4wd use

GM's auto 4wd is not even close to comparable to a true awd system. It's 4wd that clunks the t case into 4wd when slip is detected. It wears the shit out of driveline components by using it too frequently. It's mainly used for snowy days when you don't want to keep switching in and out of 4wd

 

My brother has a 13 Ecoboost F150 Lariat, and the 4A on that is awesome. It is completely seamless and you can't even tell it's doing its thing. It's fun to watch the little monitor on the multi-display that shows power transfer between the wheels

 

4WD is fine in the snow, and if it makes the OP feel any better how many 2WD Rock Crawlers have you seen out there? 4WD is what you use off road and sometimes the terrain is going to be more rock and like a deformed road/concrete than it is mud, sand, or snow.

 

If this is your problem use the button on the steering wheel.

 

You need to think a bit before you speak. I use 4WD to drive faster in snowy and slushy conditions, since it changes the handling characteristic of the truck from oversteer-happy to more balanced. This is true even with a good set of snow tires.

 

Not what you said. "I use 4wd even in heavy rain"

 

Read up about the system design before tooting its horn. Unlike the previous Acura systems which used three mini planetary gearsets to achieve the "overdrive" condition needed for torque vectoring, iVTM-4 uses continuously-slipping clutch packs. This means you will probably need a rear diff rebuild to replace the burned-up clutches after the powertrain warranty expires.

"Old" SH-AWD:


"New" SH-AWD and iVTM-4:

The other thing I don't like about the Ridgeline is its size is closer to a fullsize already, being half a foot wider than the Taco.

 

And you said "4wd is not for snow"

The tail-happy behavior is present in heavy rain (with standing water on pavement) as it does in slush.

 

So you are going to use consumer reports (a key appliance rating company) to rate vehicles that everyone on every forum complains about?

How about JD power?

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2016-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds

Tyler

 

Should say rain, I mistyped

Like I said, you need better tires. I've gone over 140mph in the rain with no issues

 

I live in buffalo we get pounded with snow every year. If you have crappy winters, a AWD or 4WD vehicle is going to be your best option. My old Tacoma I took off-road but my f150 has only seen pavement or stone roads. When it's crappy out I use the 4wd and never have had a problem getting anywhere and I've driving through a foot and a half of snow in all my trucks (Tacoma, frontier,f150) no problem. I'd rather be in control of my truck and let it know when to use the 4wd rather than it tell me.

 

How do you get to 140 mph? The truck is electronically limited to about 110 mph according to GPS (speedo may show closer to 120 mph).

 

did I say in a tacoma?

 

^We have been talking about Tacomas. A different vehicle with different weight distribution would have different handling characteristics and may not be as tail-happy in 2WD when things are slippery.

Isn't it interesting that the Chevy Equinox is more reliable than the FJ Cruiser within 3 years of ownership? And the FJ never got a complicated stereo to confuse people.

 

nitrous

 

where are you in canada anyways?
if you're in southern ontario and the next winters are anything like this one, snow is not your worry lol

either way, 4wd auto is meh.
there's very few auto things I like.
Manual is the way to go because I know better than the stupid computer. Fuck off with adjusting my traction. Maybe I want wheel spin you shit stop limiting power.

 

On hard pack snow 4WD is a blessing. On dry pavement or roads with icy sections but mostly dry 2WD works fine. 44 years in Alberta and I never had 4WD and drove all winter with nary a problem. 4WD is nice but not necessary in 99% of the time. It is the 1% that gets you up here. If I lived in Southern California and didn't play desert mountain goat I would be driving a 2WD Tacoma.

 

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the Tacoma does not have a traditional LSD (clutches). Power transfer between opposing wheels is done vi ABS system.

 

There are several types of 4x4 systems

Part time 4x4: locks the front and rear axles together (Tacoma has this)
GM style "auto 4x4": same system as part time 4x4 but once slip is detected it locks the front and rear axles together. After a slip you are basically the same as part time 4x4
Full time 4x4: rover had this (pretty sure merc too) and it is the best power goes to all wheels but there is a differential (usually lockable either manually or through a viscous coupler that binds up and releases automatically) that allows the front axle and rear axle to turn at different speeds
All wheel drive: various mechanisms to divert power to the non-drive axle as needed (viscous coupler, clutch packs etc.), Porsche 911 "4"/turbo etc., Honda had it in CRV, lots of all wheel drive cars and SUVs have this

Note: none of these have anything to do with what is in the axle i.e. Locking, limited slip, traction control, to keep both wheels on an axle turning

The first two are fine, but as noted you risk binding in turns which can cause issues with damage to components, but it is hard to hurt most of that. All that being said, there is no real issue on a highway with snow, only in tight turns on pavement that is dry is an issue.

Also of note, the 2016 Tacoma has auto LSD (electronic traction control as far as I can tell) and the vehicle stability control, so basically it is pretty hard to get the rear end to break loose and if you do the VSC helps you keep control. If it gets bad and you are stuck) put it in four low and turn off the VSC (turning on the auto LSD) you should get through. Gunning it in rain in 2wd does nothing untoward (insert 4 cylinder joke here).

Finally, I cannot overstate how great snow tires are. I run them exclusively on all my cars. While getting stuck is annoying, loosing control or not being able to stop and crashing is worse and good snow tires really help the most there.

 

I remember looking at a Ridgeline 5 or 6 years ago and the mpg was miserable. Glad they improved it.