Front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive?
Most modern cars have front wheel drive for a very good reason: front wheel drive is safer and more controllable for the average driver. A front wheel drive vehicle has most of its weight on the front wheels, usually between 60% and 70%, so that it tends to go straight, just like an arrow where the weight is concentrated in the arrowhead. On slippery surfaces, if you give it too much gas in a turn, the front wheels will spin, causing the car to skid straight ahead. Even an inattentive driver will immediately realize there is a problem and let up on the gas, quickly regaining control: whereas a car with rear wheel drive in the same situation might spin the rear out causing the inattentive driver to lose control.
Front wheel drive is also great in the snow. Since most of the weight is on the drive wheels, you get better traction, and if you do get stuck with a spinning wheel in snow or mud, just turn the steering wheel a bit to allow the front tires to get a new bite.
If front wheel drive is so good, then why do any cars have rear wheel drive?
Actually, most luxury cars over $40,000.00 have rear wheel drive, as well as all race cars and most performance-oriented sports cars. Rear wheel drive cars have their weight distributed closer to 50/50 between the front and rear wheels, which is conducive to a smoother, more stable ride. Because of the weight distribution, the rear tires and springs can take on their fair share of the work load so the car can have higher cornering limits and greater maximum stopping power. Braking is also superior on a rear wheel drive car. With front wheel drive, under heavy braking such as in a panic stop, the weight of the car shifts forward so that the front tires may do as much as 85 or 90 % of the work to stop the car. The fact that front wheel drive cars stop well despite this handicap is a testament to the engineering that goes into today's automobiles and tires.
If you need to pull a heavy trailer, you should also be aware that rear wheel drive allows for a greater towing capacity than front wheel drive.
What about all-wheel-drive (4-wheel-drive) vehicles?
The best traction in adverse weather conditions can be had with all-wheel-drive vehicles. All-wheel-drive passenger cars and station wagons, in fact, handle as well as, if not better than many rear drive cars and are as safe and predictable during everyday driving situations as front wheel drive cars. The only disadvantages are initial cost and the fact that they tend to be expensive to repair. Some examples of all-wheel-drive passenger cars are the Audi Quattro, Subaru Outback & Impreza & Jaguar X-Type. Chrysler and Mazda, among others, also make all-wheel-drive mini-vans.
Well really now i know a lot about Rear Wheel & front Wheel Drive Vehicles..
My Nissan Bluebird is a Front Wheel Drive Car.
So u guys what u prefer ?
Are Suzuki ALTO, MEHRAN, BALENO, KHYBER & CULTUS all front wheel drive ?
What about Honda Civic & Toyota Corolla..? Are they front wheel too..??