4x4 vs. AWD

But they'll shut it down if it's too much rain. And definitely no snow.
Do you do have me on a technicality, but I feel my point still stands.

@757yotas sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

They only have recently slowed races down because of the aquaplaning of tires. Races are ran behind a safety car during torrential rain. This is still relatively new, for the most part F1 has raced no matter the rain conditions. Nicki Laudas famous crash was during the rain and even stopped racing in Japan because conditions were too bad, that was driver choice. Michael Schumacher is arguably the best F1 driver in rain.

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2016/11/Race_highlights_-_Brazil_2016.html

Hell of a race!

 

Schumacher? he's second
The best?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hUWuR2Dj78
Really think if he didn't die Schumy wouldn't have had the records he has.

But hey Verstappen had one hell of a save last year for the rain, think it was at Brazil too.
Regardless a lot of races actually still happen in the rain...it only seems to be the american redneck racing thats too scared to race in the rain. hell even MotoGP race in the rain.


It was from rain F1 lost Jules Bianchi

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo

 

I knew someone would mention Senna..RIP. Amazing driver, would loved to have seen the battle.

EDIT: I almost forgot about Jules, slammed into a lift moving another car if I recall

 

I had a couple of Subaru Outbacks and I loved them. The last one was awsome--245 HP H6, huge panoramic sunroof, Momo steering wheel, gorgeous gauges that did a full sweep on startup.
Lots of detail on their various AWD systems here: http://www.awdwiki.com/en/subaru/

Subaru AWD is not prone to failure unless it was abused.

I bought a Volvo XC70 to fix up and it has a Haldex AWD system, which has got to be the most ridiculous ineffective failure-prone thing I've ever seen. It spins a rear driveshaft all the time, but a clutch on the rear diff slips all the time unless the car detects variance in axle speeds, in which case it'd fire up a pump in the rear end to provide fluid to the clutch to make it engage. It relies on a computer on the rear diff, the pump, a fluid filter, and a pressure and temperature sensor. Every single one of those is prone to failure. The AWD in mine doesn't work at all and fighting with it really makes me appreciate Subaru's system. I may just leave it FWD as apparently it's not great even when it does work. And they're also prone to destroy an angle gear up front, so a lot of people just pull the rear driveshaft out when that happens.

 

Porsche 918
Lamborghini Gallardo, Aventador, Reventon, Murcielago not sure of any others than that one track type car they made that was basically just a carbonfiber version
audi r8

not sure of anything else.
the porsche is the only AWD out of the trinity of the hypercars
Koenigsegg, Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, all still run RWD

For WEC, Audi R18 quattro TDI only endurance racing car that I know of with AWD.
Mazda's WEC is FWD lmao.

other thing to consider though is not every subaru has the same AWD.
I know from when I was in the tuner scene guys with WRX would say oh we have the same AWD as an STI. there's differences for all of them.

Any mitsubishi AWD is not the same as in the evo.
STI has LSDs in all diffs where WRX doesn't

 

yep, he went off and hit the JCB that was recovering Sergio Perez's car in Japan.

Schumy was amazing in the rain but ya still think Senna was better.

 

Personally, I prefer 4WD since I'm kinda old-fashioned like that... but man, I gotta admit, my parent's little Subaru is amazing in the white powdery stuff.

 

I'm surprised with all the talk of AWD systems no one mentioned one of the originals that dominated WRC for years.
Audi Quattro system.

 

I love my tacoma, but wifes subaru is the best vehicle I've ever driven in variable winter road conditions. https://youtu.be/Edn7_uU-AZY

 

if I was going to choose anything for my sisters, parents or girlfriend to drive I'd choose AWD for them. As I don't think any of them would be able to pay close enough attention and understand when and how to use 4x4.

 

Drive type has less relevance that people give it credit for. Tires are where it's at. A FWD hatchback on snow tires will eat any 4x or AWD with summer tires.

 

I clearly remember going up Baker Mountain for some snowboarding on the day that it opened some 4-5 years ago. It had just received a massive dumping of snow the last few days, and the tight, steep, winding road up was covered in several inches of the white stuff. I was in my '05 BMW 330Ci ZHP (RWD) with new Blizzaks, having the time of my life, and every few hundred metres I'd pass by a 4x4 truck or AWD SUV in the ditch, and every time I'd remember one of my old buddies saying "winter tires are just a marketing scam, bro."

Tires, tires, tires. Tire technology is probably the single most important advancement in automotive progress over the last 30 years.

 

Additional AWD supercars/hypercars include the Bugatti (Veyron and Chiron), Godzilla (Nissan GTR), Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari FF, Audi R8, and the Tesla D models (actually faster accelerating than most of these cars).

There are probably more but these are what I remember off the top of my head.

 

jesus total fuckin brain fart that I forgot Godzilla and the bugatti
Tesla is in a class of its own and its not really a supercar more of one hell of a sports saloon.
Ferrari FF sucks, its not even a proper AWD system it has two separate transmissions and the front only works up to 4th gear.
Figured I was missing other Lambos, but regardless, when you consider all the supercars made, outside of anything owned by VW (since audi lamborghini and bugatti are all VW owned) they usually stick to RWD.

Mercedes SLS AMG
Hennesy Venon
Mercedes GT AMG
BMW M1


Even the americans Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Ford GT, all RWD.

 

That and mentality.
How many people have AWD and 4x4 and think they're invincible while driving?
can't even count how many idiots I've heard say 'I have AWD/4x4 I don't need snow tires'

If you're an idiot and think just because you have 4x4/AWD you can drive like a cock, well you'll be in a ditch or dead.
The amount of ass holes with 4x4/AWD that I get tailgating the fuck outta me in the right lane in a snow storm while doing 60-80km on the highway depending on condition to 40 in a 60km zone on streets is stupid. Every time it snows I see them, all the idiots that try and drive aggressively in a snow storm. Total white out conditions and trying to weave in and out of traffic.

 

Here in GA snow is a rarity.

Every time it snows enough to warrant cautious driving, you will ALWAYS see new SUVs in the ditch because people don't realize that just because they can GO better with AWD/4x4 they can't STOP any better.

Grand Cherokees are the most common ditch divers.

 

If I remember correctly my 2017 Outback and 2014 Tacoma have the same ground clearance. Outback is AWESOME in the snow with all-season tires, Tacoma needs the 4x4 or snow tires for safe acceleration and steering control. Of course both vehicles you need to mind your speed and braking based on conditions.

- side note - Tacoma cab sits higher on the road and has less road spray on the windshield from passing or being passed on slushy roads.

 

I, like many here own both and drive both...my 2014 outback is mainly used by my wife to bring my kids to all there functions. I prefer that because of Subarus safety record and the fact my wife doesn't have to wonder if she needs to put it in 4wd. Subaru is going to start selling a larger vehicle with 3rd row seats to replace the Tribeca I will be looking to buy one when they come out next year, rumor is they are toying with building a pickup truck on the same platform, if that happens I will definitely be interested. Like someone said earlier Toyota owns a good piece of Subaru...so don't hate on me