Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce.augenstein@comcast.
OK, now that everyone's kissed and made up, we can get back to content.
AWD and snow tires are at opposite poles in terms of "false sense of security".
The difference is that snow tires give consistent traction no matter what you're doing. Launching, cornering, braking - it's all the same, so to speak.
On the other hand, AWD allows for brisk launches, giving the driver a sense of heightened traction where none exists. Therefore the driver's expectation leads him or her to drive more quickly than they otherwise would, and since there is essentially no difference in cornering between AWD and 2WD, and obviously all cars have four wheel braking, so no benefit to AWD there, disaster awaits.
Guess how I know this? 
After a couple of close calls in our first AWD (an '87 Audi 100S), dim thoughts began to penetrate my thick skull, and I backed off. The fact that I didn't have an accident was sheer luck.
Bruce |
Bruce,
If I may I will pick you up on a couple of points regarding AWD (regardless of brand). Yes it provides brisk takeoffs that are possible in 2WD cars front or rear and does make people think that the conditions aren't as bad as they genuinely are, but on cornering the two do differ, rwd will ultimately continue the tail round and fwd will continue understeering if the throttle isn't controlled but AWD will first shift power to the rear and then control between the axles in a four wheel drift, the arch will increase if the power is increased.
Here's a video showing a drift and the power being shifted during drifting.
I'm solely using this video (sorry it's an Audi) because it shows the power shifting best.
The other advantage the AWD car has over either form of 2WD car and the major one when conditions are slippy like snow is braking, and before anyone says that ain't right let me finish, AWD cars has all four contact patches during engine braking where as 2WD only have two. Engine braking is very important in snow and seldom used by AWD drivers. If not used correctly then like you said there is no difference during normal braking between all of them and disaster awaits ahead.
One thing that everyone purchasing any form of AWD car should do is an AWD advanced driving course, you would be amazed as to how much control is on offer compared to 2WD but only when those skills learned are put into practice.