After my ding...

[chase]

I have come to the conclusion that the next car i purchase will be a AWD car, but i want to stick to european cars. Throw me some ideas, I have no idea who makes awd, if they're any good and prices. No new audi quattros, too much im afraid :0)

[MichaelH]

Ummm, Volkswagon, an old Audi quattro, 325ix...

[nando]

if you're looking for an older AWD car, the 325ix is a good one. Best AWD system for it's time. Most other cars in the same price range are old, crappy subarus and maybe an older audi 90, but the ix is superior to those in every respect. Stick to 5 speeds, automatic ix's are trouble...

[latinobimmer]

The 80's Toyota Camry's came in AWD versions, with a V6!! Those things are monsters. I think they made a turbo version, if I remember correctly?

[Charlie]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

[ColdAccord]

i just made a similar thread -http://www.r3vlimited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1740

[slammed_e30]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

when did chase say anything like that?

[Charlie]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

when did chase say anything like that?

He didn't chief.

However, his title was "after my ding", so I assume he was in some sort of winter related driving accident, probably due to a loss of control on his part.

Many people I know seem to think that AWD makes the car godly in snow. It does help on accel, but isn't going to save your butt when you're pushing.

-Charlie

[TheyCallMeDale]

ok, lets settle one thing for sure, AWD helps on the snow. You get traction when other times you might not, and thats a good thing no matter what. The only thing is the mindset of people driving, thinking that just because they have 4wd, they can drive jsut like it was a sunny perfect day.

[AndreNY]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

hahaha quote of the day, sooooo untrue

[Charlie]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

hahaha quote of the day, sooooo untrue

Okay captain euro, explain to me how AWD helps braking?

-Charlie

[Werksmini]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

hahaha quote of the day, sooooo untrue

Okay captain euro, explain to me how AWD helps braking?

-Charlie

He didnt say braking, he was talking about turning and braking. You left that part out conviently.

[nando]

Charlie, the ix has a special ABS program for low traction surfaces, so yes it can help a little bit. No, ABS isn't meant to help stopping distances, it's to keep your wheels from locking up so you can continue to steer while braking. Also, your chances of spinning out are MUCH lower in an AWD car, you're more likely to understeer rather than oversteer, but if you keep your speeds within sane levels, that shouldn't be a problem. Yes, a lot of AWD/4WD drivers get too confident in bad weather, but that doesn't mean it's not superior. Even when it's only wet, AWD can help.

I can recall incidents where AWD definetly helped, like when my buddy borrowed my car to go up to Mt Baker. He wasn't speeding (the limit was 50mph), the roads looked clear, but he hit a patch of black ice around a corner and started to slide - however, in the ix, the best thing to do is point the wheel in the direction you want to go, and eventually the car will find enough traction to get back under control (he made it around the corner safely). Of course, if you're going too damn fast, the laws of physics are going to win and you'll crash. that goes for ANY car, AWD or not.

I've driven mostly RWD cars in the snow. The worst was my 67 dart.. too much power, no weight in the back, bad tires. I still made it to work every day, except when the roads were so icy that I couldn't even get it out of the parking spot. I even managed to go up and down some really nasty hills without too much trouble. However, AWD is simply more desireable in such conditions, getting stuck is no fun at all. With some snow tires, the ix would leave an is in the dust in such conditions - there are still limits of course, but they are higher than a RWD car.

4WD is not comparable, since your wheels are all locked together at the same rate, your handling is not as good as a RWD or AWD car (the outside wheels are forced to slide when you turn) but you won't ever get stuck.

So unless you have a lot of experience in an AWD car, don't say it makes no difference. If it didn't, AWD cars wouldn't dominate WRC like they have since Audi introduced the Quattro.

[Charlie]

AWD won't help you turn or stop any better in the snow.

-Charlie

hahaha quote of the day, sooooo untrue

Okay captain euro, explain to me how AWD helps braking?

-Charlie

He didnt say braking, he was talking about turning and braking. You left that part out conviently.

"Turn or stop"

I tend to equate "stop" with braking, but I'm weird like that.

-Charlie

[Charlie]

Charlie, the ix has a special ABS program for low traction surfaces, so yes it can help a little bit. No, ABS isn't meant to help stopping distances, it's to keep your wheels from locking up so you can continue to steer while braking. Also, your chances of spinning out are MUCH lower in an AWD car, you're more likely to understeer rather than oversteer, but if you keep your speeds within sane levels, that shouldn't be a problem. Yes, a lot of AWD/4WD drivers get too confident in bad weather, but that doesn't mean it's not superior. Even when it's only wet, AWD can help.

I can recall incidents where AWD definetly helped, like when my buddy borrowed my car to go up to Mt Baker. He wasn't speeding (the limit was 50mph), the roads looked clear, but he hit a patch of black ice around a corner and started to slide - however, in the ix, the best thing to do is point the wheel in the direction you want to go, and eventually the car will find enough traction to get back under control (he made it around the corner safely). Of course, if you're going too damn fast, the laws of physics are going to win and you'll crash. that goes for ANY car, AWD or not.

I've driven mostly RWD cars in the snow. The worst was my 67 dart.. too much power, no weight in the back, bad tires. I still made it to work every day, except when the roads were so icy that I couldn't even get it out of the parking spot. I even managed to go up and down some really nasty hills without too much trouble. However, AWD is simply more desireable in such conditions, getting stuck is no fun at all. With some snow tires, the ix would leave an is in the dust in such conditions - there are still limits of course, but they are higher than a RWD car.

4WD is not comparable, since your wheels are all locked together at the same rate, your handling is not as good as a RWD or AWD car (the outside wheels are forced to slide when you turn) but you won't ever get stuck.

So unless you have a lot of experience in an AWD car, don't say it makes no difference. If it didn't, AWD cars wouldn't dominate WRC like they have since Audi introduced the Quattro.

I wasn't making reference to a specific car. Yes, the ix has a different ABS setup that sucks a little less in loose surfaces than the standard e30 unit. That being said, both are nothing to write home about. In snow, I just disconnect the ABS sensor.

As I wrote originally, yes, AWD helps you accelerate in loose surfaces, however, it is not going to make the car turn in any better, or stop faster. Tires make the difference there. WRC-spec cars use the benefits of AWD on loose surfaces such as gravel or snow, where yes, it helps putting 320 turbocharged HP & 400 ft/lbs of torque on a short gear ratio down. Just for reference, on most Tarmac Rallys, teams tend to run a 90/10 ~ 95/5 Rear/Front power split.

-Charlie