In NYC, FWD cars just don't have the longevity of a RWD platform. I believe its due to constant abuse by mulitple drivers, the RWD's just hold up better. We have no AWD's that I am aware of, on patrol that is. U/C cars we have some, but they are CAT 1 cars (take home) for the most part and have one driver and no patrol abuse.
The best FWD car we have had, IMO are the current Impala's. We first started using FWD in 1981. I was in Midtown South Pct (MTS) and we got 2 K-Cars, brandie new. My partner and I got one and the adjoining sector got the other. The other sector was out of service before the end of the tour. The following day, we were all back in our Plymouth's with 80 k on the odometers as both K's were out of service. They left for central repair, never to be seen again.