I too would always choose a RWD car over a FWD.
So, I agree if you "overcook" it in a FWD car, you get understeer - true - but it's the reason FOR that understeer that is the problem. If it's simply carrying too much speed into a bend, then lifting off will cause the weight to shift forward, and then you get "Snap oversteer" - which unless you are very quick will spin you round like a top - most modern stability systems do mitigate this a degree. However if it's plough on understeer caused by too much power applied, then the sliding wheels are also the wheels you are trying to steer with. A reduction in power then can cause the wheels to stop spinning - quite often the driver has wound too much lock on... and hey presto it's spin time again. Again the modern traction controls will deal with this well.
In a RWD car, the steering isn't corrupted by having to transmit the power as well. Most modern Stability systems will cut power / apply single wheel braking to stabilise this long before the driver has a major issue. Also, usually oversteer will be caused by too much power which again you can dial back - but as the rear wheels have already lost traction, usually lifting off will cause a slide, but a much less "snappy" one - and more easily controlled.
With modern cars it doesn't really matter a jot, Stability controls will deal with most events pretty well. Less weight on the front (ICE cars) means steering needs less power assistance on RWD than FWD so the steering is often more "feelsome" and thus much nicer to drive - but I am not sure how true that is on EV's - but you won't get torque steer on a RWD car unlike a FWD.
And for winter - yes I think a RWD EV will probably be much the same as a FWD except again you aren't corrupting the front tyres by trying to get them to cope with all the power AND all the steering - but you can't beat all seasons tyres come November, that is undeniable - I've towed Discovery's on road tyres out of snow or fields with my old ML500 - because I had All Terrain Tyres on 12 months of the year.
But which would I buy? RWD every single time given a choice.
Hmmmm...
So, I agree if you "overcook" it in a FWD car, you get understeer - true - but it's the reason FOR that understeer that is the problem. If it's simply carrying too much speed into a bend, then lifting off will cause the weight to shift forward, and then you get "Snap oversteer" - which unless you are very quick will spin you round like a top - most modern stability systems do mitigate this a degree. However if it's plough on understeer caused by too much power applied, then the sliding wheels are also the wheels you are trying to steer with. A reduction in power then can cause the wheels to stop spinning - quite often the driver has wound too much lock on... and hey presto it's spin time again. Again the modern traction controls will deal with this well.
In a RWD car, the steering isn't corrupted by having to transmit the power as well. Most modern Stability systems will cut power / apply single wheel braking to stabilise this long before the driver has a major issue. Also, usually oversteer will be caused by too much power which again you can dial back - but as the rear wheels have already lost traction, usually lifting off will cause a slide, but a much less "snappy" one - and more easily controlled.
With modern cars it doesn't really matter a jot, Stability controls will deal with most events pretty well. Less weight on the front (ICE cars) means steering needs less power assistance on RWD than FWD so the steering is often more "feelsome" and thus much nicer to drive - but I am not sure how true that is on EV's - but you won't get torque steer on a RWD car unlike a FWD.
And for winter - yes I think a RWD EV will probably be much the same as a FWD except again you aren't corrupting the front tyres by trying to get them to cope with all the power AND all the steering - but you can't beat all seasons tyres come November, that is undeniable - I've towed Discovery's on road tyres out of snow or fields with my old ML500 - because I had All Terrain Tyres on 12 months of the year.
But which would I buy? RWD every single time given a choice.
