), 2 small trucks, 4 full sized sedans and a full sized (1/2 ton) truck, at the moment. And truth be told, for various reasons, I would much rather have a RWD. YMMV 😉 ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/35 "2014-01-11T14:43:49Z")
I’m 33, I’ve driven an RWD '04 Mercury Grand Marquis, a slightly upscale version of the infamous Ford Crown Victoria, i.e. the standard American police car for most of the past decade. Hella powerful V8 engine, I can see why cops love them. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/36 "2014-01-11T14:57:04Z")
For many years I drove nothing but four cylinder Mustangs. (RWD, obviously.) Over the last 5 years I have driven Saturns. Wow, what a difference. I will never go back to RWD for a daily driver. The primary reason is that I’m in Ohio, and RWD is _horrible_ in the snow. FWD is an order of magnitude better in the snow. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/37 "2014-01-11T15:29:17Z")
I learned to drive in a 76 Chevette and had great fun in the frigid Alberta winters bombing around and doing doughnuts (until the car ended up with a lightpost sticking out of the hood somehow). I’ve been in a FWD ever since (doing my doughnuts in reverse :D) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/38 "2014-01-11T18:36:54Z")
People keep talking about how bad RWD cars are in the snow. Rear engine RWD cars do just fine in snow. ---
**Author:** ![Tracyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@Tracyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracyfish)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/39 "2014-01-11T19:02:26Z")
I’m 31. My first car was a RWD Ford Ranger. I prefer FWD. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388/40 "2014-01-11T19:33:12Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > People keep talking about how bad RWD cars are in the snow. Rear engine RWD cars do just fine in snow. Yes. The front-wheel-drive big lie. All that weight at the front of FWD cars bog them down. My car got stuck in snow yesterday that wouldn’t have stopped a [**Crosley**](http://crosleyautoclub.com/Images/Misc/39Conv-Powel.JPG). Disgusting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-never-driven-a-rear-wheel-drive-car/678388.md?page=3)