Driving DynamicsDriving techniques (trail braking, power slides, donuts, scandinavian flicks, etc), and vehicle dynamics (roll centres, c/g weigh transfer, etc)
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Explain a Subaru Legacy outback, which does have high-low ratios, and touted as AWD
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- I'm a paranoid schizophrenic with surround sound speakers. I hooked my mobile phone to a megaphone to my headphone and I'm still alone. And I'd like to talk to you right now but it's me on the other line. I'll call you back when the weather man on the news gives me the sign.
- I'm a xenophobic tapinophobe and a claustrophobic agoraphobe. And I'd like to talk to you right now, but it's me on my other mind. I'll call you back when the spaceship lands in 1949.
- I'm a bipedal omnivoric semi-simian, who is always mating and I'm chewing up the whole planet, and I'm procreating. And I'd like to talk to you right now, but it's time to procreate. I'll call you back when my head's cut off, but of course that will be too late.
How about the current Toyota Rav4 touted in the brochure as AWD (even the model name says "XTR-AWD" ), but it is infact switchable.
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- I'm a paranoid schizophrenic with surround sound speakers. I hooked my mobile phone to a megaphone to my headphone and I'm still alone. And I'd like to talk to you right now but it's me on the other line. I'll call you back when the weather man on the news gives me the sign.
- I'm a xenophobic tapinophobe and a claustrophobic agoraphobe. And I'd like to talk to you right now, but it's me on my other mind. I'll call you back when the spaceship lands in 1949.
- I'm a bipedal omnivoric semi-simian, who is always mating and I'm chewing up the whole planet, and I'm procreating. And I'd like to talk to you right now, but it's time to procreate. I'll call you back when my head's cut off, but of course that will be too late.
subaru system is the same as Audi's Quattro system -- it basically uses and open central (Torsen) diff to give permenant 4 wheel or All wheel drive
some SUV's have part time 4 Wheel drive -- this means that the central diff is locked -- so when it is engaged you have a 50/50 split between front and rear
not good for tarmac use as you get transmission wind up
and all part time 4 wheel drive cars/suv's will have instructions to only use it when traction is lost -- i.e. off road or in very slippery conditions (not just wet)
4WD = 4 wheels driven
AWD = all wheels driven = 4 wheel drive in most cases.
I know they TEND to be used to mean slightly different systems but at the end of the day there's no rule and it depends on what the individual manufacturer has decided to call their particular system, and should always be taken with plenty of informed pinches of salt.
Last edited by arumdevil; 24 December 2009 at 00:28.
4WD = 4 wheels driven
AWD = all wheels driven = 4 wheel drive in most cases.
I know they TEND to be used to mean slightly different systems but at the end of the day there's no rule and it depends on what the individual manufacturer has decided to call their particular system, and should always be taken with plenty of informed pinches of salt.
+1 I had a 4X4 Mondeo back in '96.I know it was a 4X4 coz I took the 4X4 badges off the side,well I told the dealer to tek em off, when I bought it NEW.Again all season tyres, but they were fantastic in the snow.(for the simple minded that doesnt mean you can drive as fast as you can on a hot day in the middle of summer onna empty road).If you cant drive a Scoob in the snow hand your drivin licence in and use the bus.
I was expecting a bit more capability than I got this morning. Fiddled about with the DCCD but not a massive difference in grip.
4x4 pah!!!
Anyone else had some better experiences??
Been all over in mine visiting my farmer customers, down some tracks where the gritting boys dont go no probs at all, 225/40 18s with cheap tyres but plenty of tread.
Hey, i finally got out today, after being stuck in for the last week. I thought it was alright to drive as the snow and ice had cleared somewhat, but still couldn't get out normally, had to get a run up in reverse and rely on momentum, whatever grip i did have and nobody coming the other way, but third time made it, just to find everywhere's closed except tescos in Stevenage, Q long queues etc. The snow etc will all be gone by the time i get the Scooby back. maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
hey all i have an 03wrx and have had no issues in the snow and ice i live on a steep hill which no one has been able to get up for the last 3 days, they get half way wheel spin and roll back down i was dreading it at 1st but by simply using very litttle throttle this solves any traction issues.
There were 3 guys from my street trying to get an estate car back on its path using rubber tracks under the tyres to help so i had to stop middle of the hill it was quite funny zapped the window down said alright fella awd is the way forward and drove from stand still with not a hint of wheel spin love it!
if you put the power down then itll spin up but if you drive like you should itll do anything granted at walking speed but that is better than getting the neighbours to help you get back on your driveway!
hey all i have an 03wrx and have had no issues in the snow and ice i live on a steep hill which no one has been able to get up for the last 3 days, they get half way wheel spin and roll back down
the last poster who said something similar is now looking at a new front end go steady mate !!
oh no i dont go any quicker than walking pace cos breaking is still **** you cant really put any power down but you wont get stuck in it if you know how to drive in it.
what about 4 space savers with knobbly tires just like the rally cars ............ thats what a garage suggested to me last week needless to say i didnt take his advice although something about his statement seemed to make sense
it would probably work very well, but ONLY in the snow. By the time you've sourced 4x space savers that fit over your brakes and put 4 tyres on it, you may as well just buy a set of proper winter tyres and use those while the weather stays cold.
thats a good point mate unless you have some space savers lying about with knobbly tyres already on , i wouldnt suggest you do it in anything but snow but it would be a laugh if nothing else
they'd work very well in mud too I reckon, but actually I think proper winter/snow tyres would work better, even if they were wider and lower profile. I've had winter tyres on my legacy for the past two winters. I've taken it to some pretty extreme conditions, including 6" of snow in the Italian mountains, thick packed ICE in the alps, and snow on dartmoor last february which was up to 6 foot drifts. Obviously I didn't get through the 6 foot drifts, but where it wasn't drifting I had no trouble whatsoever.
There's also a big hill near me, very steep which was covered in ice and snow the last few days and most traffic has tried and failed to conquer it - with long fast ru-ups and lots of spinning wheels - even 4x4s have been struggling. I get up it with no drama at all, no spinning wheels and come down nice and slowly the other side in total control.
To anyone who's struggling with an impreza in snow or ice, a set of decent winter tyres is a brilliant and worthwhile investment.
someone kindly went up the back of my wagon today.. some people just dont know how to drive in the snow they fall to pot.... they must have been about 2ft behind me and not really paying attention... i slowed for the roundabout and just see the car get closer then ....*bump*...head in hands moment.. from what i can see mine is ok but wont know till later as it was too dark to tell
Roundabouts and car parks are the worst. Mine 's due back any time this afternoon.
You'd think being slow areas it would be easier but nope, just another bell end. Least you're alright eh.
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Mine's the same , only completely different.
For some reason my 98 wagon didnt have four wheel drive on i found that out when it first started snowing, i opened the bonnet and pulled the front wheel drive fuse out and it now has four wheel drive, it drives perfectly in the snow and ice its a plasure, but is it safe for the car to be running like that??
lol carlos, how long have you had the car with it like that? yes it's safe. The FWD fuse only needs to be put in if it's being towed so the transmission doesn't wind up.
If you use winter tyres do you switch the tyres on the same wheels or do you keep another set of wheels for the winter? If you switch the tyres how much does this typically cost?
The snow etc will all be gone by the time i get the Scooby back. maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
go steady mate !!
