2wd vs awd in snow

[b*saint]

I've yet to come across a normal situation where a lsd 2wd bmw with snowies will get stuck over a awd subaru. Is awd overhyped or what? I mean unless you're in a ditch and in that case most awd cars won't get out anyways either.

I'm putting this out there because I maybe getting a job where instead of servicing equipment nationwide, I would just be regional. That means I need a car that's kick ass in snow. My car now doesn't has an open differential but with snow tires and traction control, my BMW has yet to get stuck and the deepest I've been through is about 8 - 9"

Its already kind of a beater so I was going to throw an LSD in it, the normal ride height springs, put some wicked rally snow tires on it and have it as a wintermobile, and get a nicer car for nicer weather.

[bimmerboy08]

my 325i with an lsd and snow tires has also yet to get stuck, so I'm behind your idea 100%.

[slammin.e28]

My e28 does great in the snow. It had the 3,25 LSD last time I drove in snow with it, and it wasn't slammed.

My e46 330i does alright with Conti DWS tires (e46s never came with an LSD, unless it's an ///M3). It'd do way better if it had an LSD though.

My mom has an e46 325xi. It's fucking awesome. I was blasting through 9 inches, unplowed, this morning to get to work with it. Fuck yeah.

I think it's all in the tires and the driver. I drove my e46 with Summer tires in a huge snow storm a few years ago in PA. 6am, had to be to work at 7. It wasn't fun, but I got there, just in time to wave to the plows as they drove by. AWD definitely is a bonus, especially coming from driving both a non-xi and an xi BMW. I can tell you there is a huge difference. (I know they're not e30s, but it's the same concept.)

I like your thinking. I was passing Jeeps and Scubies in the ditch yesterday in my 330i.

Tires, tires, tires. :hitler:

[MikeDE]

I drive my 318i touring, non-LSD, with these tires and haven't gotten stuck....despite being occasionally careless.



It also does very well in the snow in general.

[lolcantturn]

I completely agree with your theory 10000% percent.

I've seen people just drop their jaw when I get out of my parking spot in my LSD E30, everyone is shoveling their car for at least an hour and I simply plow out.
I've only gotten stuck once, and even then I could just go in reverse and go forward again. I see other cars try the same with AWD and their open diffs just dig into the snow and create a huge fucking trench that they'll never get out of. And I have the baldest tires ever

It's kind of overhyped. I mean, there were 2 public works truck with 4WD and a 4WD Highlander stuck in the same patch of snow that I just got my sister's FWD Honda Fit out of. They needed a bulldozer to get their trucks out.

[Erik j]

While it does come down to your tires. AWD does indeed make a nice change. The car is more predictable in the snow, when you hit the gas it just goes, no slidding around or anything. I have never gotten my iX stuck before. Even in 14 inches of snow it pushed right past it all. But I have also never gotten stuck in any of my 2wds, but have never taken them into snow deeper than 2 inches.

[//MPower]

In winter conditions, tires are more important that drivetrain layout.

RWD w/ Snow Tires > AWD w/ All-Seasons

I put about 150lbs in the trunk of my e30 with Blizzak WS-60s and it's an absolute beast in the snow. The main thing is the advantage when braking and turning. AWD isn't going to make your car stop any faster.

[jasonsnoddy]

awd just makes up for bad driving skills.

[BillBrasky]

It's a total difference between not getting stuck and completely owning the roads. The last 3 winters I've been driving my 325ix with Nokian Hakkkkkaaaaapppppllllittttas. This winter, I put those same tires on my rwd e30 and while it is still very hard to get stuck, it just isn't as much fun in the snow overall. If all you're after is not getting stuck, then rwd w/LSD and snow tires will do just fine.

[SpoolnDaapex]

I agree. I drive a subaru in the winter and the open diffs are a joke. My friend almost put it into a pole because he gave it gas to get the rear end to slip out and then it takes power away from the rear so you just have a rear end sliding around like a fwd car. I haven't driven a rwd with an lsd but id imagine it would be much better and more predictable.

[blefevre]

I disagree 100%. The is from owning a FWD, RWD, RWD w/LSD, Winter tires, and AWD and 4WD.

If you live in a relativly flat region, sure anything is just fine and you won't notice the difference from AWD and RWD. Throw in very steep mountain hills with ice and snow AND stop signs.....it's just a different game.

But if you are ONLY worried about not getting stuck then RWD with winter tires will get you from point A to B...eventually.

[Fidhle007]

I've gotten stuck WAAAAAY more in my IX then in my IS back when I drove both in snow regularly. The IX had four studded snows too...


I think I have to chalk that up to pilot error though, I had a bad habit of doubling speed limits on unplowed roads simply because I could and boy could I! Right up until I couldn't...

I live up a rather steep hill that's last on the list to get plowed by my town so for me, the extra two wheels is the difference between sipping scotch in front of the fire or sitting by the side of the road a mile from home listening to Deadmau5 for the 19th time while I wait for the plow.

[mamzak]

If you live somewhere where you get like a foot of snow, then 2wd is just fine... but if you live up with us canucks, you'll most likely need AWD. When there's 4 feet of snow in a few days, it has nothing to do with the driver.

[Blendercloud]

I disagree 100%. The is from owning a FWD, RWD, RWD w/LSD, Winter tires, and AWD and 4WD.

If you live in a relativly flat region, sure anything is just fine and you won't notice the difference from AWD and RWD. Throw in very steep mountain hills with ice and snow AND stop signs.....it's just a different game.

But if you are ONLY worried about not getting stuck then RWD with winter tires will get you from point A to B...eventually.

I've gotten stuck WAAAAAY more in my IX then in my IS back when I drove both in snow regularly. The IX had four studded snows too...


I think I have to chalk that up to pilot error though, I had a bad habit of doubling speed limits on unplowed roads simply because I could and boy could I! Right up until I couldn't...

I live up a rather steep hill that's last on the list to get plowed by my town so for me, the extra two wheels is the difference between sipping scotch in front of the fire or sitting by the side of the road a mile from home listening to Deadmau5 for the 19th time while I wait for the plow.

I agree with these folks. I traded my E46 RWD in for a Mazdaspeed6 for the AWD. The Mazdaspeed AWD is a little different (front-biased) with a 50-50 split under certain conditions. The difference between my E46 with snow tires and the MS6 was night and day (even when the MS6 had the heavily worn stock Potenzas on it).

I've never driven a RWD e30. I can tell you now that with the summer tires that are on my 325iX right now I have already gone places I couldn't go in the Mazdaspeed with a set of all-seasons. The e30 AWD is beastly (if you can find some that work)!

[Mike The Bavarian]

it really just depends on the driver...to a certain extent