Which Wheel Drive should you choose near O’Fallon, MO?

Which wheel drive is best for driving near O’Fallon, MO?

When it comes time to shop for your next new or used vehicle, one of the main characteristics to consider is which wheel drive you should get. While there is no wrong answer, each configuration offers a different set of advantages and tradeoffs. If you’re looking for a used car dealership near O’Fallon, MO, visit us at Johnny Londoff Autoplex today. At our used car dealership, you’ll find a great selection of cars, and our knowledgeable sales team would be honored to help you find the right car for you. We have a large inventory with AWD, FWD, and RWD options.

Front Wheel Drive

Front-wheel drive has become the most common setup in the car and crossover segment. One of the key advantages of a car with front-wheel drive, or FWD for short, is the interior space it allows. By powering only the front wheels, you don’t need to have a driveshaft going to the rear wheels, eating up the interior volume. This configuration also packages the engine and transmission into a smaller space so you can move the passenger compartment further forward. Where front-wheel drive is at a disadvantage is in performance driving. When accelerating, weight shifts to the back of the car, reducing the pressure on the front wheels which can result in more wheel spin. Then, when you get to cornering, the front wheels are tasked with turning and getting power down which can overwhelm the tires, leading to understeer or push from the front.

Rear Wheel Drive

Rear-wheel drive, or RWD, is often thought of as the purist’s choice and generally has a performance advantage compared to front-wheel drive. Acceleration increased the weight over the back tires, helping them grip the road better, leading to better acceleration. The front wheels are free to manage turning in the corners while the rear wheels drive you forward. This can lead to a more neutral handling feel. Where RWD takes a hit is generally in interior volume and packaging. Rear-wheel drive can also feel more intimidating in wet or snowing conditions where the tail can slide around more as you try to find traction.

All Wheel Drive

All-wheel-drive, or AWD, sends power to both the front and rear wheels. There are many different ways this can be done, so we’ll focus on the general advantages. The main one is traction. All-wheel drive is king when the road is slippery, allowing for better traction. Some of the highest-performing cars sold these days use all-wheel drive because modern engines use too much for two wheels to handle effectively. The main disadvantages of AWD are complexity and weight. Driving all four wheels requires more parts, increasing complexity. The additional mechanicals add weight and resistance to the drivetrain, which hurts efficiency.