awd/fwd when wanting to go cheap

[mizzou]

i will likely upgrade a 2004 fwd suv for a newer one within a few years or so.

i pretty much considered only awd but noticed fwd variants have the best deals and...honestly...fwd seems to do just fine in modest winter weather.

i want to pay cash for the veh. Fwd cars save around $5k.


So what do you all think...is awd overkill for a grocery getter? most snow i see yearly is around 6" if its bad. ice also happens but not usually that much of a concern

 

[Eug]

I've driven for decades on FWD just fine but AWD is still nice to have on icy snowy days even for city driving.

However, if money is tight and it really is a $5000 premium for AWD, then just get FWD.

Either way though, whether you get FWD or AWD, you'll want winter tires, so you'll need to factor that cost into your decision.

 

[NutBucket]

What's your budget? I mean, a base Forester and a base CR-V are basically the same price and one has AWD...

 

[mizzou]

thanks. The funny thing was I am driving a garaged handmedown car and was told it was awd. Months later I was changing the oil and thought hmmmmm there is no rear axle...it was freaking fwd lol.

ill drive it as long as i can, but it seems that my family deemed it a good peformer in snow and beleived it to be awd. I think they thought traction control was awd

 

[mizzou]

What's your budget? I mean, a base Forester and a base CR-V are basically the same price and one has AWD...

i looking generally in the used market amd dont want to spend more then $20k. $15k would be ideal. 10k would be awesome.

 

[Jumpem]

I would never get a FWD SUV. Look at a Forester or Crosstrek.

 

[3chordcharlie]

It sounds like you are classifying AWD under 'nice to have'. It's not a free to have. All other things equal, you will pay more for AWD. That's not to say you shouldn't get it.

The lower your budget, the more you will have to 'trade down' on model, quality, condition or age, to get AWD.

AWD has a place, but practically speaking unless you regularly drive in deep, fresh snow (in which case you really want locking 4WD), FWD and good snow tires will do you just fine.

You can definitely get a quality AWD vehicle for under $20k though.

 

[KentState]

We have a FWD CUV and it's fine. Then again you stay home down here if it does snow so not a huge deal.

 

[zerocool84]

With good snow tires you won't need AWD. People think AWD is do all for any terrain when it's not.

 

[jlee]

With good snow tires you won't need AWD. People think AWD is do all for any terrain when it's not.

+1

Save the $5000 and spend $500 of it on winter tires.

 

[Jumpem]

Or buy snow tires and something with a capable AWD system.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Or buy snow tires and something with a capable AWD system.

Unless your specific use case actually requires AWD, it is simply a consideration, not a requirement.

Driving in snow does not automatically require AWD.

 

[Jumpem]

Unless your specific use case actually requires AWD, it is simply a consideration, not a requirement.

Driving in snow does not automatically require AWD.

It certainly allows me to get around easier and quicker. I can also get through deeper snow and snow banks without high centering.

 

[jlee]

It certainly allows me to get around easier and quicker. I can also get through deeper snow and snow banks without high centering.

I wouldn't spend an extra $5000 ($10k vs $15k) solely for AWD given 6" of snow on a bad day.

 

[skyking]

+1 for FWD and a second set of tires on rims. I'd go that route because I have room for a stack of tires and I can and will swap them on when needed.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Every time I start looking for a new used car I want a Subaru but the prices people want for them is ridiculous. There is always those few weeks out of the year where I wish I had AWD but it isn't worth it the rest of the year. I just came from a 2004 fwd car to a 2013 fwd car which is my first car with traction control. The traction control does help getting up my steep road quite a bit some I happy enough.

 

[Eug]

With good snow tires you won't need AWD. People think AWD is do all for any terrain when it's not.

As I've said before elsewhere, this logic doesn't follow. Having snow tires doesn't eliminate the benefits of AWD. Regardless if you get FWD or AWD, you will still want snow tires, and snow tires plus AWD is superior to snow tires plus FWD.

Furthermore, this is especially true for urban driving. In fact, most current AWD systems are actually not built for off-roading. They're built mainly for urban driving on slippery roads.

However, I do agree that it's an optional feature.

 

[jlee]

As I've said before elsewhere, this logic doesn't follow. Having snow tires doesn't eliminate the benefits of AWD. Regardless if you get FWD or AWD, you will still want snow tires, and snow tires plus AWD is superior to snow tires plus FWD.

Furthermore, this is especially true for urban driving. In fact, most current AWD systems are actually not built for off-roading. They're built mainly for urban driving on slippery roads.

However, I do agree that it's an optional feature.

The logic is fine. Nobody is saying that AWD isn't superior - we are arguing that FWD with good tires is adequate for the vast majority of winter driving situations.

 

[soulcougher73]

If its not a subaru i wouldnt worry about AWD as almost every other brands AWD is useless

 

[Eug]

If its not a subaru i wouldnt worry about AWD as almost every other brands AWD is useless

This is a common statement, and a statement that is flat out wrong.

The Subarus often have an advantage for off-roading, but most people don't get AWD to off-road. They get AWD to have better traction on icy urban streets, etc.

 

[soulcougher73]

This is a common statement, and a statement that is flat out wrong.

The Subarus often have an advantage for off-roading, but most people don't get AWD to off-road. They get AWD to have better traction on icy urban streets, etc.

Hope theirs no incline on that icy urban street

I'm just basing my judegment off of this video. Most of these seem useless to me if wanting AWD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw

 

[Eug]

Hope theirs no incline on that icy urban street

I'm just basing my judegment off of this video. Most of these seem useless to me if wanting AWD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw

That sounds like the same test the Swedes used. That video just illustrates that you can use artificial tests to achieve a desired result. It's no surprise that comes from a Subaru dealer.

Although controversial, the Swedish test has already been debunked by some, stating that inclines on rollers don't really simulate inclines on ice in most urban settings. On ice you will still get some traction, reduced traction but enough to get the AWD system to kick in.

Furthermore, when Honda was asked about this test, they said they didn't think it was realistic, but nonetheless was able to change the behaviour of the car to pass the test simply by doing a firmware update.

I'm not saying the Subaru approach isn't superior in a lot of regards, but for many the advantages of Subaru's approach aren't worth it, esp. when considering other factors.

 

[NutBucket]

Like what? There's basically zero mileage penalty between a FWD CR-V, FWD RAV4 and AWD Forester....

CR-V 26/33 mpg
Fozzy 24/32 mpg
RAV4 24/31 mpg

 

[Midwayman]

Depends on where you live. If you have steep hills AWD can be the difference between making it up the hill or not, even with snow tires. Most people its an optional feature.

 

[Eug]

Like what? There's basically zero mileage penalty between a FWD CR-V, FWD RAV4 and AWD Forester....

CR-V 26/33 mpg
Fozzy 24/32 mpg
RAV4 24/31 mpg

Well, there was that oil consumption issue, and Subarus don't get great reliability scores. About average. Toyota and Honda are both above average, and Lexus blows everyone else away.

P.S. I'm picking up the RAV4 AWD Hybrid today. 34/31 mpg US