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by ivan1783 2653 days ago
Not really...check weight distributions for any modern vehicle, you will find the majority of the competent manufacturers get it right around 50/50 front/back. Meaning your FWD Honda has no advantage over a RWD BMW except for the tendency for the Honda to understeer and the BMW to oversteer. This is the main problem in less than ideal traction conditions...
2 comments
petersellers 2653 days ago
Define "competent manufacturer".

I'd be willing to wager that most front wheel drive sedans sold in the US are closer to 60/40, not 50/50. Pickup trucks (very popular in the US) also have a weight distribution much more skewed to the front.

50/50 distribution is more common for sports cars sure but that is not the majority of cars sold.

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sliken 2653 days ago
This is true, at least for premium cars. However even if the FWD honda and RWD BMW are similar in the flats. The hardest thing to deal with when it's slippery is the climbs, and then the RWD has the advantage.

Even on the flats, when cornering the FWD has the front wheels steering and accelerating, while the RWD uses different wheels for that. Granted not a big difference, especially since when it's slippery you aren't using many HP.

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