What are good reasons NOT to get a front-wheel drive car?

[edprush]

What are good reasons NOT to get a front-wheel drive car?

I need a used car and I found a decent 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic...but it is front wheel drive.

Are there any reasons not to get a front-wheel drive automobile?

 

[xero]

hehe.....i drive a 1990 chevy caprice classic...its the year right before the 91's that were kinda squared...that's why mine's rear-wheel drive w/ a small block 305 v8....
caprices are very nice cars, very classy looking, and drive well!

 

[Viperoni]

Actually, all caprice's were rear wheel drive.
Caprice/Impala SS production was stopped in 96 so GM could make more money off the Tahoe (idiots, GM that is)

The 305 is a great engine, BTW.
I have 170k on it, no major internal trouble's, except a crappy ignition system (really crappy)...
I think I'm a fuke though.
Otherwise, it runs great, pulls hard off the light, and can still light 'em up when wet.
(mine is a 86 Parisienne with 305 )

 

[vi edit]

front wheel drive cars generally don't have as sporty of a feel to them as a RWD car

FWD doesn't allow you to tear through corners like a RWD or AWD car would, and they also generally have slower acceleration times.

But, since you are looking at a caprice, then all of my points are moot anyway

 

[yakko]

A good reason is that you bought an Audi with AWD.

 

[Total Refected Power]

Being stuck in the mud.

 

[Viperoni]

Nobody seems to notice that the caprice IS NOT A FWD CAR!!!

 

[SuperGroove]

Maybe he's talking about the Impalla? Yea, it's stretch, but sometimes people get confused!

Anyways, cons to FWD...UNDERSTEER! The Rear is too light and the tail will come out violently in most FWD cars if pushed beyond its limits. Also...those tires up front will go bald VERY QUICKLY. Have a bad alignment...you'll be pooch screwed a la Ford Explorer on Firestones.

FWD just feels insignificant

EDIT: Reread the topic...I know there was no impalla in '91

 

[yakko]

SuperGroove,

Youi should come driving with me in my FWD car. I'll show you insignificant.

 

[blurredvisionx]

I have a FWD 95 Grand Prix SE, and it handles great, also has great acceleration. Better acceleration than I thought it would actually. The tires are still good, of course I have them balanced and rotated often.

 

[bigbigsavings]

I had a FWD car before my current RWD and I'm enjoying my new car a lot more. Granted, it's a lot _more_ of a car than my previous, but cornering is definitely better with the RWD. The thing that scares me is the upcoming winter. I am praying that there won't be too much snow, but if there is, I'm screwed. First winter with RWD and a manual transmission should be a blast.

Alex

 

[Futuramatic]

I found on my dad's Seville STS that if you really smash the gas it can make your nose swerve, cause the front tires are both drive and steer. It would take a good amount of power to do tat though, so unless you get a 300HP FWD car, don't worry too much about it

 

[Robor]

FWD cars just don't look cool doing burnouts. Also, you can't do those cool Rockford moves. It's not the same.

I own a VW GTI GLX (FWD)...

Rob

 

[edprush]

I truly apologize. I posted the original message. I meant to say"
"What are good reasons NOT to get a REAR-wheel drive car?

I need a used car and I found a decent 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic...but it is REAR-wheel drive.

Are there any reasons not to get a REAR-wheel drive automobile?"

My regrets for the major typo.

 

[woodie1]

Snow and Ice.

 

[yakko]

Robor,

Front wheel drive doing burnouts.

 

[huey1124]

bigbigsavings:

during wintry weather, make sure you put the chains on your rear tires, not your front ones. it's funny to see people putting chains on their front wheels, and spinning their rear tires in snow, not knowing what's wrong. LOL


reason not to get RWD? like other people said, snow and ice (and rain). i once completely restored a '69 Firebird 350 V8, and used to be very cautious on rainy days because of spin-outs. of course that thing was never driven close to any snow or ice.

 

[Jumpem]

Spinning tires and DONUTS! Is there any other reason?

 

[Wangel]

Oversteer - basically all front wheel drives have it. Also, during periods of very hard acceleration, steering usually vibrates and is a bit irratic.