i am going to be purchasing a 2002 lexus is 300 here in a couple days and i am just curious about its winter driving capabilities since i live in minnesota. ive heard real wheel drive cars are worse in snow, but ive also heard that its really a matter of getting used to driving with the rear wheel drive. im looking for anyone who can help me understand if it will truly be more difficult or if buying some blizzaks or something will take care of any slippery problems.
It massively reduces the cost per unit during the construction stage of car manufacturing, without raising the price anywhere else (ie the engine, transmission and steering can be put in as one unit, not three or four). It also reduces the length the engine bay (and therefore bonnet) due to the different orientation of the engine, clutch and gearbox. All the other reasons are just companies trying to tell potential customers that it's not as bad as it sounds.
In some instances it can give you better traction. Since you have the weight of the engine directly above the wheels, which is good in non-4 wheel drive cars.
any rear wheel drive vehicle is not going to go as good as a front wheel drive or an all wheel drive vehicle,thats been proven more times than we all can count too,but if you get use to a rear wheel drive vehicle you can go in one ,but you will also be the one getting stuck a lot more and loosing control a lot more,front wheel drive vehicles are the best over all for all kinds of driving,there's nothing you can really add to a rear wheel drive vehicle other than extra weigh and good tires that will make it go better in bad weather,good luck.
Practice driving in winter weather: If you're learning to drive, or are unfamiliar with driving in snowy and icy weather conditions, practice after a storm in a large, empty parking lot with a seasoned driver. Practice how to brake safely, learn to get out of a skid, and how your car handles in winter weather. This can actually be a lot of fun! Put a few sandbags directly over the rear axle if--and only if--you have a rear-drive vehicle. This isn't the safest idea. The weight of the sand provides more pressure on tires to provide better traction, but the added weight in the rear of your car decrease maneuverability and braking because the added weight will increase momentum and if too much is added it could sling the rear of the car out in a turn. The sand in the bags could be used to provide traction when you're stuck by pouring some sand in front of the slipping tires. When they're in your car, tie them down if they're in the passenger area so that they don't move or fly around if you do end up swerving. But be very careful when braking if the forces on your car are not equally distributed (e.g. braking while turning), because you will have the tendency to spin backwards. Look ahead and keep a very safe distance from the vehicles in front of you (double the distance you normally would). Keep scanning the vehicles in front of you and look out for brake lights. If you've kept your distance you should be able to bring your vehicle to a stop with distance to spare, instead of having to slam on your brakes and sliding into the vehicles in front of you. Ease up on the gas if your car starts to slip in place while you're trying to accelerate from a standstill. Remember, the wheels have better traction when they are not slipping. If you have an automatic transmission put the selector lever to 2. Most cars lock the transmission in second gear to facilitate easier starting from a slippery surface.
There is no best between the three, it just depends on your driving skills and needs. Four wheel drive is better for gong forward, it will do well on heavy snow and will seem to control in bad conditions. The downside is that it will give you a feeling of superiority and can get many into trouble, you still only have four brakes and four tires, and spinning out is more of a reality. Front wheel drive gives you better force to go through drifts, and once you break the drift you have tires on the ground that turn with the engine, less chance of getting stuck. Rear wheel drive has the easier time getting stuck, but once you know how to react they are more maneuverable and you can use controlled spin to get out of some hairy situations- not something that I would recommend for someone who is not completely sure how to react and control the vehicle. For a new driver, I would say that front wheel drive is the best: going slower than posted speeds and giving yourself plenty of reaction time will make up for the lack of maneuverability, and you are less likely to get into trouble that other forms are prone for.
