Xdrive - must have option with UK weather?

HighlandPete · 08-17-2018, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich9600

…. Though, my 330d sDrive stepped out unexpectedly much more often than my present 340i sDrive does. Given my modest skill level the petrol output delivery is less torque based and easier to modulate.

Nail on head....

Torque... that is the key reason xDrive has a key advantage. The high torque now so common, simply overwhelms the rear tyre grip.

Tengocity · 08-17-2018, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich9600

So, it could be reasonably argued that sDrive is actually the safer system in most situations...

You could, but it's about as tenuous as teaston's view that AWD is technically better in every way!

MashinBenzin · 08-17-2018, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich9600

…. Though, my 330d sDrive stepped out unexpectedly much more often than my present 340i sDrive does. Given my modest skill level the petrol output delivery is less torque based and easier to modulate.

Nail on head....

Torque... that is the key reason xDrive has a key advantage. The high torque now so common, simply overwhelms the rear tyre grip.

And not just high but delivered in one thump.

One of the earliest 'modern' turbo diesels I drove was a Golf Mk 5 2.0d. I hated how it threw everything at you at around 1800rpm, show over by 3k. Made for very uncomfortable and surging progress.

JNW1 · 08-17-2018, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rak299

If you live in California and drive to the mountains in the winter, all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive is a must-have. If you are an idiot, you cannot drive in snow no matter what kind of drive, and if you know how to drive, you can use RWD with a little bit of snow. HOWEVER, if you don't have AWD/4WD, the Highway Patrol will stop you and won't let you go through even if there is just a dusting of snow. There is also a law that during the winter, you cannot drive in the mountains without carrying chains or having AWD/4WD.

So would they allow you into the mountains with a 4WD which didn't have either winter tyres or snow chains? If so that seems a bit silly as 4WD in itself is of limited use in snow; a 2WD car on winter tyres will perform better in those conditions than a 4WD car on summer tyres!

rak299 · 08-17-2018, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNW1

So would they allow you into the mountains with a 4WD which didn't have either winter tyres or snow chains? If so that seems a bit silly as 4WD in itself is of limited use in snow; a 2WD car on winter tyres will perform better in those conditions than a 4WD car on summer tyres!

I am describing government rules, not common sense.

Rich9600 · 08-17-2018, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich9600

So, it could be reasonably argued that sDrive is actually the safer system in most situations...

You could, but it's about as tenuous as teaston's view that AWD is technically better in every way!

Yep.

teaston · 08-17-2018, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich9600

So, it could be reasonably argued that sDrive is actually the safer system in most situations...

xDrive allows unthinking acceleration without challenging the skill of the driver. So, the normal driver could easily find the self traveling beyond the limit of their true skill level...

The electrical systems of my car nanny/flatter me massively. However, if I over do it a bit, the back end reminds me. Though, my 330d sDrive stepped out unexpectedly much more often than my present 340i sDrive does. Given my modest skill level the petrol output delivery is less torque based and easier to modulate.

No no no!

Soul_Glo · 08-17-2018, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

And you sound like the septics whining about manual transmissions being phased out!

I can understand the attraction of rear wheel drive back in the old days when cars had less power, but now the big engine cars have far too much power and torque to reliably put down through just to wheels. Things move on and things have to change, but there will always be those who want to resist change.

Sorry Tim, you're totally mixing up your personal preference, which is perfectly rational and understandable, but utterly subjective with technically superior, which suggests objectivity, and is meaningless without an agreed point of comparison.

Formula One cars still only drive the one axle, and apparently it's the cutting edge of motorsport!

The best versions of AWD sports cars have been the 2WD variants - R8 RWS and Huracan RWD for example also.

I suspect that with pure electric vehicles then all wheel drive with instantaneous torque vectoring will be absolutely the best solution, but for an internal combustion engine, there is a lot of extra stuff required that does have downsides.

I'm sure they are great in the dry, but a road car has to work in all conditions, which rwd just doesn't.

On the contrary it's not my opinion that prefers AWD, AWD is better, it's those who prefer RWD that is just their opinion. Just the same as the septics saying they prefer MT, which they may well do but 8AT is better. Or those that still have a Nokia phone because the battery lasts 4 days, but it doesn't change the fact that an iPhone is a better phone.

Did you mean skeptics? As septic has connotations of handing someone toilet paper for their mouth.

teaston · 08-18-2018, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surg_Capt_R

Did you mean skeptics? As septic has connotations of handing someone toilet paper for their mouth.

No, septic tank is cockney rhyming slang for yank! Haven’t you seen Sahajesh’s thread in the off topic section?

Soul_Glo · 08-18-2018, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surg_Capt_R

Did you mean skeptics? As septic has connotations of handing someone toilet paper for their mouth.

No, septic tank is cockney rhyming slang for yank! Haven’t you seen Sahajesh’s thread in the off topic section?

Ahhh ok.