eli5 fwd and rwd, What’s the difference between these two types of cars
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Not an expert, also not a 5 year old (I hope I qualify):
* FWD (Front Wheel Drive) – The engine, is mechanically connected to the front wheels. When you press the gas pedal the engine attempts to spin the front wheels.
* Pros: The wheels you steer with are actively trying to “pull” the vehicle in the direction they are pointed (useful in snow and low traction situations). Front-wheel drive has less components than any other drivetrain setup, making the vehicle lighter and improving its gasoline mileage.
* Cons: Front-wheel drive tends to have a lower towing capacity than rear-wheel or 4WD/AWD drivetrains. In a similar vehicle, acceleration in FWD is slower than RWD.
* RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) – The engine is mechanically connected to the rear wheels. When you press the gas pedal the engine attempts to spin the front wheels.
* Pros: Towing large loads is easier since the wheels doing the pulling are located closer to the load. Acceleration. Better for drifting 😉 Slightly lower maintenance costs due to a simpler “mechanism and more space.
* Cons: Potential to “spin out” in low friction conditions (Snow, Ice, rain), slightly heavier.
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