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Full time FWD?

14 messages,  Last post on Aug 15, 2010 at 3:33 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 3

#12 of 14 Re: Full time FWD? [aatherton] by rsholland

Aug 12, 2010 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Aug 12, 2010 5:13 pm)
"4WD is never full time, but is always selectable, to save the drive train."
 
Not true. The Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus GX-LX, Land Rover LR4/Range Rovers, Jeep Grand Cherokee with QuadraDrive/QuadraTrac (and others too) all have permanent 4WD (or AWD if you prefer). All wheels are driven all the time, and there is no 2WD mode available.
 
"If you have a Subaru, you should appreciate the unique advantages of its AWD, not only over 4WD, but over most of the other AWD systems."
 
I'm on my 5th Subaru, so yes, I understand and appreciate their AWD systems.
 
Bob

#13 of 14 Re: Full time FWD? [rsholland] by aatherton

Aug 15, 2010 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: rsholland (Aug 12, 2010 8:08 pm)
"The Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus GX-LX, Land Rover LR4/Range Rovers, Jeep Grand Cherokee with QuadraDrive/QuadraTrac (and others too) all have permanent 4WD (or AWD if you prefer). All wheels are driven all the time, and there is no 2WD mode available."
 
Those are all AWD, not 4WD.
I think you are defining AWD as permanent 4WD.

#14 of 14 Re: Full time FWD? [aatherton] by rsholland

Aug 15, 2010 (3:33 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Aug 15, 2010 3:11 pm)
All four wheels are permanently engaged all the time, they all have a low range gear in the transfer box, and are all excellent in off-road situations. Sounds like 4WD to me, but call it what you want.
 
You can also include the Mercedes G-wagon in that group as well; all premier off-roaders with permanent 4WD (or AWD if you prefer).
 
Again, I say this AWD/4WD debate is all about marketing. They're all four-wheel drive vehicles. It just depends on how the brand wants to present itself; AWD or 4WD. The RAV4, Highlander, Pilot, CRV and Grand Cherokee (maybe others too?) all have clutch pack center difs, yet those brands specifically call their systems "4WD." Other models with similar clutch-pack units market their drive system as AWD.
 
Now some differ in that they're reactive "on-demand" units, engaging either the front or rear axles only when tire slippage occurs (none of the ones I mentioned are that way); while others are proactive "permanent" units, in which some power is always sent to both the front and rear axles.
 
Bob

Messages Page 3 of 3

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