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      03-15-2015, 10:31 AM   #1
Raptor7
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xdrive or no xdrive?

I've just been reading about RWD vs FWD car and I've read a lot of mixed opinions. I live in Ontario (Canada) where we do get snow. I read one thread somewhere where a young driver was going to get one of those small Mazda miata's and people were saying its not recommended for a young driver in the winter. Whats your take on it, I'm 22 right now? Will I be getting stuck in snow? Are there any challenges I will be facing?

Note: I will get winter tires once I purchase a 428i/435i, also looking at getting an automatic transmission
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      03-15-2015, 10:36 AM   #2
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Xdrive with snows are unstoppable. Go Xdrive.
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      03-15-2015, 10:41 AM   #3
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Last edited by auf Deutsch; 03-22-2015 at 06:35 PM..
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      03-15-2015, 10:43 AM   #4
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How long until the debate starts?

OP, search for xDrive. There's a thread called something like "xDrive working great". There are two topics which get people on here riled up. Automatic vs. Manual Transmission, and xDrive vs. RWD.
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      03-15-2015, 10:44 AM   #5
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I'm sure this thread is not going to raise any controversy at all...

@OP, your best ally is experience in dealing with situations like this. You gotta start somewhere, so all I say, take it easy in the winter... xDrive or not...
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      03-15-2015, 10:47 AM   #6
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Xdrive if you have to drive everyday, dont even think twice
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      03-15-2015, 10:55 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by auf Deutsche
but whatever I'll sit back and eat some
If you're gonna share the popcorn....never mind...good question.
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      03-15-2015, 11:01 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fronzdan View Post
How long until the debate starts?

OP, search for xDrive. There's a thread called something like "xDrive working great". There are two topics which get people on here riled up. Automatic vs. Manual Transmission, and xDrive vs. RWD.
Wait the debate hasn't started yet? Getting slow guys lol.
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      03-15-2015, 11:35 AM   #9
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Have you driven a RWD car in the snow before? I'd say go for some winter drivers training if you go that route.
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      03-15-2015, 11:42 AM   #10
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well this is sure to end well...
damn Canadians .

My two cents: xdrive or not, invest in a winter set (probably the best choice for Canadian winters), or a much better A/S tire then the stock ones.
Also, the more power a car has, the better it is to get the AWD (i.e. tuned 335I levels) even with winter tires it is risky in heavy snow in my opinion.
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      03-15-2015, 11:55 AM   #11
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I live in Vancouver where we don't get as much snow, and I regret getting an x-drive. If I could go back, I would get a RWD and just throw on winter tires when it gets cold. However, with the amount of snow you guys get in the east, x-drive is probably a lot more important. If you plan on lowering, x-drive has less options as well.

If you do get x-drive, just make sure you get the adaptive suspension, as the standard one I feel is way too soft and has too much body roll in corners.
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      03-15-2015, 12:00 PM   #12
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My XDrive works so well with AS that I haven't had any reason to even go to snows. The only way I'd go RWD is if I lived in the sunbelt. You'll have contrary opinions, but I doubt you'll see many coming from actual XDrive owners.
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      03-15-2015, 12:27 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KG3356MT
Xdrive with snows are unstoppable. Go Xdrive.
Yep! I was pushing snow with my car a week ago..
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      03-15-2015, 12:29 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz
My XDrive works so well with AS that I haven't had any reason to even go to snows. The only way I'd go RWD is if I lived in the sunbelt. You'll have contrary opinions, but I doubt you'll see many coming from actual XDrive owners.
I felt the sand way. I was driving on AS tires with xdrive for 6 years. Got snows this year.., wow I feel dumb for not having them before. Car handles better and corners so much better with snows in the winter.
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      03-15-2015, 12:35 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz
My XDrive works so well with AS that I haven't had any reason to even go to snows. The only way I'd go RWD is if I lived in the sunbelt. You'll have contrary opinions, but I doubt you'll see many coming from actual XDrive owners.
I have noticed a shocking trend that rwd owners who run snow tires think they have the right answer and xdrive on all seasons is dangerous. xdrive owners think xdrive on all seasons is fine and rwd with snows is dangerous. Amazing that people think the decision they have made that suits their own needs best is the right one.

To the op I would say read through the numerous threads on this and try to decipher between the emotional outbursts on both sides the core of what caused them to make their decisions.

I will offer my own case I have a moderately hilly commute in Boston. I had rwd and a limited slip with all seasons and that was not good. I had rwd with snows and a limited slip and that was also not good for dealing with hills. Would still get stuck climbing from a stop and required a ton of clutch work to balance the right power to the tires. I went to s4 Quattro and got snows and that was very good. Now I have x drive with all seasons and for my purposes it has been equally as good. My #1 concern was to not get stuck on my way home during a snow storm and xdrive solves that. I don't track my car so I'm not worried about losing some handling ability at the limit. That is my use case. You will find others have completely different experiences and need to find the one that best lines up with your situation. There is no one size fits all answer to what will allow you to Maximize enjoyment of your car in your life.
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      03-15-2015, 12:36 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blubaron79 View Post
Car handles better and corners so much better with snows in the winter.
Agreed, but I work out of my home office, so there's never a day where I can't look outside, see there's six inches of snow on the road, and just stay off the roads. And I know how to drive in snow. I never bothered with snows on FWD cars I had, and never had a problem even when there was 6 inches of snow on the roads. My wife OTOH couldn't get up the driveway without snows with an inch of snow on the ground.
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      03-15-2015, 12:38 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blubaron79 View Post
Car handles better and corners so much better with snows in the winter.
Agreed, but I work out of my home office, so there's never a day where I can't look outside, see there's six inches of snow on the road, and just stay off the roads. And I know how to drive in snow. I never bothered with snows on FWD cars I had, and never had a problem even when there was 6 inches of snow on the roads. My wife OTOH couldn't get up the driveway without snows with an inch of snow on the ground.
Got ya. I grew up in the mountains and the only thing I had was AS tires on FWD cars. First car was a heavy 88 lebaron 2 door. It went everywhere in the snow with maybe it's only 120hp. Ha
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      03-15-2015, 12:59 PM   #18
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I'm over 40 (wow, that's more painfiul to type than I thought it would be!), lived in Canada my whole life. If this is a daily driver, xDrive and snow tires in the winter. Full stop.

Because if I have to sit behind you on the QEW during a snow storm because you listened to some guy in California tell you "xDrive is for girls" and are now driving 25 km/hr and sliding all over the place, I'm going to pull you out of your car, punch you in the face, and tell you "I told you so."
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      03-15-2015, 01:12 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davegill View Post
I live in Vancouver where we don't get as much snow, and I regret getting an x-drive. If I could go back, I would get a RWD and just throw on winter tires when it gets cold. However, with the amount of snow you guys get in the east, x-drive is probably a lot more important. If you plan on lowering, x-drive has less options as well.

If you do get x-drive, just make sure you get the adaptive suspension, as the standard one I feel is way too soft and has too much body roll in corners.
I'm another crazy Canuck, living in Toronto but often heading north to cottage-country and god's-country (Sudbury area) regularly, but I still regret buying X-drive. Sure it's better in the snow, but anyone with half a brain can in drive in the snow and if you're still challenged, mount a set of snow-tire training wheels to get 5-10% better stopping distance (assuming you have all-season and not summer tires).
RWD on the other hand is a lot more fun; but the downside is it may actually require driving skill.
The only reason I caved on the x-drive was because dealer claimed a 6mth wait for RWD 328 + special order$, and he didn't believe he could even get one with manual. My wife, who never drives the car anyway and can't put air in her tires, got sold big time by salesman's pitch. So now I drive a nice but boring car - AWD and auto.
My suggestion, save the cost of AWD, get a stick and use money on a BMW driving course. And just stay home for the 1-2 days you get 30 CM (12"ish) snow. Or save you money and buy an automotive appliance like Toyota Camry
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      03-15-2015, 01:29 PM   #20
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I live in Ontario, (GTA specifically) and have gone through the exact debate when I was buying my 428. I was coming from an e90 RWD with winters and loved the way it handled.

A few things you should consider:

Xdrive will cost a little more, and likely have a higher residual/resell value compared to the RWD.

In Ontario, RWD availability was limited when I purchased my 428. Not sure if it's the same, but that might impact your decision if you're not able to wait since there's a disproportionate amount of xdrive equipped cars.

Regardless of RWD or xdrive, I recommend snow tires - this is doubly so if you're using your car as a daily driver. If being able to drive regardless of the weather outside is a priority, then you're safer with xdrive. Not that you CAN'T be just as safe with RWD, but xdrive can give you peace of mind.

If, however, you don't use your car daily/have alternate transport on bad snow days, then RWD will be fine assuming the roads are reasonably cleared.

Obviously this is assuming you're comparing xdrive and RWD, independent of driving style/skills.

In the end, I chose xdrive because it fit my needs.
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      03-15-2015, 01:43 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor7 View Post
I've just been reading about RWD vs FWD car and I've read a lot of mixed opinions. I live in Ontario (Canada) where we do get snow. I read one thread somewhere where a young driver was going to get one of those small Mazda miata's and people were saying its not recommended for a young driver in the winter. Whats your take on it, I'm 22 right now? Will I be getting stuck in snow? Are there any challenges I will be facing?

Note: I will get winter tires once I purchase a 428i/435i, also looking at getting an automatic transmission
Then you don't HAVE to have xDrive. It's entirely a personal decision. The car is more fun to drive in nice weather with RWD.
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      03-15-2015, 01:45 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LagunaSecaBlue
I'm over 40 (wow, that's more painfiul to type than I thought it would be!), lived in Canada my whole life. If this is a daily driver, xDrive and snow tires in the winter. Full stop.

Because if I have to sit behind you on the QEW during a snow storm because you listened to some guy in California tell you "xDrive is for girls" and are now driving 25 km/hr and sliding all over the place, I'm going to pull you out of your car, punch you in the face, and tell you "I told you so."
LMAO best post ever!!
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