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The mountains in California are never more than an hour or two from the desert so the California Highway Patrol sets up roadblocks to require people to install chains or have AWD and "M+S" tires so your AWD car and truck can go to the snow in California without mounting chains. So if you like to go to Lake Arrowhead-Big Bear or Tahoe in the winter, it can save some hassle.
Audi's and Subaru's (9-2Xs too) have their longitudally mounted engine entirely ahead of the front and in FWD configuration are extremely nose heavy and the AWD hardware, rear axles and diffs, help balance the car somewhat, which is not the case with a G35X or a BMW 330iX.
But I agree with you, the weight, fuel economy and expense are not worth it for SoCal driving. Or is it worth it for serious snow country where you mount snows all around, and don't have silly California snow chain rules, the AWD car just goes off the road while going faster. For a properly balanced FWD car, AWD is just a gimmick.
Posts in this Thread:
- Benefits of AWD for us in mild climates?, Geoff, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 14:25:53
- AWD car companies......& gimmicks..., Mike Lynch
, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 13:27:47 - Depends on how and where you drive., WFVIGGEN, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 09:51:28
- Depends on how much power you make and how you drive, Chad, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 09:07:38
- AWD/4WD in snow and ice, Erik, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 08:09:40
- You forgot a negative., saw, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 21:19:21
- Avoiding snow chains in California..., Mike Lynch
, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 16:53:12 <-- Viewing This Message- No chains for us..., Scott Paterson
, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 19:01:30 - AWD a gimmick?, Noel G, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 17:52:37
- AWD all year long lets you put the power to the road>>, elGT, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 08:48:56
- AWD is not a gimmick, but a nicetie..., jimtimkim, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 06:05:02
- Re: AWD a gimmick? Mostly...., Noel, Tue, 2 Aug 2005 04:41:14
- yep - pure marketing gimmick, nt moore, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 20:13:26
- Traction with higher power, AdamB
, Mon, 1 Aug 2005 14:30:04
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