Quote:
Originally Posted by mdm
Some people say that in case of loss of control FWD is easier to save by an inexperienced driver, i.e. that instictive reactions of an inexperienced person lead to better outcomes in an FWD... I am not sure if this is entirely true... I mean FWD is more prone to power-understeer, and instinctive braking may shift weight to the front wheels and restore traction. Not sure though if it is any true IRL.
What I believe is true is that the result of applying to much power in a turn is generally safer in FWD than in RWD - you exit the road front end first as opposed to sideways. It's better to hit a pole or a tree with the front bumper than with passenger or driver door.
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All of that is true. In the hands of an experienced driver, however, you exit the road much less in a RWD car..
A FWD will get you moving from a stop easier, no matter who you are. After that, an experienced driver in a RWD has a lot more control and is safer than an experienced or inexperienced driver in a FWD. To be honest, I personally feel/felt more secure in my FR-S/325i than I do/did in my wife's AWD ML500/430; when the vehicle slides, the RWD cars do EXACTLY what I tell them to do. The AWD is a little less predictable. The best of all worlds was my '93 Range Rover LWB, but only because it almost never got even a little out of control. My wife did manage to spin it on ice once.