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GMC Acadia - FWD vs. AWD

17 messages,  Last post on Nov 05, 2011 at 12:14 PM

You are in the GMC Acadia Forum.

What is this discussion about? GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 3

#15 of 17 Re: GMC Acadia - FWD vs. AWD [akillian24] by jessicajo

Nov 05, 2011 (9:15 am)

Replying to: akillian24 (Feb 20, 2011 6:42 am)
I just purchased a 2008 fwd and it cost lessthan the awd model. I did have concerns too, but i did not feel i needed it. My husband has a truck so i feel that if worse comes to worse we will use it. another good thing the gas mileage is better too. I had a van before and i seemto be getting the same gas mileage.

#16 of 17 Re: GMC Acadia - FWD vs. AWD [obyone] by nposaver

Nov 05, 2011 (11:38 am)

Replying to: obyone (Feb 20, 2011 11:41 pm)
As I understand the AWD vehicle works this way; the vehicle operates always in FWD and the only time the rear wheels become engaged is when the front wheels lose traction and begin to spin automatically shifting power to the rear wheels which now become engaged. So if your front wheels lose traction and begin to spin because of your steep incline and wet pavement what make you think that the rear wheels when engaged by the AWD will have any better traction than the front wheels had? AWD does not produce or improve better traction on wet pavements and steeple inclines than a front wheel drive vehicle. Don't waste your money, buy a FWD vehicle since AWD will not allow you to have any better traction on wet pavement and a steeple incline than a FWD vehicle.

#17 of 17 Re: GMC Acadia - FWD vs. AWD [nposaver] by donl1

Nov 05, 2011 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: nposaver (Nov 05, 2011 11:38 am)
I beleive the Acadia AWD system is set up to deliver a 90/10 torque split (90% to the front wheels) in normal operation. When detecting front wheel slippage it can transfer as much as 35% to the rear wheels. So on a steep incline it would indeed be better than FWD. Not much sense to have an AWD system that delivers all torque to only one differential as the previous poster seemed to indicate.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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