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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: heyboer (Jul 09, 2008 9:31 am) |
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Replying to: heyboer (Jul 14, 2008 5:47 am) -mike
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Replying to: paisan (Jul 16, 2008 5:54 pm)
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Replying to: heyboer (Jul 17, 2008 11:58 am) Toyota makes a good vehicle, so I'm sure it will serve you well. -mike |
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Hi guys, I'm new here and could use a little help. I do some light off-roading, mostly on the beach which can be a bit tricky if the vehicle is not somewhat capable. I currently drive a 4x4 Jeep Commander and I drove a Cherokee Sport before that. My lease is up soon and I'd like to get another SUV which will allow me to go on the beach but I'd also like to improve my gas mileage. The problem is that virtually all of the 2008s I see with good gas mileage are AWD instead of 4x4 and I'm not confident in their ability to get me out of the sand. I could use some advice. Are the AWDs capable enough? What are the true 4x4s out there for 2008 with decent gas mileage? Right now I'm looking at the Patriot which gets 20/22 MPG with the off road package. Thanks for your help. - AAGIC
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Replying to: aagic (Jul 26, 2008 7:36 am) I'm not a big fan of a FWD-based offroad vehicle like the patriot. I'd look more toward the Nitro/Liberty if you plan on doing offroading with it. -mike |
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Replying to: heyboer (Jul 17, 2008 11:58 am) |
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Replying to: aagic (Jul 26, 2008 7:36 am) Heavier duty 4x4s with low ranges and locking axles tend to weight more and get poor mileage. Light duty crossovers can be fuel efficient, but that is precisely because they are lighter. Ask yourself how often you truly go off road. Once a year on the sand? I think a crossover with good ground clearance, AWD, and 18psi in the tires will do just fine. Every weekend on sand, gravel, unimproved roads, and some rocks? Then you may want something beefier with skid plates and a low range, but you will sacrifice mileage. Try a Subaru Forester, which has the most ground clearance among car-based crossovers if you tend toward the former. For the latter, maybe consider Grand Vitara with a low range and the new engines coming for 2009, the 4 banger should be fairly efficient for a truck. |
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Anyone out there a MB guru? I'm looking at a few cars next year as my 3rd car and want to learn about the AWD systems out there on various cars. So far in the running for my 3rd car are: A8L A6 4.2 E500 4-Matic 2010 Legacy G8 GT (No AWD of course) The Audis and MB would be used, the Leg or G8 would be new. Anyone know the torque split and the traction control systems employed on the A8, A6 and E500? -mike
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Replying to: paisan (Jul 31, 2008 3:51 pm) |
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