What makes a Volvo RWD system unique from most other rear wheel drive cars?? Topic is solved

[CIK7]

Almost anyone knows that rwd is not as good as fwd when it comes to snow or mud. And anyone that has only a small amount of Volvo probably knows they originated in Sweden, where winter weather can be crazy. My dad told me not to get stuck on the way to broken bow (I was selling Volvo parts) because RWD is not as good as fwd. What is it that sets the Volvo (9 series) RWD apart from most other 90s RWD cars such as Chevy Impala, Crown Victoria, BMW, Jaguar, etc? Obviously Volvo has Winter mode (starts off in 2nd gear) but that's on FWD models too.

[volvolugnut]

My input (having never owned a 9 series Volvo). Rear wheel drive is not bad if the weight is biased over the rear wheels. My old 240 series wagons did well in ice and snow if they had a little weight added to the rear. With chains on the rear, they would go until the snow in front was too deep to drive over. Their design seemed to already have more than usual rear weight. As always on ice and snow, never exceed the tire grip starting, stopping or turning.
volvolugnut

[CIK7]

Anyone else? Someone that owns a 9 series?

[June]

960 has independent rear suspension rather then a solid axle and all were limited slip standard. The Ford and Chevrolet you mentioned have solid axle assembly and few had limited slip as it was optional. June

[abscate]

Old thread.

The drivers. People with higher IQ don’t get stuck because they drive like adults

[volvolugnut]

Dang, The fun police have arrived on the scene.



volvolugnutr

[abscate]

960 has independent rear suspension rather then a solid axle and all were limited slip standard.

You should listen to Mom on Car Fora, because they know what’s good for you.

June nailed this, above

[WGFP]

The drivers. People with higher IQ don’t get stuck because they drive like adults

Limited-slip (for the 900s, I think), 50/50 balance, and a tendency towards manual transmissions may have a lot to do with it, but the words above are probably the biggest factor.

My every-day driver for years was a 1959 Ford, including 4 years in Vermont and 4 more in the Dakotas. Rear wheel drive, conventional diff, all-season tires, 3-speed manual, and relatively light car by today's standards (3,300lbs). The only time I got stuck was driving on I-89 when we got hit with a sudden clear-ice storm. Even then I was doing fine until I stopped to check on a 4x4 that had gone off the road into the trees. When I got out, I found I couldn't even walk across the road in boots due to the bank for the turn - I had to get down on all 4s. Footprints in the snow told me the driver was OK and had walked off into town. When I got back I couldn't get the car moving from the shoulder. I followed the other driver's path about 3 or 4 miles into town, put a dime in the phone, set up a AAA tow, and then enjoyed a meal and some coffee in a diner until the trucks had time to clear the roads.

That said, when I was in my very early 20s, I put in a good bit of less-than-mature driving time in automatic V8 Crown Vics in snow and ice at without getting stuck, and most of them didn't have a limited-slip diff. Probably/definitely more luck than skill.

[Vauxi]

I've had all of my driving years nothing but rwd volvos as my winter car. 240, 940 and 960. 960 is the most easiest car of those to drive in winter. You can get stuck of course if you dont know how to drive in winter. But how 960 behaves in slippery conditions is very smooth sailing. No sudden things(if not asked to do so), slides start slowly and car tends to straighten itself up. So driver has to to drive in slide to keep it in. Very soft turbine in the gearbox makes car slow ish but at the same time it makes it very easy to control the acceleration at the edge of the available grip. Winter mode is completely useless. G80 locker is bad but when it grabs it is ok.

I hope my new s80 purchase is better in every way what the 960 was.

[CIK7]

I did not get ANY notifications about the responses after 2021. I stumbled over here. LOL Please dont charge me with a DUI.