Is AWD oversold?

[Klackamas]

I'm watching this in disbelief.

Where's "the brains of the car make 800,000,000 calculations a second, transfer power to the wheel with the most traction and off you go?"

Yes, I know there's mechanical systems also involved, so it's slower, but AWD is not what it's advertised, is it? Or am I missing something?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILJh3IPgXN4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at9MBPhpJAQ


http://www.subaruofkeene.com/subaru-all-wheel-drive.htm     


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpp5tW71qYI


I'm not endorsing any of them. The last one is long (in a slavic language I think), but it's pretty good.
Maybe they all perform OK under their own factory stilted positions.

[2o6]

Those videos don't really prove anything

[GoCougs]

Any such videos are carefully crafted IMO to play to a particular car's strengths or weaknesses.

There are many iterations of AWD and particular power split - how, when, magnitude, response.

The first video shows the G37x (AWD) not moving with the rear wheels on rollers. I can confirm however the G37x's snow and wet road traction/performance is excellent (and I drive a lot in both).

[12,000 RPM]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

[GoCougs]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

Nope, not at all.

[Rupert]

Aye, drive wheels are important. You can get by with few issues with a lightweight RWD car, yes, but FWD or any kind of AWD or a good AWD are going to be better (in order of betterness, even). Does that mean you "need" AWD in a place with snow? No, of course not.

[Laconian]

Any such videos are carefully crafted IMO to play to a particular car's strengths or weaknesses.

There are many iterations of AWD and particular power split - how, when, magnitude, response.

The first video shows the G37x (AWD) not moving with the rear wheels on rollers. I can confirm however the G37x's snow and wet road traction/performance is excellent (and I drive a lot in both).

Yeah, but if you drove on rollers, you'd know how much it suckssss.

[AutobahnSHO]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

A true 4wd with locked diff and bald tires will be better in snow than rwd and best snow tires available.

[Rupert]

That's not true either. You've got to stop and turn somehow.

[CALL_911]

A true 4wd with locked diff and bald tires will be better in snow than rwd and best snow tires available.

No chance

[Eye of the Tiger]

Snow mobiles stop and turn, and they only have one wheel drive. 

[Rupert]

So just put a mat trax thing on one wheel and take off the opposing wheel?

[giant_mtb]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

Nah.

[280Z Turbo]

Yeah, 4WD is a big deal in the snow. It obviously doesn't matter when you're braking, but being able to accelerate efficiently is also a safety issue.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah, 4WD is a big deal in the snow. It obviously doesn't matter when you're braking, but being able to accelerate efficiently is also a safety issue.

You can adjust for braking and turning regardless of tires (as we all do all the time for varying conditions), but if you can't even move (or more importantly, keep moving)...you're, ya know, stuck.

[MrH]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

Um, no. Good try.

BRZ even on blizzaks is a disaster in the snow. Can't get any starting traction.

[giant_mtb]

Um, no. Good try.

BRZ even on blizzaks is a disaster in the snow. Can't get any starting traction.

Sandbags in trunk.

[MX793]

Um, no. Good try.

BRZ even on blizzaks is a disaster in the snow. Can't get any starting traction.

Sounds like a personal problem.  I ran 5 winters in Upstate NY in a 240SX on all-seasons.  Wasn't ideal, but hardly a disaster.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Sounds like a personal problem.  I ran 5 winters in Upstate NY in a 240SX on all-seasons.  Wasn't ideal, but hardly a disaster.

I ran really crappy, used, generic all-seasons on a 2wd pickup through a Maine and Michigan winter.  The world almost ended.  J/k, it wasn't a problem.

[MrH]

Just a few inches of packed snow on the highway. Stop and go traffic. BRZ got stuck on a slight incline. A bunch of CRVs and Rav4s on all seasons were giving me the weirdest looks

[Rupert]

Some Subaru.

[MrH]

That's why I'm selling it. Not golden retriever or lesbian friendly at all. The car is a total imposter.

[2o6]

How the fuck have you had so many snow issues when you guys get 2/3 the snow of Columbus, and 1/4 the snow of Cleveland?

[giant_mtb]

How the fuck have you had so many snow issues when you guys get 2/3 the snow of Columbus, and 1/4 the snow of Cleveland?

Be careful.  You say shit like that too long and people get upset for calling them out on silly choices about snow tires.

[Xer0]

Last year we had an incredibly shitty and snowy winter in Chicago and I had no problems with the Si on performance all seasons that aren't rated well for the snow..  I'm sure it would be better with AWD, but I think people might put too much emphasis on the system.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SJ_GTI]

People who are serious about snow traction switch to the tires appropriate for the job. Once that's done drive wheels are largely irrelevant.....

Snow tires definitely help more than AWD, but it doesn't make AWD irrelevant IMHO. AWD is still better at taking off and cornering in the snow even with snow tires on both.

[Speed_Racer]

Snow tires definitely help more than AWD, but it doesn't make AWD irrelevant IMHO. AWD is still better at taking off and cornering in the snow even with snow tires on both.

Hills, too. My parent's SX4 has snow-tires and switchable AWD. There's a noticeable difference with AWD on vs. off, mainly sometimes they can't get up their driveway without AWD engaged.

[AutobahnSHO]

That's why I'm selling it. Not golden retriever or lesbian friendly at all. The car is a total imposter.

shoulda got the Scion

[giant_mtb]

Hills, too. My parent's SX4 has snow-tires and switchable AWD. There's a noticeable difference with AWD on vs. off, mainly sometimes they can't get up their driveway without AWD engaged.

Yup. My mom's FWD Explorer was a big PITA for her last winter, even with snow tires. It did just fine in normal day to day winter driving, but the FWD becomes a big limiting factor when starting up hills, climbing hills, anything to do with hills, and deep snow or slush.  Stuff like merging or pulling onto the highway becomes a bitch, too. I mean, everyone adjusts to winter acceleration distances during the winter, but fuck does it suck when you're sitting there in a 2WD spinning trying to get onto the highway (or get through any intersection for that matter) before the cars coming have to slow down for you. 

[BimmerM3]

Yup. My mom's FWD Explorer was a big PITA for her last winter, even with snow tires.

Huh, I hadn't realized that they switched to FWD/AWD instead of RWD/4x4.