... the driver of the next thread featuring a 4WD spinning at a track day has an excuse illepall

I view "four wheel drive" as in a 4x4 pickup truck. Four wheel drive would have the front and rear differentials locked together via the transfer case, thus you would not want to use four wheel drive on the road. In a 4 wheel drive system, the front and rear spins at different speeds during turning. It is used in slippery and low traction situations such as mud, snow, and on the trail. The slippery conditions is what allows you to be able to drive 4 wheel drive. So, the "MAIN benefit" to using four wheel drive is not listed there.

All-wheel drive on the other hand is not locked together front and rear. There is slip in the system between the front and rear allowing it to be used on road. Thus it could be stated that it "improves road handling".

Quote from mrodgers :

Thus it could be stated that it "improves road handling".

Although AWD doesn't handle as well as RWD on the road. Otherwise Formula 1 wouldn't be RWD.

Yet I think it means safety rather than speed, using F1 cars as an example doesn't fit in with a question like this as they will never promote speed.

Seems an easy question TBH but I guess it's just the way you think about the question.

Quote from wheel4hummer :

Although AWD doesn't handle as well as RWD on the road. Otherwise Formula 1 wouldn't be RWD.

Dude learn logic F1 Cars run RWD Becuase u don't need a 100kg shaft going from the engine in the rear to the front whells and there is more skill in driving a RWD car so in the 3rd hardest driving event in the world u would expect a chalenge!

I don't differentiate between AWD and 4WD. In Europe at least we'd call an Impreza/Evo/Land Rover all 4WD, so in that context it is effectively reffering to what you'd call AWD.

Quote from wheel4hummer :

Although AWD doesn't handle as well as RWD on the road. Otherwise Formula 1 wouldn't be RWD.

Formula 1 cars are traction limited, the reason why (it has been claimed) the fastest rallycross cars can out accelerate them to 60 mph, because they do have the traction. Having 4WD on a big single seater would probably not be worth the weight and inefficency for the (relatively) small low speed gain.

The point is though having a 4WD car does not improve the 'road holding' (grip) of the car it will have some effect on the balance, paticuarly it can be advantageous when you have trick diffs and someone who understands the throttle control, but with a normal (learner) road driver surely that message is very deceptive.

Quote from 50-3 :

Dude learn logic F1 Cars run RWD Becuase u don't need a 100kg shaft going from the engine in the rear to the front whells and there is more skill in driving a RWD car so in the 3rd hardest driving event u would expect a chalenge!

There's no challenge in F1 today, far too clinical.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7078815149532485385

That's what I call car control, none of this paddle flicking, traction control nonsense.

Quote from ajp71 :

I don't differentiate between AWD and 4WD. In Europe at least we'd call an Impreza/Evo/Land Rover all 4WD, so in that context it is effectively reffering to what you'd call AWD.

I ask then, what do you call 4wd as in a Toyota Tacoma or a Jeep, or a 1967 FJ-40, or any "4x4" vehicle? Yup, over here, a Subaru, Audi, or any other car with "4wd" would be called AWD. You definitely don't want to be driving a 4wd in 4wd out on dry pavement (tarmac ) over here. It wouldn't neccessarily cause you to have an accident, but it could net you a very expensive repair bill when you hear everything bind up and snap when you turn the wheel and move.

Story: A friend of mine at work has a Chevy Blazer 4WD (by my definition). Heading up to the breakroom, he said his truck was acting funny when he pulled into the parking lot. We went out to look at it. He got in and ran around in some slow circles. You can hear and see the inside front wheel chirping and spinning on the lot surface. I asked if it was in 4wd? No, it's not in 4wd. Hmm, that's weird, it looks like you are in 4wd. I'm definitely not in 4wd, why would I have it in 4wd in the summer? Take it around again. He takes it around again. I say there's something wrong with the transfer case as it is definitely binding up, you sure it's not in 4wd? Yea Mike, I F'in said it's not in 4wd! We went back in to eat lunch. The next day I saw him and he said he figured out what it was. Well, what was it? I asked. Sheepishly, he tells me it was in 4wd. Darn crappy pushbutton garbage.

Quote from mrodgers :

I ask then, what do you call 4wd as in a Toyota Tacoma or a Jeep, or a 1967 FJ-40, or any "4x4" vehicle?

4wd with center diff lock
distinguishing between 4wd and awd on a vehicle with 4 in words four wheels doesnt even make any sense

btw on proper 4wd offroad vehicles you are permanently in 4wd with the option to lock any diff to your hearts content

I have 2 trucks in my driveway. A '98 Dodge Dakota, and a '93 GMC Typhoon. I consider the Dakota 4WD, since when I put it in 4WD the differentials lock, as i've noticed when making sharp turns when 4WD is on, as a previous poster noted. The Dakota, stock, is high off the ground, the 4WD is meant for offroad conditions. The Typhoon is AWD, tight turns cause no problems, and the truck is low to the ground. It's designed to have AWD for stable acceleration and cornering.

To me AWD and 4WD are different in that they are designed for 2 different things. 4WD to me means that its "off-road capable" and AWD means on-road stability. You might say these Subarus and such go offroad, as in dirt tracks etc. But IMO a dirt track is still a road, there are such things as dirt roads.

It is true. AWD is not the same as 4WD.

Quote from Gunn :

It is true. AWD is not the same as 4WD.

Say Subaru in an effort to differentiate their road-cars from jeeps and so on. It's a marketing term.

Anything with 4 driven wheels is and always will be four-wheel-drive. "4x4" or indeed "6x6" just states the total number of wheels and the number that are driven.

The DSA theory test is complete BS, I had been driving 15 years and I had to take one to get my bike license, it's total crap LOL

Quote :

Although AWD doesn't handle as well as RWD on the road. Otherwise Formula 1 wouldn't be RWD.

Audi have already stated that if AWD was allowed in F1 they would enter, but the rules forbid it.

I think the main reason for 4WD is to go trialing in a Land Rover.

There's another reason of course, which is to own a Land Rover style car and wear wellingtons on the high street whilst showing off the latest in knitted aarons.

Quote from danowat :

The DSA theory test is complete BS, I had been driving 15 years and I had to take one to get my bike license, it's total crap LOL

Yep, but just think how many people don't know that ice can make riding conditions hazardous!

Quote from danowat :

The DSA theory test is complete BS, I had been driving 15 years and I had to take one to get my bike license, it's total crap LOL

lol its completely pointless

The only difference I see between 4 Wheels Driven and All Wheels Driven, is that you can have more than 2 wheels on an axle, so you have 4WD or have 8 wheels on your car, which are all driven, so you get 8WD or simply AWD

Quote from ajp71 :

lol its completely pointless

Not as pointless as the hazard peception though illepall

Quote from wheel4hummer :

Although AWD doesn't handle as well as RWD on the road. Otherwise Formula 1 wouldn't be RWD.

F1 would be 4WD if there wasn't a rule that only 2 wheels may be driven. There were in the 60's some experimental 4WD F1 cars that were soon banned.

Quote from danowat :

Not as pointless as the hazard peception though illepall

Fully agree there. There's just no value to it at all. Click, click, click, hey this driving lark is easy.

Nice avatar by the way

Quote from duke_toaster :

F1 would be 4WD if there wasn't a rule that only 2 wheels may be driven. There were in the 60's some experimental 4WD F1 cars that were soon banned.

I very much doubt it on the fast wide circuits they currently race on traction isn't that much of an issue given the weight gain and inefficency of 4WD systems. I'm not sure whether the 4WD was ever banned in period in F1 but it certainly wouldn't have taken over from conventional RWD cars. The Lotus 63 came just too late after traction became a lot less of an issue with the introduction of downforce and massive slicks. There were never any serious 4WD F1 cars after that until Williams built its six wheeled car.

Quote from c0nv1ct :

I have 2 trucks in my driveway. A '98 Dodge Dakota, and a '93 GMC Typhoon. I consider the Dakota 4WD, since when I put it in 4WD the differentials lock, as i've noticed when making sharp turns when 4WD is on, as a previous poster noted. The Dakota, stock, is high off the ground, the 4WD is meant for offroad conditions. The Typhoon is AWD, tight turns cause no problems, and the truck is low to the ground. It's designed to have AWD for stable acceleration and cornering.

so most cars in lfs are actually 2wds instead of rwds and fwds as theyre usually driven with locked diffs ... that doesnt make the slightest bit of sense

Quote from Gunn :

It is true. AWD is not the same as 4WD.

true 4wd is the correct term and awd is a marketing term coined by subaru

Quote from Gunn :

It is true. AWD is not the same as 4WD.

4X4 Drivers say there is becuse they have a little box that changes from RWD, High ratio 4WD and Low Ratio 4WD

most AWD are constint Drive to all 4 whells were the Term 4WD or 4X4 refers comenly to a car wich as another little wanabe gear box thing(i think it conects to the Transfer case? can someone pls corecct me.) were u can change from RWD and 4WD as stated ubove

Quote from Gunn :

It is true. AWD is not the same as 4WD.

Correct a Land Rover is AWD. A Williams FW08B is 4WD

Quote from Shotglass :

so most cars in lfs are actually 2wds instead of rwds and fwds as theyre usually driven with locked diffs ... that doesnt make the slightest bit of sense

How does anything i said relate to RWD or FWD? RWD and FWD have nothing to do with this thread what-so-ever.