All wheel drive v. rear wheel drive in DC winters?

[Anonymous]

I’ve had several RWD BMWs and sports cars as my only car in the DC area since 2008 with no problem. I have a flexible schedule so I’m never on the road when there’s more than 3 inches of snow on the ground and always make sure I have good all season or winter tires. Don’t get caught in winter weather with summer tires and you’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

I’m from the Midwest close to the Canadian border and still wouldn’t think AWD is necessary for most. We don’t get bad weather here to warrant it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from the Midwest close to the Canadian border and still wouldn’t think AWD is necessary for most. We don’t get bad weather here to warrant it.

+1

This thread is incredible. People know so little about cars, tires, and how to drive. RWD struggles in the rain?! Wow. No. That means you have bad tires.

I inherited a RWD Volvo when I was a college kid in Vermont. After college I lived in Buffalo. I put on really good tires and I was easily able to make it to my ski instructor job every day.

For people who can't be bothered to ensure that decent tires are on their vehicles, I guess AWD provides a bit of help. But as a PP said, if you have crap tires on your car, AWD only helps so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at buying a new car, rear wheel drive is standard... 2K extra for all wheel drive. Seems like we don't get much snow any more, but we do get some I guess.

Worth it to spend more for AWD or stick w RWD?

RWD will be awful in snowy and mixed precipitation weather. If you are aware of this and can plan around it you will be ok. Plenty of RWD cars on the road but they are the ones struggling most when conditions are bad.

One of the most absurd things posted here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d never buy a RWD vehicle in this area as my only/main car.

Me either. Front wheel drive is fine. Almost never need all wheel drive.

But rear wheel? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at buying a new car, rear wheel drive is standard... 2K extra for all wheel drive. Seems like we don't get much snow any more, but we do get some I guess.

Worth it to spend more for AWD or stick w RWD?

RWD will be awful in snowy and mixed precipitation weather. If you are aware of this and can plan around it you will be ok. Plenty of RWD cars on the road but they are the ones struggling most when conditions are bad.

One of the most absurd things posted here.

?? No it’s not. A stick makes them better but they still suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at buying a new car, rear wheel drive is standard... 2K extra for all wheel drive. Seems like we don't get much snow any more, but we do get some I guess.

Worth it to spend more for AWD or stick w RWD?

RWD will be awful in snowy and mixed precipitation weather. If you are aware of this and can plan around it you will be ok. Plenty of RWD cars on the road but they are the ones struggling most when conditions are bad.

One of the most absurd things posted here.

?? No it’s not. A stick makes them better but they still suck.

Cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at buying a new car, rear wheel drive is standard... 2K extra for all wheel drive. Seems like we don't get much snow any more, but we do get some I guess.

Worth it to spend more for AWD or stick w RWD?

RWD will be awful in snowy and mixed precipitation weather. If you are aware of this and can plan around it you will be ok. Plenty of RWD cars on the road but they are the ones struggling most when conditions are bad.

One of the most absurd things posted here.

?? No it’s not. A stick makes them better but they still suck.

That's not even remotely true (except for the part about a stick). Stick a big bag of kitty litter in trunk, make sure you're not running summer tires, modulate the throttle appropriately, and you're golden.

The cars that struggle most in the snow and mixed precipitation are the Nissan Altimas with tires down to the cords and the gigantic SUVs that give their owners a false sense of security.

[Anonymous]

I have a RWD car and there are definitely days when I can’t use it due to ice. The ice is more of a problem in this area than snow. I got stuck this past winter trying to pull out of my drive on an icy morning. There is a slight incline at the end of the drive and my rear wheels got stuck. Took my DH, a neighbor (both pushing the back of my car) some pea gravel (for traction under the wheels) and about 20 minutes to get my car out. I’ve had the car 10 years and I’ll drive it until it’s done, but I won’t get a RWD again.

Just get the AWD.

[Anonymous]

Not much difference between RWD and AWD on ice with tires not suited to the weather conditions. No difference at all when braking. But keep trying to convince yourselves that AWD is magic.

Signed, owner of Audi Quattro

[Anonymous]

Agree, AWD or FWD never RWD for me.

[Anonymous]

If you are buying an SUV, AWD is almost expected for resale as that is something most would be included as standard.

Save the RWD for sport sedans and sports cars. I’ve only ever driven RWD cars and have never had a problem with the weather on this area. You just can’t have summer tires. I even drove through snowmageddon with my RWD sport sedan with wide rear tires and a manual while everyone abandoned their cars.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Last post hit it on the nose. It’s apparently a big hit to resale for a car to be RWD if AWD is available. So, as it looks like I can recoup all or most of the 2k spent on AWD later on, seems like an easy choice even if the safety improvement isn’t at 100% sure thing (tho still likely).