WTF Subaru? v. Car shopping

[Fry]

The problem with regular 4WD here is that you go from roads that have 5" of snow on them, to a road that is perfectly clear, and back and forth like that. If you leave it in 4WD it’s VERY hard on the drivetrain when you turn on clear pavement. If you leave it in 2WD and the person doesn’t know how to handle throttle on RWD oversteer, you end up in a wreck.

The Expedition is great, because it’s a real 4WD system with an electronic engagement, monitored by the ABS system. In 4WD-Auto it’s in 2WD until the rears spin, then almost instantly (there is a slight delay) the fronts are engaged via a clutch in the transfer case. But put it in 4WD high and it’s real 4WD, not some vicious clutch system driving the two tires with the best traction. In 4high if I get on clear pavement you can feel the whole front end binding up when you turn, at which point if you don’t like expensive repairs you flick it back to 4-auto.

So yeah, I saw you got the Xterra, so make sure the wife gets used to it’s 2WD handling on snowy parking lots. Not to crap on your parade, but for a guy who was so gung ho about getting a safe vehicle for winter driving for his wife, I think it was a bad choice. You’ve got a vehicle with all kinds of safety features and a good crash rating, but the best way to survive a crash is not to be in it. Putting a woman who has no RWD experience behind the wheel of a light rear end primarily 2WD vehicle with our quickly changing road conditions isn’t my idea of safe. IMHO anyway.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.