I'm 17, I have a 2000 maxima from my parents thats really being shared between my sister and I. She ends up getting it so im really interested in the nissan 300zx. My parents don't like the idea of a rwd car because they claim they're too hard to control in the rain. I argue better tires would fix that enough. Can anyone back me up that rwd isn't that bad or do u think i should stick with another maxima even though i want the 300zx more?

 

high performance driver a FWD sports sedan will indeed inherently be safer and more predictable than a high-powered RWD car -particularly one with IRS.

On a normal FWD car, if u enter a corner too hot and let off the throttle mid-turn, the front end will immediately 'tuck' towards the inside of the corner -provided just enter so hot that you just fly off the apex to begin with- while a RWD, IRS car will tend to swap corners pretty quickly.

In short, I think the 300zx is far too much car for your driving experience or better said, lack thereof

 

The max is actually faster.

 

Well I figure i've been driving for over a year now and you have to learn sometime anyway. Also about the RWD, I figure it can't be that bad if so many people have it.

 

get AWD then.

i.e. 3000GT VR4.

 

Depends where you live also. By the way, must be rough even having these options at age 17. I would take either of those cars. I love my max.

 

If you live in a snowbound region, stick FWD. Especially if you've only been driving for a year. One year is not a lot of experience...not to put you down or anything... but stick FWD if you can.

All it would take is to go into a wet/icy turn and give it a little too much gas and next thing you know, you're facing traffic... how quickly can you turn your car around without spinning your wheels, or doing another 180?

Get some more experience under your belt and maybe RWD would be good for you

 

wow. couldn't disagree more. the only thing better about FWD is much better traction in deep snow. in slippery or icy conditions I would teach countersteering in a RWD car in a flash. My kids race karts and they learned to countersteer out of a spin at the age of 7. FWD is of no benefit in slippery/icy conditions in my opinion. FWD vs RWD in rain is a non-issue in my book. That said, no way does a 17 year old belong in a 300ZX--whether it's FWD, RWD or AWD! You want rear wheel drive? have the folks buy you a Volvo 240 series (preferably a 245).

 

Well I can tell you that FWD handles a hell of a lot better here in Chicago than any RWD. I have a Max and a Vette. No comparison. The kid needs to have a FWD if he lives in a region with snow. No question.