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SUVs 4WD & AWD systems explained
1376 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 9:11 AM
You are in the SUVs Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: psychogun (May 21, 2008 12:05 pm) Point is, racing success is mostly a marketing thing, and has very little to do with how good (or bad) a manufacturer is doing making production cars. My original point remains, and is actually reinforced by Subaru's smaller yet still significant troubles. WRC championships were great PR for Subaru, but the fact is Prodrive now owns Aston Martin, and the Subaru-based Prodrive P2 never went into production. Multi-million dollar race cars/trucks have very little in common with what you'll find for sale at the dealer. Same for Mitsubishi and its Dakar racing program - not very relevant to production cars, especially models besides the Pajero. When it comes to addressing issues that do come up, most Subaru owners are satisfied with how their dealers do repairs (better than the industry average today). So they have earned their customers' trust back. For Mitsubishi, they're not there yet. Only 44% of customers are satisfied with the service they get from their dealers, 2nd last in the industry (only VW is worse). So IMHO Subaru has made the turnaround, while Mitsubishi is still working on it. At least their products are much better - now it's time to work on customer service. To bring this back on topic, if our ramp tests cause damage to either or both of the AWD systems, at least I'd be more likely to be satisfied with the repair. |
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Replying to: paisan (May 21, 2008 3:32 pm) The automatic Forester's system, specifically, supposedly uses as input the following: * wheel slippage * throttle position * braking That's from the 2009 brochure. They don't mention TPMS. Not sure about weight shift - but they could determine that from the throttle (shifts weight back) and braking (shifts weight forward), so your point is certainly valid. If you disable the traction/stability control it may eliminate the wheel slippage input, then again maybe not - the data is still gathered, it depends on which systems could still use that data. So in the jack stand test, the throttle position could be controlled if a 2nd person is sitting in the car. Same with the brakes. Wheel slippage would be fine as that is sort of the point of the whole test - to observe what occurs when the wheels are allowed to slip. I think we could still see if by default both axles get power, if one spins faster than the other, if both sides spin, etc. Not as good as a dynamic test, like the ramp, but more of a static test with small/no load. The Tribeca's AWD system goes a few steps further and uses inputs from the steering angle sensor, yaw velocity, acceleration sensors, and braking force (I think they mean pedal pressure, to measure the driver's intention). So in that case you really would need a ramp for a dynamic test. Thing is, I've already seen a Tribeca succeed at that. A Legacy GT as well. So now I want to see a Forester try it.
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Replying to: ateixeira (May 22, 2008 11:48 am) -mike |
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I am buying a 2008 CR-V and live in the south so there isn't any snow. So should I consider the 4WD because of slick roads when it rains or just save my money and go with 2WD?
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Replying to: dslg (Jun 06, 2008 12:10 pm) -mike |
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Replying to: dslg (Jun 06, 2008 12:10 pm) If not, though, then I would pass. RT4WD is an on-demand part-time system and you might find it would rarely (if ever) engage. If you don't slip, it's always FWD anyway. FWD will cost less up front, the vehicle weighs a bit less, and it should be slightly more fuel efficient. |
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| hi, i have a envoy slt 2003. recently i got a problem with engine rpm. rpm jumps up from 700 to 900 and then after a few miles driving comes down and then again after miles driving goes up. it is making me mad and i feel damaging clutch and brake too while i am staying in traffic. please help me to find out the reason. thanks. | |
| Can I remove the front driveshaft on my NP 233 and drive it 2WD? I mean will this work or cause problems? | |
| Hello. Looking at a 2006 Buick Rainier(AWD) or a Pathfinder (4WD) to pull a boat. I've heard you can really get nailed with tire problems on an AWD. True? Any other input on the two vehicks is appreciated. No off-roading will be done. Probably could get by with 2wd, but due to snow and the occasional tough ramp I might as well go with 4. The pathfinder has a switch to select the drive. No switch on the Buick. Thanks. | |
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Replying to: heyboer (Jul 09, 2008 9:31 am) I would go for the Pathfinder, great vehicles. -mike |
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