Anyone have All wheel drive?

[David W]

I'm thinking about an Explorer for my wife. Choice #1 is one with lockouts and a manual shift xfer case. But since the newer generations offer only Control Crap or All wheel drive, my question is, how reliable is the All wheel drive? Does anyone have a clue how it works mechanically? For instance I know some all wheel dr systems work similiar to an automatic tranny with fluid and others use mechanical clutches.
I don't ever plan on running the Rubicon but I'm the dummy you always see in the ditch when it snows and I want a system that will work and get me out of the ditch when it's needed.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

my dad has a AWD v8 X..the AWD is the SHIZ!!!..it's allway's turning the front wheel's..no computer's..ect it's all done mechanically..it's awsome in the rain when you would normaly be in 2wd you still have the sucurity(SP?) of 4x4..it does very very well in the snow also and the MPG arent much different from 4x4 X's..i personaly love it(but i like being able to put it in 2wd in my X)..it's very reliable..we have never had a problem with it!!

just think of it being in 4x4 all the time!!!!

go for it!!!

 

[Jester1994]

I have a 97 AWD 5.0 and I love it. I have never had a problem with it, I beleive it sends as low as 5% to the front wheels and increases that pecentage as needed. At highway speeds, only the rear wheels drive the Explorer.

But remember, the traction is as only as good as the tires you have on your explorer. I had pirelli scorpions when I boguht the explorer, they performed well. But now I have BFG all-terrains, the difference is like night and day. I love them, grip like nobody's business in the snow or wet conditions and minimal road noise, very nice tires that last a long time.

 

[BeauJ]

Unfortunatly, I too have AWD. I miss burnouts

 

[Billy177]

the control trac is the one that is capable of sending 95% power to either axle as soon as a wheel starts to slip it sends power to the front. it also has low range and 4x4 high. both awd and control trac are very good in the snow

 

[4.6Runner]

I have an 04, with 4X4 Auto / 4X4 High / 4X4 Low, settings. With what little; I have been in any real snow, it is great. From what I understand, 20% of the power to front wheels and 80% to rear wheels must of the time. Control Trac and Advance Trac are a from of traction control. I had traction control on an 03 Cobra I had. I thought it sucked. I had an 01 Escape XLT with 4X4 Auto and 4X4 settings. I never had to push the 4X4 button.

 

[Brian97V8]

Originally posted by ChopinOn22s
Unfortunatly, I too have AWD. I miss burnouts

Ya try as hard as I can I cant do them either. AWD so far has done everything I have wanted it to. No complaints from me.

 

[EBInterceptor]

I like having some options as to what I'm going to do. Auto 4x4 ruins the fun, but kicks in whenever I need it. Sometimes at the wrong time and kicks in just in time to pull me in the wrong direction. For that reason I would say that AWD would be a nice option to have.

 

[David W]

Thanks for the responses guys. I believe I'm going to go for the all wheel drive. It sounds like a much better system.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

it's not that's it's better..trust me..i love my normal 4x4 much better..cause i can put it in 2wd and i have 4low..but for a wife..it would be perfect..you don't have to worrie about when she need's to put it in 4x4 or not..ect..but the AWD does just as good IMO of a job as a normal explorer in 4x4high