Say, it's snowing and I'm parking my FWD car (Honda, if it matters) on my relatively flat driveway. Does it matter if I pull my car forward into the spot or back it in? Is one more efficient than the other for getting out of my driveway with a FWD vehicle in the snow?
Posted Feb 13, 2015, 5:23 PM UTC
This is just speculation, but I would think you'd be better off backing in. Since the angle of your driveway will tilt your car towards the drive wheels and put a bit more of the weight on them. Probably a negligible difference, but it's something.
Backing in means you have less chance of getting stuck backing out. Momentum is important when driving in snow.
Doesn't matter if you wake up earlier and you own a shovel.
I do plan on shoveling, but getting out has still been a bit difficult due to the record snow in MA.
I am a bit late to the party but, you should always back into your driveway if there is a lot of snow. If the banks next to your driveway are high enough that they block your view of the road, you will not have to pull out as far to see if there are on coming cars. Backing in is safer for you and cars driving down your road. This is more important than being able to make it through the snow at the end of your driveway.
Plus backing in allows your back wheels to compact the snow for better traction with your drive wheels.
Personal preference. No matter what, it's the same tires and same engine. Your reverse gear will be a different ratio than first, but that's a negligible difference.
Thanks! An engineer relative told me never to back in when there's snow- he thought the front wheels would be more successful pushing the car out of the space than pulling if there is snow on the ground. I was having a hard time finding an answer by googling and was curious since half the cars in my apartment lot parked forward and the other half backed in.