All I can tell you is that the injury stats on rear wheel drive are usually worse than front wheel drive. Maybe its because front wheel drive traction is considered to be better in bad weather and rear wheel drive is considered to be better in good weather. Since most accidents happen in bad weather maybe front wheel drive ends up having much better safety stats.

For example, in Folksam's ratings, all cars given their 50% safer than average safety rating are front wheel drive. Volvo didn't make this category until they put out a fwd 850. I note on IIHS stats that front wheel drive mini vans usually have far safer stats than rwd SUVs. That may be partly due to the higher rollover rates of SUVs but I don't think that entirely explains the difference. It may also have something to do with being pulled into an accident rather than pushed into one. It may also have something to do with a drivetrain running down the middle of the car. It may also have something to do with more weight in the rear causing more momentum from behind the passengers squeezing the passengers into the object that they are crashing into.

I really do believe there needs to be a serious discussion about fwd vs. rwd especially since some of the luxury car makers are caving in to ratings and opinions from car mag editors. Car mag editors generally have a real bias for rwd because they hate torque steer and because they like a 50/50 weight distribution for handling. I think there is a time and place for both but the time for rwd is in a two seater rear engine car where space is not important and the engine weight is over the driving wheels.

• Aren't you sick of 3 series, irritated, Fri, 20 Oct 2000 06:47:48
  • Nope just traded 94 900S for 01 330i, TB, Thu, 26 Oct 2000 16:11:47
  • Re: Aren't you sick of 3 series, David Mills, Sat, 21 Oct 2000 11:33:06
    • What's wrong with rear wheel drive? n/m, Bill D, Sat, 21 Oct 2000 13:21:07
      • Re: What's wrong with rear wheel drive? n/m, David Mills, Sat, 21 Oct 2000 16:15:03 <-- Viewing This Message
        • My view, Bill D, Sat, 21 Oct 2000 23:22:48
          • Re: My view, David Mills, Sun, 22 Oct 2000 17:44:08
            • you're right the 3 series has bigger interior, chris g., Mon, 23 Oct 2000 08:46:37
              • Re: you're right the 3 series has bigger interior, David Mills, Tue, 24 Oct 2000 20:11:14
            • Re: My view, Bill D, Sun, 22 Oct 2000 19:56:28
              • Re: My view, David Mills, Tue, 24 Oct 2000 20:24:38
  • Re: Aren't you sick of 3 series, riddddge, Fri, 20 Oct 2000 10:07:46
  • Honda Accord of Germany??, nick , Fri, 20 Oct 2000 09:36:30
    • Re: Honda Accord of Germany??, JC, Mon, 23 Oct 2000 18:41:07
  • What I don't like about BMW, Coolknight, Fri, 20 Oct 2000 08:58:03
  • few thoughts..., chris g., Fri, 20 Oct 2000 08:38:18
    • Chris is right...this is sounding like the BMW board..., Richard P., Fri, 20 Oct 2000 11:12:28
      • 2-3 more weeks. i'd like to write a review no flames intended., chris g., Fri, 20 Oct 2000 11:55:56
        • Give us the review once you get the car..., Richard P., Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:33:29
        • This BB should welcome an informed comparision...., REM in Seattle , Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:26:27
          • An ideal garage full of cars would be...., Tim, Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:41:24
            • Re: An ideal garage full of cars would be...., Erik, Fri, 20 Oct 2000 16:37:57
            • Re: An ideal garage full of cars would be...., MJM , Fri, 20 Oct 2000 15:09:33
    • Re: few thoughts..., nick , Fri, 20 Oct 2000 09:41:46

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