Why are there so many AWD cars now?

[TiGeo]

I will also note driving my Passat with Torsen is quite a different feel than driving the Haldex Golf!

 

[edyvw]

I don't know if it's the low end torque or what, but no matter how careful I am with it's current tires it just instantly spins. Love the car, but it's probably the worst vehicle I've owned for winter driving.

Your GTI does have more torque than my CC had, which was first generation EA888, but it was also DSG, and it was pretty torquey.
I actually once hooked up guy with Land Cruiser on Hoosier Pass to help him get out of the snow he got stuck in. He had on wheels something that was once called tires, and he was still surprised his Land Cruiser could not get any traction, bcs. well, Land Cruiser. I am not sure how he actually got down the pass.
So, tires can make all the difference, unless something mechanically is going on.

 

[edyvw]

Since the new MK8 Golf R has torque vectoring rear awd diff I wonder if that has trickled to the Atlas?

I did not know it has it. Interesting.

 

[Torrid]

Your GTI does have more torque than my CC had, which was first generation EA888, but it was also DSG, and it was pretty torquey.
I actually once hooked up guy with Land Cruiser on Hoosier Pass to help him get out of the snow he got stuck in. He had on wheels something that was once called tires, and he was still surprised his Land Cruiser could not get any traction, bcs. well, Land Cruiser. I am not sure how he actually got down the pass.
So, tires can make all the difference, unless something mechanically is going on.

My Dunlops being all season are definitely more in tune with summers. Dry grip is very good with them. It is the DSG and while launch control does overwhelm them, it's not by as much as I thought it would be. It doesn't just turn out as a wheel hopping mess, but it will spin doing it.

 

[edyvw]

My Dunlops being all season are definitely more in tune with summers. Dry grip is very good with them. It is the DSG and while launch control does overwhelm them, it's not by as much as I thought it would be. It doesn't just turn out as a wheel hopping mess, but it will spin doing it.

Slap the narrowest snow tires you can fit on that, and it will transform car.

 

[Mainia]

The majority of awd systems are actually awful and don't work in time like in rain and snow.

I guess milliseconds are a bit too slow?

 

[Ws6]

Since most of these FWD crossovers are open diff, of course they have terrible traction. Still, with appropriate tires they can handle plenty of snow.

Nah. Maybe flatlanders in snow, but a bit of incline? Forget it without dedicated snows, while the rest of is just rock all seasons.

 

[Ws6]

I guess milliseconds are a bit too slow?

I really like all time awd at lower speeds, say, 20mph and under, because it helps when you dont need to re-grip. My cx5 for example would always leave tiny blips in my driveway where it did this, while my RDX never did that. In snow or on ice, its the difference in making it out, and slipping.

 

[Ws6]

I noticed AWD optioned vehicles have higher tow ratings, like double.

Awd provides high speed stability.

 

[Ws6]

I have limited slip with electronic torque sensing and the slightest incline with snow takes me out.

My driveway is 27% incline. I make it out just fine on all seasons, until I drive it a few times and pack the snow down. Then its not so great, lol

 

[Ws6]

I did not know it has it. Interesting.

My RDX had it, and its flat out amazing, a gear driven tq vectoring rear diff that cam funnel 0-100% left or right. Thats my one complaint about my GT. It is not tq vectoring.

 

[chris719]

I guess milliseconds are a bit too slow?

Watch some of the YouTube AWD tests. It’s definitely not milliseconds except maybe for a Tesla. Special exception for something with a significant permanent split, which is rare these days.

 

[chris719]

Awd provides high speed stability.

In some alternate universe? Maybe you are confusing it with small amounts of in-phase rear wheel steer.

Nah. Maybe flatlanders in snow, but a bit of incline? Forget it without dedicated snows, while the rest of is just rock all seasons.

I meant snows. Careful with those all seasons when stopping though. The last time I was rear ended was during a snowstorm by a Jeep with all season tires and I was driving a BMW Z4M with snow tires. It made for a lot of confused bystanders.

 

[Ws6]

In some alternate universe? Maybe you are confusing it with small amounts of in-phase rear wheel steer.


I meant snows. Careful with those all seasons when stopping though. The last time I was rear ended was during a snowstorm by a Jeep with all season tires and I was driving a BMW Z4M with snow tires. It made for a lot of confused bystanders.

My all seasons stop fine in the snow. Glare ice is my only issue.

No, awd provides a touch of stability in fwd based systems at highway speed.

 

[chris719]

No, awd provides a touch of stability in fwd based systems at highway speed.

Please explain the physics of this. I’ve gone around 170 mph in two different 2WD cars and I guarantee you adding AWD wouldn’t help.

 

[TiGeo]

Watch some of the YouTube AWD tests. It’s definitely not milliseconds except maybe for a Tesla. Special exception for something with a significant permanent split, which is rare these days.

I've shared this now several times in this thread but at this slow-mo speed that's milliseconds to engage rears. Maybe if we ever get snow here again I'll do the same with the Passat. Should be instant as its Torsen.

 

[TiGeo]

I don't know if it's the low end torque or what, but no matter how careful I am with it's current tires it just instantly spins. Love the car, but it's probably the worst vehicle I've owned for winter driving.

Physics of fwd combined with a somewhat torquey turbo engine and all seasons = this. Winter tires should really help if you are in snow frequently where you live. When folks tune the MK7s for 350-400 whp I have no idea how they drive around town!

 

[TiGeo]

Awd provides high speed stability.

Most fwd-based awd vehicles will be almost 100% at speed/cruising. How does it provide stability?

 

[edyvw]

My RDX had it, and its flat out amazing, a gear driven tq vectoring rear diff that cam funnel 0-100% left or right. Thats my one complaint about my GT. It is not tq vectoring.

I was referring not knowing that R had it now.
I know Acura had and now Pilot has it.

 

[edyvw]

My driveway is 27% incline. I make it out just fine on all seasons, until I drive it a few times and pack the snow down. Then its not so great, lol

The reason why it works is that your driveway is gravel. There is traction.