well, I'll never buy a FWD car as long as there are alternatives available. I frickin' hate FWD.

I wouldn't ever let my wife drive around in the snow and ice in a RWD car, so that leaves me AWD as the only option. She currently rocks an RDX, and it definitely has the "planted" feel described above and I feel that it gives you as much control over the car as possible - but for me it is more of a safety feature than anything else.

 

Wouldn't a modern traction control system, multi-channel anti-lock brakes coupled with active stability control that not only can control throttle amounts but individual brakes to keep the car stable make the vehicles feel 'planted' for what most peoples driving habits? Basically all butp lowing through thick snow/mud/ect. I recall seeing an interesting fifth gear video featuring jaguars new(at the time) system and it was nothing short of impressive.
*found it*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1SSxpKitE

 

Electronic systems provide a safety net, but they can't overcome physics -- an AWD car will still be able to do things in slippery conditions that an equally gadgetized FWD or RWD car would not.

Having said that, whether the benefit is worth AWD's added cost, weight, and complexity for the average driver is a very reasonable question.

 

Not to mention, increased drivetrain loss, which in connection with the factors you mentioned, result in decreased gas mileage and performance.

I don't hate all wheel drive by any means but I don't see it as an upgrade from rear wheel drive (which many manufacturers do judging by the marketing and premium they tack on for all wheel drive vehicles).

When you're talking trucks and SUV's that are actually used off road and for hauling purposes, my assertions above go out the window of course.

 

Stability systems only step in when there is a reason to, while active awd is in use all the time. If you're a plain-jane driver, you'll never experience the benefits of awd on dry roads, but if you are aggressive, awd allows the power to hit the road from all four tires.

Incidentally, all the advances in traction and stability control are why we are seeing a resurgence of rwd cars - now you can get the stability of fwd with the performance dynamic of rwd.

 

I've done it with the S on a 6% mountain grade from a dead stop on packed snow with snow tires. A little slipping at first, but I got moving just fine.

 

After owning DSM's and an Evo, I never ever want to go through another winter without AWD; it just makes driving way more fun and easy. AWD is also a lot more fun on the streets than RWD; its much easier to push my Evo to limit, safely, than it was the S2k.

 

[QUOTE=Saki GT,May 21 2008, 12:26 PM]Stability systems only step in when there is a reason to, while active awd is in use all the time.

 

Yeah, but your crazy

You may have got yourself going but by the time you "got going" my AWD Subaru was up the hill and around the corner without slipping once.

AWD is not hype for sure but it is also not for the average driver. The average driver in an average location. Here in Central Oregon we get a lot of snow in the winter. I also travel over the mountain pass in the winter on a regular basis. We use to have a 2000 Honda Accord Coupe with studs and it made it over the mountain fine but in the corners it would not hold a line very well so you had to keep the speeds down. I would have big rigs pass me in the corners. Now with the WRX it is almost scary because I will look at the speedo in the corners and I am doing 60+ no problem in heavy snow.

 

gotta have the right tires though.