Printable View
I'm thinking about leasing a charger for use back home in MI. It's going to be replacing a quadra-drive grand cherokee. Now, I hope I won't start some holy war, but should I go with AWD or RWD? What are the pros/cons of either? Does a 4000lb car really need the extra traction from AWD? What does it add/hurt?
Thanks :)
Hurts fuel efficiency, handling, though probably to a near-negligible degree.
Advantage, perhaps four wheel burnouts?! :lol: :lol:
Yeah, I noticed the sharp fuel-efficiency hit on the 3.5L V6 but on the 5.7L it seemed a bit more negligible.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmaartAasSaabr
I'm more concerned about how it hurts the handling and feel of the car... and whether it would really help in snowy/loose terrain. I'd expect a car of that mass to be able to have enough grip to move on any surface...
Test drive!
Im gonna go ahead and say, dont buy one PERIOD.
unless you go with SRT dont get one...........
What are the differences between the HEMI and the SRT versions?(besides the obvious)Quote:
Originally Posted by quickcummins
Wouldnt even buy the SRT if your gonna keep it longer than maybe a year or two.
The transmissions on Dodge/Chrystler is not good for more than 2 years unless you drive it like a Buick... :lol:
awd probably loses you a bit more power too compared to rwd. personally i'd love to go the rwd route, but living in michigan, with winter pretty much here, it might be good to go awd
...
I'd +1 the test-drive idea - and go, at least once, specifically when it's snowing/slushy out.
It seems like a part of your concerns with the vehicle-choice revolves around foul-weather use/utility. Being a resident year-round of NE-Ohio, I certainly cannot fault you on that. :)
During the test-drive in the slippery conditions, pay attention, too, to the fact that properly equipped with dedicated winter tires, you may not experience as many problems (if you do experience any at all) with the RWD model. Unless the salesman has a demo of a RWD thus-equipped for your testing, you'll just have to factor this into your purchase-equation in a hypothetical manner.
Remember, too, that the cost of the additional set of winter wheel/tire setup may offset, significantly, the RWD-to-AWD price difference.
I don't envy the choice you have to make - but I am jealous of the car. :)
MI as in MICHIGAN, snow and/or slippery conditions at least 3 months/year, have you ever driven a RWD vehicle on snow and/or black-ice? I did, for 10 freaking long years, any RWD vehicle reacts very very badly on slippery roads, just one example is waiting at a traffic light (red) to turn green AND you're standing UPHILL, 30 dgrs, try this and you will see how the RWD vehicle does it for you, the rear wheels will start spinning around pushing the rear of the car sideways so you will have a hard time getting it back in the lane plus all the people behind you stuck in traffic because you cannot take off at the green light :wink:
NEVER EVER GET A RWD IF YOU LIVE IN AREAS WITH SNOW/SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS!!!
Thanks for the input everyone, I'll try to get a test-drive going and consider this some more.
(And yeah yeah, I've owned a Chrysler vehicle before, I know their reliability level, etc... that's why I only want it for 2 years and then it's someone else's problem!)
As far as the tranny, it's basically the Mercedes W5A580, so it couldn't be *that* bad, could it? (famous last words....)
AWD isn't JUST for the snow. Terry does impossible things with his Carrera 4 at Sebring when it's perfectly dry. I'm a BIG fan of AWD.
I like AWD for just practicaity purposes it really does help you get going on a snowy day but I don't like the charger anyway. Test drive some people love AWD cornering while others like the pushability of RWD.
Get the AWD if you plan on driving it during winter. RWD just plain sucks in winter weather.
That's why all trucks are RWD... but ask truckers how they feel driving on snowy roads especially with an empty trailer...Quote:
Originally Posted by GrandCentral
get AWD...trust me it will save ur ass on both dry and wet/snowy roads
I've driven nothing but rear-wheel drive cars since 1990, and with a good set of 4 winter tires, I've never had a problem. I drive in the city (up inclines too :wink: ) and take the car to the cottage almost every weekend (lots of lake-effect snow)Quote:
Originally Posted by RW'07
Your NEVER statement doesn't really make sense, since FWD cars are really a product of the late 70/early 80's. Before that, when the vast majority of people in North America drove domestic cars, all of those cars were RWD. Plus, back then, there was no thing as traction-assist or high-tech rubber compounds, yet people who lived in the areas with snow still miraculously got around...
As for which car to chose, get the RWD. God intended high-horsepower to be put through the rear wheels only. :lol:
J/
They also put chains on their tires back then.
I dunno.
Good winter tires can do wonders - heck, even the most ardent AWD-drivers will admit that a good set of winter tires on either a FWD or RWD vehicle can often "drive circles" around an AWD vehicle, shod with sub-standard "All Seasons."
This is why I think that the OP should test out, if at all possible, the RWD vehicle *with* proper winter tires - particularly versus the AWD vehicle shod with its OEM tires, as a comparison.
I just bought a RWD car, my previous one was an AWD with Traction control and all season tires... :) I think I'm in for a fun winter here in the snow belt.
heheh
I did just put on winter tires on the new car though... hopefully it won't be too bad.
My dads Infiniti is a beast in deep ass snow even with crappy all seasons.
But it doesnt beat my truck with 4WD lol
I can go through some deep snow lol
Thanks for all the input everyone, I'll take all this into account in my final decision :)
Cheers!
In my old car I could plow through anything that wasn't bumper high. Luckily the wife has an AWD SUV. It doesn't have Traction control, but its good enough for the really bad days. Problem is in Cleveland, any day can turn into a really bad day really fast. Well maybe not on the west side where HappyA$$ lives, but on the east side.... watch out.Quote:
Originally Posted by WannabeSS
I know what ya mean. We get bad snow in Mn to lolQuote:
Originally Posted by lordhamster
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...excursion3.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...excursion2.jpg
Come back when at least your foglights are underneath the snow.
You'll be just fine. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lordhamster
If a Camaro SS can power its way up Cedar Hill (albeit sideways), I have faith that your much more advanced vehicle stability electronics - plus the all-important winter tires - will do you just fine. :)
hahah Cedar hill is nothing. Back when I was a student at Case, I drove a FWD Plymouth up that hill on mayfield (just north of little italy, headed to coventry) in a snowstorm.Quote:
Originally Posted by TSi+WRX
FWD cars like mine were struggling. RWD cars were sliding backwards down the hill, and AWD and 4WD cars were cruising on up like nothing was happening.
I saw a jeep wrangler ease up to the back bumper of a Jag and push it up the hill that day hehe
:lol:
I'm just waiting for people to start sliding into that house at the base of Edgehill, again......
For years, now, that's how I've defined when winter's really arrived.
:lol:
[/i]
This from a guy from Miami. LOL!!!!!!! :D :D :DQuote:
Originally Posted by JDS
(I take it you've seen snow on television before....)
J/
Are you ****ting me? I'm from Boston. I lived in Connecticut and Cleveland, too. I've seen some pretty deep snow.Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry540i
hahaha amen.Quote:
Originally Posted by TSi+WRX
Dammit I'm gonna wish I'd bought a WRX this winter.
No ****ting intended. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by JDS
It's just that your location shown is Miami.
J/
Nah, I'm still betting that you'd be fine - and also driving circles around me/my Legacy, which is shod with simple all-seasons (and not the best at snow traction, at that) for the winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by lordhamster
:lol:
The entire world, not just New England or Canadian Snowbirds, enjoys oranges, bananas, crocs and the rest of the alligator farm :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry540i
Yep, I moved south :DQuote:
Originally Posted by jerry540i
All are welcome to join me on the beach on New Year's Day :lol:
I told you to get those Sottozeros. I'm sure as hell buying a set if Uncle Sam ever stations me in the Frozen North.Quote:
Originally Posted by TSi+WRX