Sold the wrong car

Herzlos

buglawton wrote: »

With references to 4WD about slipping in a leafy road or the back end sliding out on a roundabout, I seriously wonder how real the need is. Is it alll in the mind?

The Telegraph Honest John column gets questions about 4WD and he says that even in snow the type of tyre is more critical than 4WD.

What's your real world use-case, OP?

Personally I've found ground clearance to be the most important thing, followed by tyres.

4 powered wheels only really help when some of the wheels have no grip (ice, mud) or no contact (in the air due to a ditch) and the others do. I've seen plenty of 4x4s on grass with all 4 wheels spinning because the tyres can't get any traction (poor tyre / poor driving).

AdrianC

Without any locking diffs (or "clever" substitute such as electronics or a viscous coupling) even 4wd will leave you stationary as soon as only one wheel lacking grip. Most 4wds do have, as a very minimum, a locking centre diff (again, or sub) - which will leave you stationary as soon as one wheel each end has no grip.

Apodemus

Herzlos wrote: »

Personally I've found ground clearance to be the most important thing, followed by tyres.

4 powered wheels only really help when some of the wheels have no grip (ice, mud) or no contact (in the air due to a ditch) and the others do. I've seen plenty of 4x4s on grass with all 4 wheels spinning because the tyres can't get any traction (poor tyre / poor driving).

I agree that tyres often make more difference than anything else in off-tarmac capability.

With regard to all 4 wheels spinning on grass, remember that some modern 4x4s need a minimum rev level to get the electronics to work their magic (be it proper diff-lock, Haldex or applying braking to spinning wheels). That requires a different, counter-intuitive approach that even experienced off-road drivers need to adapt to.

photome

foxy-stoat wrote: »

I dont think the OP is coming back.

he will be back claiming victory

facade

I still have an overwhelming sense of deja-vu about the original post.


Maybe buying a 4wd that turns out to be 2wd is a common thing on here...