The notion that front-wheel drive cars are not as fun to drive as rear-wheel drive cars is rapidly losing validity, as chassis, steering and suspension-tuning techniques have come a long way since the days of Citroen Traction Avant.
In fact, when you really want to press on, especially on roads that are anything but straight, a modern FWD hot hatch can even be more fun than a RWD equivalent, if by more fun you mean faster into the bends and faster out, with no tail-out drama.
Perhaps, a few decades ago, the arguments for and against buying one or the other may have had more resonance and been more truthful, as the gap between the drivetrains had a noticeable effect on the road manners, but now, in the age when BMW makes a front-driven minivan, you ought to know that things have changed.
It could be because all modern cars are so sanitized that it’s hard to gauge their different behaviors at times when you’re not at the handling limit…
Besides, if we stick to the modern hot hatch argument, then oversteer is not out of the question at all, as I’m sure you’re aware some cars like the two ST Fords or Peugeot’s 208 GTi are known to offer the kind of sideways fun not usually associated with their kind – some older hot hatches do it too, like the Renault Clio 182.
So which will it be? Pick your preferred option in the poll below, and do share a comment if you’d like to tell us which car it was that prompted your decision.
4 Poll options: FWD, RWD, AWD, Other Things Matter to me…
By Andrei Nedelea
Poll: Which drive layout do you prefer?