It's AWD season. It's that time of the year when roads get greasy, traction goes south with the geese and driving conditions are at there most challenging. I personally love it!
Why am I so enamoured with winter driving? Because AWD. AWD will forever be featured on my family car and should I replace my darling MKII Jetta by another beast, unless it's another old-school Volkswagen, it will have AWD. Why? Because AWD.
I'm fresh from the local launch of the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza. Subaru describes AWD as not only a technology, it has much to do with how it makes you feel when you're behind the wheel. This is correct. In fact, today's AWD systems, including Subie's Symmetrical AWD, are so seamless that you'd never know they were working for you. The only thought that crosses your mind is how great the car handles.
The day of the event was wet, unfortunately not covered in snow. The Subaru folks were satisfied with the conditions as their shiny new Imprezas were still sporting 4-season tires. I said “pshaw!” It's got AWD!
As you can see by the picture, I found some snow-covered roads, and other than being disappointed with the fact that the ESP cannot be fully disabled (shenanigans!), I had a fine time making the AWD struggle for grip. You need to understand that pedal-to-the-metal is a must in these situations...
Fine, I'm a brute but the point is that any FWD car would have remained idle with its wheels spinning and steam flowing from my ears.
On the topic of fuel consumption, most modern AWD cars consume little more than standard FWD cars. In the Impreza's case, it's as good or better than its compact competitors. Put that in your smoke and pipe it!
Also, if you live in town, you might be thinking that the roads are always plowed so why would I need AWD? Answer me this: where does the snow go when the streets are cleared? That's right, up against your car. How would you like to only have to clear your door with your boots, get in, start up the car and drive off without shovelling? I thought so.
AWD is da bomb. Even on cool wet surfaces, the AWD system swaps and switches power and torque from wheel to wheel in a carefully choreographed dance designed to get you moving. Most 2WD systems are nothing more than 1-wheel slip and and 1-wheel spin.
Don't believe in AWD? All you gotta to do is take a new 2012 Subaru Impreza for a test drive on a snowy day and you'll be sold.
Why am I so enamoured with winter driving? Because AWD. AWD will forever be featured on my family car and should I replace my darling MKII Jetta by another beast, unless it's another old-school Volkswagen, it will have AWD. Why? Because AWD.
I'm fresh from the local launch of the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza. Subaru describes AWD as not only a technology, it has much to do with how it makes you feel when you're behind the wheel. This is correct. In fact, today's AWD systems, including Subie's Symmetrical AWD, are so seamless that you'd never know they were working for you. The only thought that crosses your mind is how great the car handles.
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| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com |
The day of the event was wet, unfortunately not covered in snow. The Subaru folks were satisfied with the conditions as their shiny new Imprezas were still sporting 4-season tires. I said “pshaw!” It's got AWD!
As you can see by the picture, I found some snow-covered roads, and other than being disappointed with the fact that the ESP cannot be fully disabled (shenanigans!), I had a fine time making the AWD struggle for grip. You need to understand that pedal-to-the-metal is a must in these situations...
Fine, I'm a brute but the point is that any FWD car would have remained idle with its wheels spinning and steam flowing from my ears.
On the topic of fuel consumption, most modern AWD cars consume little more than standard FWD cars. In the Impreza's case, it's as good or better than its compact competitors. Put that in your smoke and pipe it!
Also, if you live in town, you might be thinking that the roads are always plowed so why would I need AWD? Answer me this: where does the snow go when the streets are cleared? That's right, up against your car. How would you like to only have to clear your door with your boots, get in, start up the car and drive off without shovelling? I thought so.
AWD is da bomb. Even on cool wet surfaces, the AWD system swaps and switches power and torque from wheel to wheel in a carefully choreographed dance designed to get you moving. Most 2WD systems are nothing more than 1-wheel slip and and 1-wheel spin.
Don't believe in AWD? All you gotta to do is take a new 2012 Subaru Impreza for a test drive on a snowy day and you'll be sold.