all-wheel drive systems tested

[SpaceGhost]

[acklac7]

So basically Subaru>everyone else?

 

I'd love to see the throttle position readings for every test.

[Furloaf]

Completely unbiased test brought to you by Subaru of Dallas.

[Not Brian]

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113544

 

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=5572&albumid=695&dl=1319427197&thumb=1

[Geeesammy]

Stick to wealth equality threads. No one on CR in their right mind posts those.

[Draco-REX]

So basically Subaru>everyone else?

 

I'd love to see the throttle position readings for every test.

 

Completely unbiased test brought to you by Subaru of Dallas.

 

To be fair,

 

True Full-time AWD > everyone else.

 

Some "full-time" AWD systems are actually part-time systems that engage automatically. Once the car starts moving, the system goes back to being 2wd. Subaru's system is actually very simple. On a basic level it's like a 4x4 system you'd find under a truck. That's why it works so well. It's the fancy electronic systems that often get tripped up on simple tests like this. But I think any system that is a true AWD should work well on these tests.

[jeffro]

RE. Sorry ben.

[TTQ B4U]

Let's see a subi vs audi up a ski slope or ramp.

[ImUrOBGYN]

Subaru biasness aside (something everyone knows about since the vid came out, speaking of which...), the video is too old to even be relevant except to Subaru's "Synchronous AWD" which is still the same. You are correct, synchronous is fancy for all 4 wheels getting power all the time, regardless of conditions.

 

Having driven various 4weel drive, all wheel drive, and Subaru's SAWD, I will say there is quite a divide between many systems. Not wanting to start a true 'brand' war in here, suffice to say some have their advantages and some are quite superior to others and unless you really dig thru the internet for info on the systems or thru experience, it's pretty hard to learn about them all in-depth. They've evolved pretty quickly. I will say due to the speed of modern awd systems (good ones, anyway), their ability to portion out their torque individually to each wheel (far and away faster than any of them could in 2007) makes that safer than Subaru's regular AWD in most situations, STi notwithstanding. Of course, I'm referring to the general driving public and their so-so driving skills. Not your average CR boy-racer extraordinaire.