4WD Fever

Lopéz said:
I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. There's no denying their effectiveness during cold, wet or icy weather - which to be fair we do get a significant amount of in the UK.
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The problem is that people are so desperate for the apparent wonder-cure that they buy any old junk as long as its winter - and whats the betting most of the planks wont take them off again in March?

If you want something worse in June than a Wan Li, try a Wan Li Super Duper Ice Master :D
 
[TW]Fox;18061580 said:
The problem is that people are so desperate for the apparent wonder-cure that they buy any old junk as long as its winter - and whats the betting most of the planks wont take them off again in March?
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I'd bet at least half will try to run the same tyre all year round, giving poor performance in summer and even worse by the next time it snows their tread will be so low as to make it pointless.

But assuming their tyre shop offers it, a good percentage will take it back in summer and get their stored tyres swapped back over. This is the best situation as it means someone with a clue is looking at their tyres at least twice a year.
 
[TW]Fox;18061580 said:
The problem is that people are so desperate for the apparent wonder-cure that they buy any old junk as long as its winter - and whats the betting most of the planks wont take them off again in March?

If you want something worse in June than a Wan Li, try a Wan Li Super Duper Ice Master :D
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Yes this is always the risk. If people are choosing high end snow tyres like those Continentals, Vredestein Snowtracs or maybe Hankook Icebears then leaving them on in summer wouldn't be too tragic. But people won't, they will choose the cheapest things they can find with "Winter" written on them and then forget to ever take them off.
 
Telescopi said:
Hi Admiral, I filled up with vpower, do I need to let you know?

Someone should try it, the muppet on the phone will probably try to charge you an extra premium.
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I've seen a thread somewhere on this topic, because it turns out that some insurers do exactly that.


As of the topic; the problem with winter tyres in my case is nowhere to put the summer ones. And the winter ones in turn. In my case AWD is a poor answer to low profile summer tyres though...


M
 
Yes. It most definitely has affected my purchasing decision. I've needed an excuse to talk the missus into letting me buy a Rangie for ages. A couple of spins in the jag and she's begging me to buy something "safer". Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....:D
 
snowdog said:
I'd love 4wd purely for far better launches than 2wd cars, but for the snow, not really...
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But the extra weight would slow you down ;)

I prefer 2wd for launches for fear of baking the clutch.
I very, very rarely booted my Leon in first. I always waited until 2nd before giving it the beans. Perhaps I didn't need to though?
 
Weight may be a concern when comparing FWD to 4WD, but when you're comparing RWD to 4WD, weight is often quite insignificant.
 
I tend to buy a 4x4 in the months leading up to winter, before they start getting expensive, then sell it once the weather is starting to improve for a small net profit.

Why? Because I like being able to get anywhere regardless and it just makes things much simpler - it's built for operating in poor conditions and will do whatever is asked of it (driven appropriately). I'm not one for getting stuck or stranded anywhere and I don't like being able not to get to work. I live on a hilly road that's never gritted, as well, and a lot of my drive is across country on equally ungritted roads.

There are also instances (especially around where I live) where nothing else but a 4x4 will do. For example, a few days ago, I came across a van that had beached on a bank near us after sliding down a nigh-on impassable hill (compressed snow and ice). Not only could I tow him off, freeing him, but I also towed him up the hill so he could continue.

If I'd been in a car I'd have not been able to get around him (which I could also have done in my Jeep), and I'd then have had to do a three-point turn, which would have no doubt got me stuck too due to the slippy conditions and layout of the road :) Even if I could turn it around I'd face a further 15 minute detour.

Sometimes you just can't beat 'em, unfortunately!
 
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Lopéz said:
Yes this is always the risk. If people are choosing high end snow tyres like those Continentals, Vredestein Snowtracs or maybe Hankook Icebears then leaving them on in summer wouldn't be too tragic. But people won't, they will choose the cheapest things they can find with "Winter" written on them and then forget to ever take them off.
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So they replace their Linglong Ditchfinders with Linglong Snowbankfinders. In the summer the softer compound will at least start to melt a little and maybe be more sticky, then the morons will compare about how winter tyres have crap wear rates.
 
Simplified;

4WD adds to a front engined RWD car some sort of transfer box (or similar) and front axle or driveshafts.

4WD to a FWD motor adds some sort of transfer box, prop, rear diff and it's associated framework, driveshafts, as well as having to go for a fully independent rear suspension system for many 4WD variants of FWD cars (look at VAGs for example).

I'm happy to be corrected here, but I'd put money on the FWD -> 4WD having the greater weight gain.
 
You seem to have missed off the front diff... Unless you want to stick all you engine in front of the axle line like Audi.

Transverse Fwd can have a very compact PTO such that there isnt a transfer box as such.

Introducing tractive force to the front will also require more robust suspension again adding mass.
 
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MikeHiow said:
I'm happy to be corrected here, but I'd put money on the FWD -> 4WD having the greater weight gain.
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And I am happy to correct you.

Lets consider a few cars which are available in two drivetrain choices but are otherwise identical.

We'll use two cars from the same segment where one is FWD and AWD and the other is RWD and AWD.

BMW 328Xi and 328i versus Audi A4 FWD and Audi A4 Quattro.

BMW 328i: 1554kg
BMW 328Xi: 1655kg

Audi A4 2.0TFSI FWD: 1445kg
Audi A4 2.0TFSI Quattro: 1530kg

So, in this particular class, the AWD version weighs 7% more than the RWD version. Whereas the AWD to FWD, the AWD version weighs 5.8% more than the FWD version.

In other words - the approximate weight gain is largely the same.

Would you like me to nominate a charity for that money you'd put on it to go too? :)

Edit: Changed the 335i to a 328i as it's more comparable with a 2.0TFSI.
 
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I've had no problems what so ever getting around in a 36yr old, light weight, rwd car with fatish tyres on the back, so no interest in 4wd at all.
Infact it's been quite entertaining performing the slowest powerslides known to man :D lol
 
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