To Front Wheel Drive or Not to Front Wheel Drive

To Front Wheel Drive or Not to Front Wheel Drive

(That Is the Question Mount Airy Toyota Wants You to Consider)

Mount Airy Toyota prides itself in giving stellar, expert service when you walk through the door. Mount Airy Toyota wants you to walk out the door with the car or truck that best suits you and your driving needs.

There are countless considerations a customer must ponder when purchasing a vehicle from Mount Airy Toyota: car or truck or SUV, new or used, 2-door or 4-door…and on and on. Another option vehicle buyers must weigh, especially those living in the Mount Airy region, is which of the two main transmission systems is the perfect match for them: front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.

Mount Airy Toyota is not here to tell you if FWD or RWD is best for you. Mount Airy Toyota wants you to be a knowledgable consumer so you can drive off from the lot knowing you got the best service and the prime vehicle in the Carolinas. That is why Mount Airy Toyota wants you to consider the two main available transmission systems for your personal driving needs.

Front Wheel Drive (FWD)

The vast majority of vehicles, including SUVs, use FWD. This is when the engine, the differential, and the transmission provide power to the front wheels.

Advantages of FWD:

·         Increased cargo and passenger space since the powertrain unit is compacted up front.

·         Better fuel economy due to the lighter load of the rest of the vehicle.

·         Increased traction when climbing hilly and mountainous roads.

·         Increased traction when driving in rainy and snowy conditions.

·         Lower vehicle costs because FWD costs less to install on the assembly line.

Like every other aspect of life, FWD is not perfect. Because of the front-loaded transmission, vehicles with FWD don’t handle as well as other transmission systems, especially at higher speeds. FWD systems’ CV joints and half-shafts do not hold up as long as the cast iron of a rear-wheel drive system.

Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

Obviously not as common as FWD, a rear-wheel drive transmission system is what you will find in sports cars, luxury sedans, and pickup trucks.

Advantages:

·         Increased traction when hauling or carrying heavy loads.

·         Enhanced balance and handling at higher rates of speed. See NASCAR!

·         Ruggedness. (Most cop cars and ambulances are RWD.)

A major knock against RWD, and something Mount Airy residents should consider, is the handling and traction during poor weather conditions.

Still not sure which transmission system best suits your driving needs? No worries. Come down to 508 N. Andy Griffith Pkwy and take both for a spin.