From: "Robert Comer" 

> I think the driver becomes quite important on snow.

Absolutely agree.

>And front wheel drive.

That I disagree with, a front drive car cannot keep up with a Subaru in
snow by any means. (assuming the Subaru driver is competent.)

>I
> remember taking some rental Chevrolet over the Rockies without bother. We
> didn't have chains so we took a chance... And there was a rental Toyota on
> some 'Jeep roads' in South Africa.

One trip isn't enough of a comparison, driving for years in snow with both
front, rear, and AWD and you get a feel for it.  Highway's are quite a bit
different than rural streets too, they tend to take care of them quite a
bit better.

> 4WD would add confidence in marginal conditions, but you don't want to
have
> a car anywhere near where a 4WD becomes mandatory, regardless of how many
> wheels it can drive.

Why not?

- Bob Comer


"Paul Ranson"  wrote in message
news:3ecea8c4$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> I think the driver becomes quite important on snow. And front wheel drive.
I
> remember taking some rental Chevrolet over the Rockies without bother. We
> didn't have chains so we took a chance... And there was a rental Toyota on
> some 'Jeep roads' in South Africa.
>
> 4WD would add confidence in marginal conditions, but you don't want to
have
> a car anywhere near where a 4WD becomes mandatory, regardless of how many
> wheels it can drive.
>
> Paul
>
> "Robert Comer"  wrote in message
> news:3ece6bcc$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > Snow, that's where Subaru's excel. (not bad on rain soaked roads like
> around
> > here either.)
> >
> > They are also fun to drive on the edge, even without 300HP.  True a
sports
> > car would be more fun, but they can't do snow and they cost more.  (not
to
> > mention they aren't AWD unless it's a Quattro.)
> >
> > - Bob Comer
> >
> >
> > "Paul Ranson"  wrote in message
> > news:3ece5bce$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > Things where you have to select four wheel drive need another name.
> 'Crap'
> > > perhaps....
> > >
> > > The Subaru implementation is fine, whatever one calls it. You get
> > > effectively front wheel drive with power distributed to the rear as
> > > necessary and without too much inefficiency. However I'm not sure
> there's
> > > any point unless you have 300BHP or do a lot of work on muddy fields.
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > "Robert Comer" 
wrote in message
> > > news:3ece3b8e$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > > > Most Subarus are actually not permanent 4WD - the
other axle is
> > coupled
> > > in
> > > > > when one slips
> > > >
> > > > Actually they are AWD, not 4WD, in normal driving its
90% front, 10%
> > back
> > > > and only when one or more wheels start slipping does it get
> distributed
> > > > differently.  It's actually a very nice predictable
handling system,
> > > almost
> > > > neutral cornering which I like very much, and having
the added bonus
> of
> > > > handling bad roads better than any 2WD.
> > > >
> > > > >(or, on at least one early model, when the windscreen wipers
> > > > > are switched on).
> > > >
> > > > Well, it is electrically controlled, so I guess I'm not
surprised.
> (you
> > > can
> > > > disable the rear wheel drive by pulling a fuse)
> > > >
> > > > > I would have leapt on this a year or two back, but now
> > > > > some of the downmarket "el cheapo" Audis
(like the TT) work  the
> same
> > > way.
> > > >
> > > > I don't think that's available here.
> > > >
> > > > As for reliability, 145Kmiles and still going, no major
repairs and
> very
> > > few
> > > > wear and tear ones. (1 wheel rear bearing, and the
other side will
> need
> > it
> > > > now, rear wheel bearings are particularly a problem on
Subaru's for
> some
> >
> > > > reason. 1 set of tires and a battery.)
> > > >
> > > > - Bob Comer
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Phil Payne" 
wrote in message
> > > > news:3ECE3625.B5B6CFEF{at}isham-research.com...
> > > > > > I'm not sure I'd compare the two, different
markets, different
> > setup,
> > > > > > different everything except that all 4 wheels
are powered.  (The
> WRX
> > I
> > > > guess
> > > > > > would compete in market though, but that's a
small minority of
> > > Subaru's,
> > > > > > most are Outbacks these days.)
> > > > >
> > > > > WRXs don't last - the Germans won't touch them
because they fall
> apart
> > > on
> > > > > the Autobahns.  I suppose where the maximum they
will ever see is
> > 80mph
> > > > > that's not an issue.  They're very common here -
in fact there are
> > three
> > > > > parked in my street.
> > > > >
> > > > > Most Subarus are actually not permanent 4WD - the
other axle is
> > coupled
> > > in
> > > > > when one slips (or, on at least one early model, when the
windscreen
> > > > wipers
> > > > > are switched on).  I would have leapt on this a
year or two back,
> but
> > > now
> > > > > some of the downmarket "el cheapo" Audis
(like the TT) work  the
> same
> > > way.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >   Phil Payne
> > > > >   http://www.isham-research.com
> > > > >   +44 7785 302 803
> > > > >   +49 173 6242039
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

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