New Car!

[MrRiplEy[H]]

why i love RWD.

but i have FWD.. 

Actually in that situation you'd be better off with FWD, you can apply a little acceleration to front wheels to break the deadlock after braking / sliding. With RWD if your front wheels deadlock you're pretty much a passenger at that point. Most you can do is turn your steering to the direction you hope to move and wait if the wheels start turning again and start steering you.

It requires a bit of practise but you can steer a fwd car only with throttle, keeping the steering wheel in one position. Or even apply left foot brake (hard on accelerator, left foot on brake to force back end into a slide in a corner like rally cars do) If you wish to play that is.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

got a buddy whose had issue after issue with his audi....

I can verify that too. Certain tiptronic transmissions (at least in the past) failed regularly with 3 years interval or 120 000km. A healthy 10 000 bucks to replace and dealer won't pay for it if you manage to get it past guarantee periods.

I was looking for an Audi when I was shopping for an AWD but a visit at the audi enthusiast forum made me back up softly...

[MaSonZ]

Actually in that situation you'd be better off with FWD, you can apply a little acceleration to front wheels to break the deadlock after braking / sliding. With RWD if your front wheels deadlock you're pretty much a passenger at that point. Most you can do is turn your steering to the direction you hope to move and wait if the wheels start turning again and start steering you.

It requires a bit of practise but you can steer a fwd car only with throttle, keeping the steering wheel in one position. Or even apply left foot brake (hard on accelerator, left foot on brake to force back end into a slide in a corner like rally cars do) If you wish to play that is.

i dont wanna to have to learn to do it when the time arises... ive played around in RWD's at parking lots for ghits and shigles. my car is sure footed, dont get me wrong...but id feel safer in a RWD..

preference.

[VonMessa]

2 x 4
4 x 4
AWD
Traction Control

Which of the above can replace skill behind the wheel?

You may get going a bit better, but if the road is slick or icy, none of them will make a vehicle stop any easier.  The easiest thing to do is to adjust one's driving to the road conditions.

A good set of tires never hurt anyone, though

[MaSonZ]

2 x 4
4 x 4
AWD
Traction Control

Which of the above can replace skill behind the wheel?

You may get going a bit better, but if the road is slick or icy, none of them will make a vehicle stop any easier.  The easiest thing to do is to adjust one's driving to the road conditions.

A good set of tires never hurt anyone, though

(Image removed from quote.)

get Nitto MudGrapplers.... look cooler and get you were you didnt know you could go...



 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

2 x 4
4 x 4
AWD
Traction Control

Which of the above can replace skill behind the wheel?

You may get going a bit better, but if the road is slick or icy, none of them will make a vehicle stop any easier.  The easiest thing to do is to adjust one's driving to the road conditions.

A good set of tires never hurt anyone, though

(Image removed from quote.)

This is what I got:


Mercedes Benz engine and transmission (V6 diesel), built on MB factory in Austria.

[MaSonZ]

This is what I got:
(Image removed from quote.)

Mercedes Benz engine and transmission (V6 diesel), built on MB factory in Austria.

jealous...would love a diesel.

[VonMessa]

get Nitto MudGrapplers.... look cooler and get you were you didnt know you could go...



 

I've "gotten" further than lots of guys on the trail with stock tires.  It's 80% skill, 20% equipment.  I still do not have a lift, yet.

I prefer my tread life to last more than a year and the tires to not sing to me.

Especially at $250/tire.

Mud tires are good for one thing.  Mud.  Useless for the other 300 days/year.

The bottom line is that NOTHING will replace driver skill.  Augment it or enhance it, perhaps but never replace it.

If one can't drive in inclement weather, all of the gadgets in the world wont help.  In fact, it makes them more dangerous by giving them false confidence that they are "safer"  on a vehicle equipped with such options.

[MaSonZ]

I prefer my tread life to last more than a year and the tires to not sing to me.

Especially at $250/tire.

Mud tires are good for one thing.  Mud.  Useless for the other 300 days/year.

The bottom line is that NOTHING will replace driver skill.  Augment it or enhance it, perhaps but never replace it.

If one can't drive in inclement weather, all of the gadgets in the world wont help.  In fact, it makes them more dangerous by giving them false confidence that they are "safer"  on a vehicle equipped with such options. especially with females, and brainwashed new drivers.

+1

[Shuffler]

This isn't my opinion, I'm quoting my mom:

"The AWD drivetrain improves traction by powering more wheels"

Is this the case, or is she just pulling this out of her butt?

-Penguin

4WD on slick icy roads is more dangerous. AWD systems in the newer vehicles are computer controlled to limit power to a wheel that is slipping.

In deep offroad ice and snow then 4WD is your friend.

As for tire wear.... regular rotation of your tires will get the most mileage. This is for any vehicle.... 2WD or 4WD. I use my second trip meter to track rotation mileage. Every 4000 miles I get them rotated. I drive a 2500 HD Diesel with larger tires and get great miles from my tires.

[MaSonZ]

4WD on slick icy roads is more dangerous. AWD systems in the newer vehicles are computer controlled to limit power to a wheel that is slipping.

In deep offroad ice and snow then 4WD is your friend.

As for tire wear.... regular rotation of your tires will get the most mileage. This is for any vehicle.... 2WD or 4WD. I use my second trip meter to track rotation mileage. Every 4000 miles I get them rotated. I drive a 2500 HD Diesel with larger tires and get great miles from my tires.

tire compound my friend.

if you geta performance tire (BFGoodrich GeForce Sport) its going to be significantly softer then an average tire. i dont know what you have on your 2500 for shoes, but being a truck, im guessing its a harder compound...unless you have all terrains or mud tires.

[tassos]

Our old Honda Accord has nearly gotten my mom hurt on the highways a few times now, and the plan is to buy a sedan with AWD.  We know next to nothing about cars, and would like to get some opinions on pitfalls to avoid when shopping around.  Our current pick is an Audi A4, but perhaps you guys know something we don't.

-Penguin

I don't like Audi`s cause every 5th Car is not a Audi here
Congrats its very Safe fast and good Quality....
Audi DONT Cheap oil ore cheap parts
Have always a Wrinkle-free ride

[VonMessa]

tire compound my friend.

if you geta performance tire (BFGoodrich GeForce Sport) its going to be significantly softer then an average tire. i dont know what you have on your 2500 for shoes, but being a truck, im guessing its a harder compound...unless you have all terrains or mud tires.

I had a PT Cruiser GT model (basically a SRT4 with a cruiser shell on it)

It came with Z rated  tires on it.  Soft as hell.  Stuck to the road like it was on rails.  As long as it was dry  

Put a hint of water on the road and they were useless.  Tread life was for crap, also.  They were summer tires so I had them on from May to September.  I had them scrubbed down to nothing in a matter of two seasons.

[MaSonZ]

I had a PT Cruiser GT model (basically a SRT4 with a cruiser shell on it)

It came with Z rated  tires on it.  Soft as hell.  Stuck to the road like it was on rails.  As long as it was dry  

Put a hint of water on the road and they were useless.  Tread life was for crap, also.  They were summer tires so I had them on from May to September.  I had them scrubbed down to nothing in a matter of two seasons.

i got the BFGoodrish GeForce sports, think its a w rating (heard theres like no difference bewtween W,X,Y and Z rating), stick to the road like, as you say, its on rails. wet or dry. hair pins at 45...while the roads are damp. lucky no one came round that corner 

[Shuffler]

tire compound my friend.

if you geta performance tire (BFGoodrich GeForce Sport) its going to be significantly softer then an average tire. i dont know what you have on your 2500 for shoes, but being a truck, im guessing its a harder compound...unless you have all terrains or mud tires.

In all cases... rotation will make them last much longer......


my tires....

Toyo Open Country 37 13.5 R22 LT
http://www.tiresdirect.net/TOYO_Open_Country_MT_37X13_50R_P2106C176.cfm