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.
It does have stability control. Some sort of 4 wheel limited slip feature too.
Regardless I think it’ll work well for us. AWD handling would have been nice, but she’ll be able to drive this fine. I just wanted something with better safety features than her Protege, and to not worry about her getting stuck. This truck does that.
I was ignorant to not using 4wd on pavement, but I think we still got what we wanted.
I’ll just teach the woman to keep it in 2 wheel unless the roads are snowy. She’ll do fine. Her first instinct when she feels the car slide is to take her foot off the gas anyhow. It’s not like she’s going to start to oversteer, panic, and bury her foot in the throttle. :rx3:
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
Stay on your steered path with the help of Xterra’s standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)*. If your vehicle begins to oversteer (fishtail) or understeer (plow forward), this advanced system can help compensate by reducing engine output and/or applying appropriate brake pressure to specific wheels to help maintain vehicle control. Xterra is also equipped with large disc brakes and ABS at all four corners. Plus, the ABS on your 4x4 model comes with a G-sensor that knows what type of surface you’re driving on and applies brake pressure accordingly.
No idea it had that. Guess the Xterra has really grown up since it was introduced as a simple SUV great for offroading. With VDC she should be fine.
However, having had a AWD GrCher, an AutoAWD / 4wd TrBlzr, and two simple 4wds in the past… binding is slightly overhyped. Its only a drivability problem when the front wheels are driven into tight angle turns (> ~30* from center depening on vehicle, IMExperience).
It is a very real problem from any standpoint. However, even in the worst Buffalo winters you won’t be driving around in 4wd all the time anyways.
4WD (on road) is for clearing large snow berms (a driveway apron buried by the muni. plow), getting out of a snow berm (1’ fell where you are parked), and dicey grades with old / slushed snow. Otherwise you should simply be in 2hi in most situations.
Of course, you should teach Her this.
For overall comfort & ease of use, any AutoAWD or true AWD is easier and far more reliable based on minimum effort.
Sorry, woulda counseled all of this prior to purchase, but I dont think that anyone realized you were considering the option.
usually about 8 hours, depending on the amount of corrosion that is on the underside of the vehicle, I had mine go out ince and it ended up being cheaper to just replace the transfer case, gotta love GM part pricing