"really real" > wrote in message
...
>I live on a very steep hill, and for those few slushy days, I need AWD. I
>was very happy that BMW started making their xDrive system.
>
> I always assumed that with AWD, one pays a price as the car is heavier,
> and I assumed, the handling in good conditions wasn't as good.
>
> I'm confused about handling anyway. The first time I drove a front wheel
> drive car, I was utterly impressed with the handling. I've always had
> front wheel drive ever since, and was surprised to hear so many good
> things about rear wheel drive.
>
> But now that I have BMW 3281 AWD , am I getting handling as good as a rear
> wheel drive BMW?

Basic car (< 100kW)

FWD good handling, better than RWD in snow / rain
RWD good handling in dry, more difficult (but predictable) in wet, poor
in snow
AWD good handling in all conditions, but noticeable penalty in
performance and fuel consumption

Powerful car (>100kW)

FWD moderate handling - encounters problems with wheel spin under hard
acceleration, especially in wet
RWD good in dry, fishtails under hard straight-line acceleration in the
wet, difficult in wet, bad in snow (especially on wide tyres)
RWD with LSD / DSC LSD or DSC will prevent fishtailing, DSC will also
remove power slides and improve handling in snow*
4WD good in all conditions, performance penalty less noticeable and
offset by better application (e.g. Bentley Flying Spur burning off a drag
racer with ease), however you still pay for it at the pump and in the
workshop. Offset torque distribution (e.g Ferguson Formula) or an automatic
system will giver the best results.


Most mass market cars have gone over to FWD, even Ford who held out the
longest. OTOH BMW have stuck with it as most of their cars are high
performance.


* in 2011 I foolishly followed a 4WD down a narrow hilly country lane in my
735i after heavy snow. I managed to turn it around in a farm yard, and then
tried to re-ascend the hill. Gently throttle application and the DSC meant
I was able to crawl out slowly and steadily and not slide off to the side.
Without DSC it would have been nearly impossible.