With many drivers almost religiously defending their choice in vehicle transmission, it s become something of a raging debate in automotive circles. But has any particular drivetrain actually proven to be functionally superior to the others, or is the typical road user merely going on hearsay? Do people rely on hard facts when having to choose a car as E Type Jaguar For Sale?
For the driving world purists, it s all about torque and who can get to the end of a quarter mile dash with enough time to spare to get out of their car, light a cigarette, and strike a pose before the other racers arrive. James Dean style. But clearly the need for speed has fast and furiously become the least motivating factor when purchasing a vehicle in recent years. The modest FWD has developed a growing, loyal following that seems unlikely to switch allegiances any time soon.
Ever since Mini made FWD commonplace in the 1950s, and Audi Quattro brought attention to AWD in the 1980s, the popularity of these alternatives to RWD automobiles have been gaining steady momentum in the driving public s eye. To the extent that even manufacturers of exclusively RWD automobiles, like BMW, have begun including FWD and AWD alternatives, branded as xDrive by BMW, to their roster.
And like Honda with their preference for making affordable FWD production vehicles, most other manufacturers also stick to one kind of transmission when designing their full range of vehicles. Which might sound like laziness on the part of their design teams, but their actual motivations are purely economical. Vehicle manufacturers have a limited amount of resources for investing into new engine designs. It makes more financial sense for them to keep expanding on the automotive traditions they ve already established, than to, almost literally, try reinventing the wheel.
So, why would a big, well established RWD manufacturer like BMW take the gamble of exploring the development of other drivetrain configurations? Simple. Numbers don t lie. With FWD vehicles accounting for more than half of the automobiles sold per annum, AWDs making up more than a third of the market, and RWDs holding a dismal 10% of the market share, it s easy to see where the big money s to be found.
Compared to RWD and AWD vehicles, with FWDs proving the most cost effective during the production stages, they re able to be more competitively priced at the retail stage as well. Their affordability is what accounts for their huge popularity, with an overwhelming majority of motorists seeming to have a preference for FWD cars these days.
On the contrary, with its engine being expected to power four wheels at a time, AWDs have many more components included in their constructions. Making AWDs relatively overweight when compared to their FWD and RWD competitors. This additional weight is felt in terms of the additional fuel it burns. Which equates to higher costs at purchase and aftermarket. But with manufacturers making constant improvements to their day to day functionality and fuel efficiency, AWDs are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for a growing number of motorists.
Ultimately, when choosing the most suitable drivetrain, it s your daily routine and weather conditions encountered that become the biggest determining factors. So long as you re willing to fork out for a set of snow tires in winter, choosing a FWD vehicle over an AWD one makes negligible difference in a long run. But when compared to a RWD, front wheel drives and all wheel drives still come up trumps for handling well under adverse weather conditions, like in snow or rain.
For the driving world purists, it s all about torque and who can get to the end of a quarter mile dash with enough time to spare to get out of their car, light a cigarette, and strike a pose before the other racers arrive. James Dean style. But clearly the need for speed has fast and furiously become the least motivating factor when purchasing a vehicle in recent years. The modest FWD has developed a growing, loyal following that seems unlikely to switch allegiances any time soon.
Ever since Mini made FWD commonplace in the 1950s, and Audi Quattro brought attention to AWD in the 1980s, the popularity of these alternatives to RWD automobiles have been gaining steady momentum in the driving public s eye. To the extent that even manufacturers of exclusively RWD automobiles, like BMW, have begun including FWD and AWD alternatives, branded as xDrive by BMW, to their roster.
And like Honda with their preference for making affordable FWD production vehicles, most other manufacturers also stick to one kind of transmission when designing their full range of vehicles. Which might sound like laziness on the part of their design teams, but their actual motivations are purely economical. Vehicle manufacturers have a limited amount of resources for investing into new engine designs. It makes more financial sense for them to keep expanding on the automotive traditions they ve already established, than to, almost literally, try reinventing the wheel.
So, why would a big, well established RWD manufacturer like BMW take the gamble of exploring the development of other drivetrain configurations? Simple. Numbers don t lie. With FWD vehicles accounting for more than half of the automobiles sold per annum, AWDs making up more than a third of the market, and RWDs holding a dismal 10% of the market share, it s easy to see where the big money s to be found.
Compared to RWD and AWD vehicles, with FWDs proving the most cost effective during the production stages, they re able to be more competitively priced at the retail stage as well. Their affordability is what accounts for their huge popularity, with an overwhelming majority of motorists seeming to have a preference for FWD cars these days.
On the contrary, with its engine being expected to power four wheels at a time, AWDs have many more components included in their constructions. Making AWDs relatively overweight when compared to their FWD and RWD competitors. This additional weight is felt in terms of the additional fuel it burns. Which equates to higher costs at purchase and aftermarket. But with manufacturers making constant improvements to their day to day functionality and fuel efficiency, AWDs are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for a growing number of motorists.
Ultimately, when choosing the most suitable drivetrain, it s your daily routine and weather conditions encountered that become the biggest determining factors. So long as you re willing to fork out for a set of snow tires in winter, choosing a FWD vehicle over an AWD one makes negligible difference in a long run. But when compared to a RWD, front wheel drives and all wheel drives still come up trumps for handling well under adverse weather conditions, like in snow or rain.
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