Comments on: Front, Rear and Four Wheel Drive

By: paul simpson

paul simpson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:55:10 +0000

@ John Boutwood. Thta’s because the S type jag is REAR WHEEL DRIVE. Last year withthe snow in Northern Ireland I put 4 bags of coal in the boot of my wife’s S type and it DIDNt make a bit of difference. She still struggled to drive it, – I got into my Toyota Avensis and drove like it was a normal days driving.

By: Mr Butterscotch

Mr Butterscotch — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:22:48 +0000

Hi Mrs Fletcher,

Thanks for the feedback. It’s worth noting that a BMW with decent tyres can manage in poor conditions and like you say adding weight will help.

By: Mrs Fletcher

Mrs Fletcher — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:20:00 +0000

My rear wheel drive BMW saloon will go in all weathers, all
I do is put some weight in the boot and away we go. No scarry lost
everything moments like the front wheel drives I have had in the
past. The only thing that stops it is the depth of snow.

By: John Boutwood

John Boutwood — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 10:29:10 +0000

Why is the Jag S Type so bad in the snow?

By: Dave Booth

Dave Booth — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:18:54 +0000

Try fitting winter tyres to front wheel drive cars, it makes a massive difference when driving in snow. My ford focus was transformed in the bad weather when I changed the silly low profile things it was fitted with to a set of winter tyres. It wasn’t quite as good as a real four wheel drive vehicle but it was as good, if not better, than some of the toy ones, chav 4s and the like.

By: Mr Butterscotch

Mr Butterscotch — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:24:56 +0000

Andy, I completely agree with the rear wheel drive thing in snow. However, when the conditions are good, rear wheel drive cars are much better dynamically!

By: Mr Butterscotch

Mr Butterscotch — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:24:39 +0000

Hi Julie – first things first. Torque steer is when the power going to the front wheels overwhelms them, and the car steers (through torque) left or right.

Re tips, I think the greatest thing I can recommend is to make sure you do everything slower than you’d normally. Otherwise, try to avoid journeys completely if you can. Unless you have a 4×4 there’s really no way to be completely sure you’ll get home at night in the current weather we’re facing.

By: andy nimmo

andy nimmo — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:34:16 +0000

hi,i have a lexus is 250 rear wheel drive,and to say its been a challenge is a understatement, the snow has made driving a rear wheel car a nightmare,the back end kicks out at the slightest of icey or cold conditions

By: Julie Hunt

Julie Hunt — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:54:22 +0000

Please explain – what is torque steer?

I have an Astra estate [2007] & it hasn’t been good to drve in the icy conditions occurring of late – wheels spin on the slightest of inclines and skidding with the lightest of braking. I’ve driven very carefully and kept to low gear going downhill & as high as poss [usually 2nd] going uphill when conditions are slippy. Any tips?