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Quote: Originally posted by Michael Bird on 19/5/2006                     but do not try to convince someone of the advantage of fwd for towing, when rwd is better.

Michael

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    I have had a lot of cars, including sports cars. For racing around, I agree that rear wheel drive is the best for putting power down to the road. That is why in bad weather rear wheel drive cars are not as stable, including wet roads. Depending on your driving skills, you can control a front wheel drive car easily. For all reading this, ask anybody that has a rear wheel drive car what it is like in the wet. The lighter the car the worse it is. I am not telling anybody that front wheel drive is better than rear wheel drive, but for ordinary driving and not racing around it is. Saying that, maybe I have had a driving licence for over 20 years, never had any points or even scratched a car from not knowing how to drive or how cars handle or how to get out of dodgy moments. I do not expect to have people telling me I am trying to give wrong advice. No offence meant, but I know from experience of myself and many others that I know that have had rear wheel drive cars in the past. I suppose Bordercaz is also wrong and giving out false information.

As I said, rear wheel drive gives more traction that is better on hills, especially in the wet. Also on grass especially when wet and in mud. For much lower running costs the diesel has more power.

 I am sorry I do not agree with you, but we were asked for our opinions, not to agree with yours. The Passat tdi will last for 250,000 miles or more if looked after. I have never got stuck yet whilst towing with front wheel drive. Maybe it is because I know how to drive.

 Rant over

 Alan

I would go for the Passat in a second.

well Alan, I agree with you that we are all entitled to our opinions, and I stand by mine.  I too have a lot of driving experience, 39 years in all.  25 years of towing, boats, caravans, and heavy horse trailers.  25 years of driving EVERY winter in Austria and Switzerland, in front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, four wheel drive, with summer tyres + snow chains, and with winter tyres.  Long long ago, I competed in motor-sport, from karting to rallying,  so I do believe that I have sufficient experience to understand a little of what I am talking about.  I too have owned sports cars, 2 Triumphs, followed by a Lotus, admittedly many years ago. And that is my rant over.

People must buy what ever they are happy and comfortable with.  I still believe that for towing, the order of choice would be (all other things being equal) 4wd, rwd, fwd.

Have a great time whatever you decide.

Michael

 Well at least we agree on one thing. 4wd is the best . I do about 25,000 private miles and also drive for a living. The point I was trying to get across was that front wheel drive pulls the car along solo, rear wheel drive wants the back end to overtake the front. The bigger the engine, the better front wheel drive is.

 We were at a meet last weekend. The owner of the site asked me if I had a 4 wheel drive motor as our pitch was at the top of a steep hill made of gravel. Did not ask about front or rear wheel drive . He offered to take our van up with his 4wd motor. There was no need as if you load correct and have faith it will work. If you stop then you have problems. Took the van up no problem.