AWD and snow

[colinl]

Except that we're talking about the Maverick's AWD system which most of the time runs in FWD until the sensors detect wheel spin or the need for hard acceleration. I don't know what the hell you're getting so worked up about.

not just hard acceleration. if you have the FX4, Tremor or Lariat driver panel and turn on the Adaptive AWD menu you'll see that every time you accelerate from a stop, even gently, you start with 50/50 torque split. it's rather useful in wintry conditions.

if you keep watching it, the split does quickly go to FWD in Normal drive mode if there's no slippage. that's true.

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[Deleted member 14823]

not just hard acceleration. if you have the FX4, Tremor or Lariat driver panel and turn on the Adaptive AWD menu you'll see that every time you accelerate from a stop, even gently, you start with 50/50 torque split. it's rather useful in wintry conditions.

if you keep watching it, the split does quickly go to FWD in Normal drive mode if there's no slippage. that's true.

This is true, you can select different options or just let the computers figure it out, but my point is that AWD is not just simply 4WD. The people who opted for it are getting a lot of cool technology that assists with driving in slippery conditions.

 

[Jman79]

I think most people wanting 4WD have not driven a FWD in snow ever. Maybe its somehow more macho to say that you absolutely need a 4x4 with stupid wheels hanging a foot outside the fenders just to get to work, but whatever. 3-4" of snow should not be a problem for FWD. I see lots of clueless people with no idea how to drive in snow and ice, and floor it when they should not be forming ice on the tires by spinning them as fast as possible. That's why the slippery mode setting mostly just slows down the throttle response and keeps the tread doing its job. IMHO, 4WD is great for getting you more stuck, and not much more than that.

Lol, I have to bite my tongue every time this question is asked. I have a hard time wording my response politely because if you're asking this kind of question then you need so much more than AWD/4WD.

Ultimately you shouldn't be buying AWD if your best reason is for performance in bad weather. Spend a 1/4 of the money on a good bad weather driving coarse instead.

 

[Snowbird]

Tires, tires, tires. I grew up in NW PA and then spent two decades in New England. Tires, tires, tires. That said (twice), a good AWD system is a nice thing for getting going in the first place.

I drove my Miata all winter long in New England on winter tires. I used to pass stuck SUVs all the time. Used to get incredulous looks. Though maybe that's because I'd have the top down while the temp was below freezing.

Listen to this guy.

 

[Scott Asheville]

Listen to this guy.

I'm not sure anyone should listen to a guy (me) who drove a Miata in blizzards with the top down. I'm not completely sure that qualifies as sane. But it sure was fun...

 

[Snowbird]

I'm not sure anyone should listen to a guy (me) who drove a Miata in blizzards with the top down. I'm not completely sure that qualifies as sane. But it sure was fun...

Yea but you were sane enough to have the right TIRES!!!!

 

[RedRider]

Except that we're talking about the Maverick's AWD system which most of the time runs in FWD until the sensors detect wheel spin or the need for hard acceleration. I don't know what the hell you're getting so worked up about.

Huh? If you are spinning the wheels then you've already screwed up. Whether its deep snow, mud, ice or anything else, spinning the wheels is virtually always the wrong answer. So, if you've already messed it up and you're already stuck so badly that you have to try rocking it out (good luck trying that with an automatic by the way), maybe you're better off having a winch and a nearby tree or something. Its not a tank, its a truck.

 

[Kristom]

Listen to this guy.

Like they say in upstate New York ( Adirondacks) .. as long as you keep moving you can’t get stuck !

 

[Deleted member 14823]

Huh? If you are spinning the wheels then you've already screwed up. Whether its deep snow, mud, ice or anything else, spinning the wheels is virtually always the wrong answer. So, if you've already messed it up and you're already stuck so badly that you have to try rocking it out (good luck trying that with an automatic by the way), maybe you're better off having a winch and a nearby tree or something. Its not a tank, its a truck.

The computer detects the wheels slipping (or about to slip) and adjusts accordingly:

https://www.pembrokeobserver.com/fe...dive-2022-ford-mavericks-awd-system-explained

The OP asks other people with AWD if they are experiencing good winter performance, at which point you decided to post some deal about 4WD owners being macho and not knowing how to drive. I was pointing out that for those of us with AWD, it's not the same as 4WD.

 

[Hooverq]

Lol, I have to bite my tongue every time this question is asked. I have a hard time wording my response politely because if you're asking this kind of question then you need so much more than AWD/4WD.

Ultimately you shouldn't be buying AWD if your best reason is for performance in bad weather. Spend a 1/4 of the money on a good bad weather driving coarse instead.

If you’re referring to the original poster. I was just curious. Hells bells, I’ve ridden a motorcycle in the snow, I’m not worried about the offensive driving at all. I ride a Triumph Tiger or a Ural to work on a daily basis. It was simply a matter of curiosity.

 

[Jman79]

If you’re referring to the original poster. I was just curious. Hells bells, I’ve ridden a motorcycle in the snow, I’m not worried about the offensive driving at all. I ride a Triumph Tiger or a Ural to work on a daily basis. It was simply a matter of curiosity.

A bit, more generalization than directly at you, this isn't the first thread for this highly subjective question in the past week or so. You're never going to get a good answer because too many peoples driving ability differs.

It's also frustrating because AWD gets overplayed for it's ability to help a person drive in snow when it comes to cars. Sometimes it's dangerously emboldening. But heh, auto makers don't make $$$ off snow tires so the focus is on AWD upsell to people who don't need it. Why aren't there any threads about "How's it handle with good snow tires?" Which is a more meaningful, or even better, "what is a good set of snow tires for this vehicle?"

 

[Scott Asheville]

Lol, I have to bite my tongue every time this question is asked. I have a hard time wording my response politely because if you're asking this kind of question then you need so much more than AWD/4WD.

Ultimately you shouldn't be buying AWD if your best reason is for performance in bad weather. Spend a 1/4 of the money on a good bad weather driving coarse instead.

There's a bit of truth here. Knowing how to handle slippery conditions and edge-case defensive driving in general is well worth the cost of a driving school for those who have the time, availability and money. Alas, these courses tend to require air travel.

It reminds me of one day in sunny Little Rock. I had a Mazda RX7-R1 hot rod on summer tires. Rear wheel drive and fat tires and soft compound for speed. Manual transmission. Rotary engine with a ludicrous torque peak. The worst possible ride in icy conditions. While I was at the air base on a mission, an ice storm hit. My ride home was a hilly 20 minutes. But I managed it because I had elemental driving skills in ice. I knew to lift when the back came unstuck a bit. I knew to start up the hill fast and down the hill and curves slow. Basic stuff. I made it home past a vast legion of Arkansas drivers littering the side of the road. Not their fault - they were out of their element and caught by surprise.

Skill goes a long way when you don't have the right tools for the job. Google "winter driving schools".

 

[lavaspill]

Tires, tires, tires. I grew up in NW PA and then spent two decades in New England. Tires, tires, tires. That said (twice), a good AWD system is a nice thing for getting going in the first place.

I drove my Miata all winter long in New England on winter tires. I used to pass stuck SUVs all the time. Used to get incredulous looks. Though maybe that's because I'd have the top down while the temp was below freezing.

Bet that thing plowed some snow at 5”

 

[EIlig]

Except that we're talking about the Maverick's AWD system which most of the time runs in FWD until the sensors detect wheel spin or the need for hard acceleration. I don't know what the hell you're getting so worked up about.

He has a Hybrid w/o AWD... Sour grapes

 

[Jman79]

I don't want to start another winter driving thread so I'm not posting on this subject in the survey thread, but I threw up a survey to help feel out how many people buy AWD just for winter handling...

There is definitely a larger crowd that purchases just for that reason. Which is a little unsettling for those who know it's not a 1-to-1 offset for hazardous weather the way it is sometimes advertised/interpreted .

Survey Thread:
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/did-you-buy-awd-and-why.36597/#post-659545

Sorry for the full link here but I seem to have lost access to the full edit toolbar. Perhaps a mod got upset at my attempts at humor with some pictures or is everyone's toolbar greyed out?

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