Quote:
Originally Posted by samwichse
Meh, I'd rather have front wheel drive with a good set of snow tires than a Subaru all wheel drive with four-season tires on it.
Four wheel drive does nothing for slippery handling (in spite of manufacturers suggestions that it's somehow safer). The most it can do is get you moving more easily on a slippery surface, but then not as well as a fwd car with snow tires on it. And every car made in the last 80 years has four wheel brakes.
Next time it snows, look at the proportion of cars in the ditch on the side of the road due to Awd/4wd induced over confidence. Then go buy your basic sedan/hatch a set of winter steelies and tires.
The Myth of All-Powerful All-Wheel Drive
Look at the difference in stopping distance with all season vs snow tires... really tells the story:
Do You Really Need AWD in the Snow? - Consumer Reports
Why am I comparing awd/4wd with all seasons to 2wd with snows? Because people plunk down their extra money for 4wd and think "good enough." And pay higher maintenance costs, and pay for all the extra gas they burn. And aren't any safer (or less safe considering 4wd is like the devil's right hand, it can get you into trouble but it can't get you out).
My alternative is much cheaper AND uses less gas. Especially if you're willing to swap the wheels yourself in the late fall/early spring.
Sam |
The Forester uses small inexpensive tires compared to most 4wds, and they seem to last forever with even wear. I agree you will see 4wds in the ditch, but not may subies. I put on studded snow tires for winter and the awd does help handling in poor conditions over fwd if you are experienced in driving. You can induce under or oversteer with awd. It produces overconfidence because it is better. It is pretty much fun compared to the white knuckles everyone else are experiencing. So yeah, some people drive like an idiot, but it doesn't make you one, I bet you started out that way. I paid $3000 for my Forester 3 years ago did the $400 maintenance I talked about before plus an alternator and a strut for anther $175 or so. It's just a great car for all the things the OP discussed. As to the original question, the EPA doesn't get very fast, maybe it's just not enough difference to show up in the EPA cycle. The real world it should help to get the later.
Oh and one more thing, the Forester tows pretty well. The US says 2000 pounds but the identical car in South Africa is 4400 pounds. I tow a 5x8' trailer or a waverunner pretty often and it does great.