I often hear or read automotive journalists praising the benefits of an all-wheel drive layout in a car or truck, and I agree; four wheels that manage engine power will always be more capable than two, especially on slippery surfaces.
However, when my colleagues tell the consumer that to survive our harsh winters, he or she absolutely must purchase all-wheel drive if it’s available in the vehicle they’re shopping for, that’s when I start to disagree.
I’ve never owned an all-wheel drive car, and I’m not dead yet.
More and more manufacturers are offering all-wheel drive cars today, because they flaunt it as some sort of grandiose safety benefit. Yes, but it depends.
It depends on where you live. It depends on where you drive. It depends on what you do for a living. It depends on your budget. All-wheel drive is a “good-to-have” feature in winter, but not very useful in July.
We all know the benefits. But the all-wheel drive hardware adds weight and mechanical friction, which results in potentially higher maintenance costs and higher fuel consumption. Optional all-wheel drive in a vehicle typically costs an extra $2,000 to $3,000, or more in high-end luxury vehicles.
If you live deep in the boonies, and only badly-maintained and twisty country roads separate you from civilization, all-wheel drive is a clear benefit. If you live in an urban area, though, and take the highway to work, it’s a non-essential feature.
After all, you’ve got winter tires, right? Tires that will perform better in cold climates and offer better grip than four-season gumballs? All-wheel drive is pointless with crappy tires, or tires that aren’t adapted to the road conditions.
Also, a lot of new vehicles today come with standard anti-lock brakes as well as traction and stability control systems. They won’t increase grip, but they’ll help you avoid hitting the ditch. Remember, whether your car is equipped with AWD or not, you still have to drive safely. No safety device can replace your skill and judgment behind the wheel.
Driving in winter, particularly during a snowstorm, might scare the hell out of you, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. And I’m not only talking about the ladies; quite a few of us men lack confidence behind the wheel (we just don’t admit it).
Instead of purchasing all-wheel drive when you might not really need it, why don’t you buy a winter driving course instead? There’s nothing like getting to know your car better, learning how it will react when you lose control, and how you should react to prevent an accident. It’s called live and learn, and should be done on a closed course instead of on the open road.
Personally, with my daily commute to work, and the weekend trip to the grocery store, I don’t NEED all-wheel drive. Do you?
However, when my colleagues tell the consumer that to survive our harsh winters, he or she absolutely must purchase all-wheel drive if it’s available in the vehicle they’re shopping for, that’s when I start to disagree.
I’ve never owned an all-wheel drive car, and I’m not dead yet.
More and more manufacturers are offering all-wheel drive cars today, because they flaunt it as some sort of grandiose safety benefit. Yes, but it depends.
It depends on where you live. It depends on where you drive. It depends on what you do for a living. It depends on your budget. All-wheel drive is a “good-to-have” feature in winter, but not very useful in July.
We all know the benefits. But the all-wheel drive hardware adds weight and mechanical friction, which results in potentially higher maintenance costs and higher fuel consumption. Optional all-wheel drive in a vehicle typically costs an extra $2,000 to $3,000, or more in high-end luxury vehicles.
If you live deep in the boonies, and only badly-maintained and twisty country roads separate you from civilization, all-wheel drive is a clear benefit. If you live in an urban area, though, and take the highway to work, it’s a non-essential feature.
After all, you’ve got winter tires, right? Tires that will perform better in cold climates and offer better grip than four-season gumballs? All-wheel drive is pointless with crappy tires, or tires that aren’t adapted to the road conditions.
Also, a lot of new vehicles today come with standard anti-lock brakes as well as traction and stability control systems. They won’t increase grip, but they’ll help you avoid hitting the ditch. Remember, whether your car is equipped with AWD or not, you still have to drive safely. No safety device can replace your skill and judgment behind the wheel.
Driving in winter, particularly during a snowstorm, might scare the hell out of you, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. And I’m not only talking about the ladies; quite a few of us men lack confidence behind the wheel (we just don’t admit it).
Instead of purchasing all-wheel drive when you might not really need it, why don’t you buy a winter driving course instead? There’s nothing like getting to know your car better, learning how it will react when you lose control, and how you should react to prevent an accident. It’s called live and learn, and should be done on a closed course instead of on the open road.
Personally, with my daily commute to work, and the weekend trip to the grocery store, I don’t NEED all-wheel drive. Do you?