Finally got to test my AWD

[racer_f50]

Well, it snowed this morning, so I finally got to use my WRX's AWD system:-D

I've dealt with snow my whole driving career, but always in stupid FWD cars, so you need to tail-brake or e-brake to slide. Quite fun, but also harder to control.

The only RWD vehicle I've driven in snow was a '95 Dodge Ram 2500 turbo deisel (before I engaged the 4WD), and that's hardly a graceful thing to be drifting around in.

The WRX on other hand.... holy shit it's fun:-D My route to work includes many corners, and I think I slid around all of them. There's also a slight S-curve on one of the roads, which made for a rather exciting 30mph left-then-right drift. The greatest thing about it is how easy the car is to hold slides with, and how you stay in control nearly the entire time.

Very good stuff, I'm so happy I bought this instead of a Focus or MINI or something similarly FWD!

Just wanted to share my happiness with the rest of you. Anyone else remember their first time playing in snow or ice with an AWD car?

[Garretts_turbo]

i had a eagle talon TSi AWD that was a huge amount of fun. got it to do some axis donuts; that was a high point hahaha

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/garretts_turbo/Eagle%20Talon/PB160660.jpg

[novass]

Anyone else remember their first time playing in snow or ice with an AWD car?

AWD with the right tires is a lot of fun in the snow. I think my first experience was with a friends WRX wagon fitted with Pirelli mud/snow tires (P7000 IIRC). That was a lot of fun, but not as much fun as when I took my own car, basically cause I was driving :-D Drifts and fishtails are so managable it makes you feel like Marcus Gronholm :mrgreen:

[Pokiou]

ahhh yes... wrx's... funnest cars ever :D

[RC45]

ahhh yes... wrx's... funnest cars ever :D

Hehe - welcome back buddy ;)

The new WRX may go like stick - but its not the looker the old ones are.

Besides, youdont get snow - why do you need AWD? hehe

[silentm]

^ lot's of gravel/dust roads? :P

sounds like a lot of fun, i hope we get some snow soon so i can go sliding around the roundabouts too :D

[racer_f50]

http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/t-wrx-snow2.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/wrx-snow2.jpg)

It's been snowing like crazy this evening, I guess we're expecting several inches of snow, followed by some freezing rain/sleet to give us a coat of ice.

Needless to say, I have been out having lots of fun in the WRX. My roommate's GTI might have all the fancy traction control systems and more grip in the dry, but now my WRX finally makes sense! :mrgreen:

[Garretts_turbo]

haha i like the lack of snow around the hood scoop

[MotorWorld]

ahhh you lucky so and so...

here we get maybe 1inch of snow every 3 or so years :angry:

[acmarttin]

haha, I grew up in Wisconsin / Colorado so I know enough about snow to never miss it again. I never did understand you winter people :huh:

[silentm]

WINTER IS TEH UBER-AWESSOMENEEEZZZ

:lol:

there that's all you need to understand

[Garretts_turbo]

yay we had our first good snow coverage a few days ago....itll get old in a few months but for now its fun

[T-Bird]

It's fun isn't it?
I had the Shops Mazdaspeed6 out doin donuts and drifting this past weekend.

[unwilling]

yes, my first experience drifting AWD was with my parent's Outback H6 3.0L. damn it was fun! wonderful control and damn that longer wheelbase helps. ahhh. drifting across 4 lanes at 2 in the morning... such wonderful memories...:-D

[racer_f50]

It's fun isn't it?
I had the Shops Mazdaspeed6 out doin donuts and drifting this past weekend.

Maybe you can clear this up for me about the Speed6 (I had thought about buying one).

It's my understanding that under normal driving conditions it is FWD, but when the going gets slippery it can send up to 50% of the power to the rear wheels. Is that correct? If so, how do you personally feel it handles in the snow compared to a car like the WRX or Evo which can send something like 70-75% of the power to the rear wheels?

I guess in the snow they'd both be 50/50? Or does the Mazda tend towards Front bias?

[T-Bird]

1-3 are AWD then if needed the other 3 gears are. They send enough power back there that we actually shattered an axle and sheared the top bolts off the rear diff mount.