Comments on: Is Your 4WD Vehicle Really 4WD? http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/ News For Drivers Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Schwinn http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10659 Schwinn Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:11:52 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10659 So be it... either way, it seems the 2nd gen systems both do a decent job. So be it… either way, it seems the 2nd gen systems both do a decent job.

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10631 Jeff Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:53:52 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10631 The 2nd Gen video shows the Selec-Trac II system, not the Quadra Drive 2 system. The 2nd Gen video shows the Selec-Trac II system, not the Quadra Drive 2 system.

]]> By: Schwinn http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10629 Schwinn Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:17:32 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10629 Agreed, is seems the 2nd gen system works quite well, as evidenced here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJTvDDMKkqo&feature=related Interestingly enough, the Quadra Drive I didn't do so well, as evidenced by this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0bKtjvnM8Y Still, add one more "good" AWD system to the list (Subaru, Audi, and Jeep QD2)... any others? Anyone know of a list which details how much torque a system can deliver to a single wheel/axle? I did find an intersting site here which details every system out there, but it doesn't detail EVERY system's max-wheel-percentage in all examples. Still it's pretty informative: http://www.awd.ee/cars.html Agreed, is seems the 2nd gen system works quite well, as evidenced here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJTvDDMKkqo&feature=related

Interestingly enough, the Quadra Drive I didn’t do so well, as evidenced by this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0bKtjvnM8Y

Still, add one more “good” AWD system to the list (Subaru, Audi, and Jeep QD2)… any others?

Anyone know of a list which details how much torque a system can deliver to a single wheel/axle? I did find an intersting site here which details every system out there, but it doesn’t detail EVERY system’s max-wheel-percentage in all examples. Still it’s pretty informative: http://www.awd.ee/cars.html

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10543 Jeff Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:56:30 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10543 The Jeep Quadra Drive 2 system can deliver 100% of power to a single wheel (and not deliver it to the spinning wheels). The Jeep Quadra Drive 2 system can deliver 100% of power to a single wheel (and not deliver it to the spinning wheels).

]]> By: Schwinn http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10542 Schwinn Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:09:56 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10542 Although my previous post was very "ad-like" for Subaru, I just realized that it doesn't matter, as the point still stands. I was reminded of the validity of the test as I saw a Nissan Murano AWD stuck in his street-parking spot, while I watched his two road-side wheels (front and rear) spinning away, and the vehicle wasn't moving at all. The point of the video is to show that AWD just means that some power can be delivered to all 4 wheels. However, to be really useful, the system must be able to send almost all the power away from one or two slipping wheels. The video shows that Honda, Toyota, and VW use a potentially-pointless version that can't even take the power away from a single wheel, hence the vehicles can't climb. The only other vehicle I know that has a good AWD system is Audi, which (as I have heard) can deliver up to 90% of the engine power to a single wheel - that's probably the best you will ever see. I don't know how Subaru's compares to this (I would love to find out some real tests/facts) but the point remains - AWD is pointless (for adverse weather) unless you can deal with at least a single fully-slipping wheel. As shown in the video, those other vehicles simply don't have a decent AWD system. Although my previous post was very “ad-like” for Subaru, I just realized that it doesn’t matter, as the point still stands.

I was reminded of the validity of the test as I saw a Nissan Murano AWD stuck in his street-parking spot, while I watched his two road-side wheels (front and rear) spinning away, and the vehicle wasn’t moving at all.

The point of the video is to show that AWD just means that some power can be delivered to all 4 wheels. However, to be really useful, the system must be able to send almost all the power away from one or two slipping wheels. The video shows that Honda, Toyota, and VW use a potentially-pointless version that can’t even take the power away from a single wheel, hence the vehicles can’t climb.

The only other vehicle I know that has a good AWD system is Audi, which (as I have heard) can deliver up to 90% of the engine power to a single wheel – that’s probably the best you will ever see. I don’t know how Subaru’s compares to this (I would love to find out some real tests/facts) but the point remains – AWD is pointless (for adverse weather) unless you can deal with at least a single fully-slipping wheel. As shown in the video, those other vehicles simply don’t have a decent AWD system.

]]> By: James http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10520 James Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:18:24 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10520 As an owner of a 2001 BMW x5 I must add it's the tires that make a huge difference. I have some very capable mud and snow tires and the x5 is able to handle just about any terrain. Ground clearance is the only limitation but if it's really rocky and very rutted you may be out further than your own skill level anyway. There are some really good snowboarding areas in Vermont I use and some of them are quite far from the main access road. I have seen K5 Blazers and Dodge Ram Pickups stuck because of the all season tires. As an owner of a 2001 BMW x5 I must add it’s the tires that make a huge difference. I have some very capable mud and snow tires and the x5 is able to handle just about any terrain. Ground clearance is the only limitation but if it’s really rocky and very rutted you may be out further than your own skill level anyway.

There are some really good snowboarding areas in Vermont I use and some of them are quite far from the main access road. I have seen K5 Blazers and Dodge Ram Pickups stuck because of the all season tires.

]]> By: Todd http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10377 Todd Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:38:51 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10377 FWD cars can spin their front tires easily when climbing a big hill. One time I was in my car on a hill and at a complete stop. I stepped on the gas and the front wheels started to lose grip. FWD cars can spin their front tires easily when climbing a big hill. One time I was in my car on a hill and at a complete stop. I stepped on the gas and the front wheels started to lose grip.

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10363 Jeff Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:58:22 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10363 The Jeep Grand Cherokee with Quadra Drive can go anywhere. The Jeep Grand Cherokee with Quadra Drive can go anywhere.

]]> By: Todd http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10362 Todd Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:22:25 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10362 I found a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzpU5Chusc&watch_response Watch the Range Rover climb a muddy hill. I found a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzpU5Chusc&watch_response

Watch the Range Rover climb a muddy hill.

]]> By: Todd http://blog.motorists.org/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/comment-page-1/#comment-10361 Todd Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:02:45 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/is-your-4wd-vehicle-really-4wd/#comment-10361 2009 Audi Q7 Prestige with the 4.2 V8 is a very nice suv but for some reason I like the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 better. The 2009 Range Rover HSE is my most favorite suv. They all have air suspension avalible. The Touareg and Range Rover both have diff locks avalible. 2009 Audi Q7 Prestige with the 4.2 V8 is a very nice suv but for some reason I like the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 better. The 2009 Range Rover HSE is my most favorite suv. They all have air suspension avalible. The Touareg and Range Rover both have diff locks avalible.

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