renovation

how many people really need AWD or 4x4 .
what percent of the owners of these cars really ever use them .
in trucks im betting for the most part they are never engaged.
but the auto makers sure love to sell them .
it seems like a real waste of extra cash to me.
i have a 2002 Saturn vue FWD and have never been stuck .
but it seems like the auto makers really want to sell you a 4x4 SUV .and some are not even avail without this feature.

and a second question for you that have them (4x4 ) how many time have you really need it ?

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johnnymk

Excellent thread !! I have often wondered the same thing.

Plus the mileage suffers and maintenance costs are higher. And in snow, too many SUV owners get too confident and get into situations where they lose control and are involved in accidents.

I have never had a problem in snow in any of my two wheel or front wheel drive vehicles.

Jeffbx

I had a Chevy Blazer back in '96 or '97. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I switched it into 4WD - that was the first & last 4WD/AWD I ever had, and boy do I ever drive in a lot of snow. FWD is fine as long as you have decent tires.

DarkFury

I use my 4x4 anytime the snow around here gets bad enough to warrant it (which can be quite often depending on the weather).

It snowed last night and I used it this morning coming to work.

If I weren't up here in Indy, or anywhere else above the "snow belt" then I wouldn't have a 4x4. I don't do the "off roading" thing but I do like the stability it provides when the conditions are bad out.

As far as folks who are fine with 2x4 in the snow... well good for them. My car is 2 wheel drive and I refuse to drive it in the snow. Back when I had the T-Bird that rear wheel drive would come around and scare the SH@T outta you if you weren't careful. My front wheel drive Probe did much better on the snow, but it was still prone to slippin' and slidin' when conditions got really bad.

In my truck, it always feels in control when 4x4 is engaged... plus in the winter I have my deep tread BF Goodrich TK AT tires on which just grab that snow. When I switch 4x4 off in the snow, I can really feel a difference in the grip. Now that being said... 4x4 on ICE don't do ya any dayuum good, but for the most part on a layer of snow, its all good.

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BlueTriangle

I'm not sure, but I know when I was researching minivans a lot of people were complaining about the lack of AWD. I think that is why Crossovers are getting more attention. The Dodge Journey has optional AWD and that's been something I've noticed people really like. It may not be something you use often, but even if you have to use it a few times it definitely comes in handy. I think women drivers feel a lot more comfortable with features like AWD as well.

Maarchk

It may just be a sense of comfort. People do feel or maybe just like to feel more in control. People like DF use it cause its helpful, others maybe it helps minimally but they mentally feel more confident and can drive with it.
personally i've only used 4 wheel drive to mountain climb some crazy stuff and to do some all wheel drive sliding around in the gravel roads where my friends were racing around. Both were for fun events, and on a regular day in california, heck on any day in southern california, you would never really need 4wd. But up in the snow belt, where it freezes and rains and ices, i think i'd appreciate awd.

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VTGreg

When I lived in Chicago and was driving up to Whitehall, MI every week AWD was a godsend. Front wheel drive is good but if you consistently drive in snow, AWD or 4x4 do help. My parents also used to live in Cleveland and there were a number of times we had to drive through some substantial snow storms to get there.

We actually made sure our SUV was 4x4 also, but now that my parents have moved from Cleveland to Atlanta it won't get much use (we live in Charlotte now and 4x4 is not necessary).

Now we've got two AWD drive vehicles and very little use for the functionality. Oh well.

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cheapie

df...i think you'll be pretty happy with the EBS and TC system on my car. i think i have the same setup and am pretty impressed with it. however, your aftermarket tires might do poorly and since you've got the truck, i understand why you wouldn't drive it.

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DarkFury

Well to be honest, one of the main reasons for me not wanting to put the 300C in the snow is because of all of the chemical salt the city drops on the roads as well.

That stuff will ruin your car's finish and gives hell to chrome wheels (the 22s on my truck are a testament to this... they are virtually ruined due to getting caught in the snow a few times... hence the reason I bought the 17s and the big tires.)

Plus... if someone were to get out of control and slide into me, I'd rather be in my truck taking the hit than in my car. I just think it would fare better in a collision.