Comment by pc86 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by pc86 | Hacker News Reader

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I've lived in the upper mid-Atlantic/almost-but-not-quite-New England area my entire life. I've driven just about every combination of AWD, FWD and RWD with summer, all-purpose and winter tires.

Obviously AWD with new snow tires will let you cut through just about anything. I mean it felt like driving a tank sometimes, it's amazing. And that was a sedan - I can't imagine how easy that much be in an SUV or Jeep.

I've also driven FWD compacts with snow tires and experience was worlds better than AWD with regular tires. If AWD + snow tires is 100/100, FWD + snow tires is 90 and AWD + regular tires is 50. My point is that AWD isn't all it's cracked up to be, even with feet of snow on the ground.

And just because it's standard doesn't mean you're not paying a couple thousand dollars for it like everyone else - it just means you don't have the option not to.

And OT: I never understood this "smart people like $CONSUMER_PRODUCT" mentality. Different products fit different use cases. I wouldn't drive a BMW Z4 in Augusta, Maine just like I wouldn't drive a Subaru Forester in San Diego.

I live in Michigan and drive a 4WD Jeep Patriot (standard tires). There's a lot of things to dislike about it (underpowered, chintzy cabin, etc), but one thing I can say with 100% confidence is that when traction control is enabled it stays absolutely glued to the road at all times. It's actually kind of shocking some of the things you can do while maintaining control, and it's really important to keep the old adage in mind - the difference between 2WD and 4WD is about 20 feet of chain.

The day after a big snowstorm is pretty rough here thanks to lake effect, but I just pop on 4WD and plow through it, while praying that some idiot doesn't slide into me.

100% agree with this (New Hampshire native). Snow tires on an FWD are far better than regular tires on AWD.

AWD means you can accelerate better in the snow and become un-stuck easier. If you want to stop sooner and slip less, snow tires make the real difference, not AWD.

There's a reason snow tires are mandatory in Iceland (illegal to not have them) from November onwards.

>I can't imagine how easy that much be in an SUV or Jeep.

Possibly not at all easier. SUV usually has bit more clearance than sedan. And possibly more suspension travel and overall weight. End of the day SUV vs. AWD sedan difference is almost insignificant.

Real off-road cars also have differential locks and reduction gears. While they usually don't weight that much (relatively). Now you have real advantage, as you can approach any tricky spot with incredible amount of quaranteed torque and slow speed.

What I'm sayin is that if you drive on a swamp off-road car is 100/100, SUV is 60 and AWD sedan is like 50.

When I say everyone else is an idiot about what cars they buy I'm being hyperbolic and also joking, so no offense intended. There are plenty of excellent cars and excellent car-based experiences to be had. AWD cars that I've owned (in my experience), not just Subaru, just feel like they grip the road much better than at least the FWD cars I've driven. But maybe my experience is illusory. Also, here in New England AWD has saved me from being trapped in a driveway or on an ice patch more times than I care to admit.

Augusta is pretty urban (for Maine). I'm sure I've seen at least a few Z4s around.

Not all AWD is the same, some manufacturers have better AWD systems than others.

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