Unpimp das Auto

[MikeK]

As much as I loved that old truck, a 4wd drive is no where near as good as the AWD on my scoobie.

That's my Skiwagen now... boring 'ole Subaru Forester

[Raventele]

AWD way overrated..Rather have the control myself than depend on the wonders of AWD..GF has a forester and we also have 2 4x4 pickups..When things are really tough, the Subie stays home.

[Raventele]

Our pickups have longer wheel bases, more horse power, and tires with a taller and skinnier ( more psi ) tire profile..better clearance, of course, and more aggressive tires.. there are advantages and dis in all auto configs..
Hell, some people prefer rear-wheel to front ..when it snows they pack 300lbs in the trunks and away they go.. some of this has to do with what you are used to and on slick roads in a slide a FWD vehicle can handle pretty strangely when brakes are applied much at all..for example

[MikeK]

Guess it depends on what kind of control you are after:

AWD:



4WD:



One works well going straight, the other works well when turning.

[Raventele]

Yea..The top one reminds me of SNS: great on groomers and a few inches! Otherwise, maybe not so much..

[MikeK]

That's true. My Subie doesn't do any off-road. It can move at a decent clip on slippery conditions and dirt roads.

If you want to go straight up and through anything but go slow(er), then yeah, I'd choose the truck.

I had a F150 4x4 before the Subie. It was a beast but the Subie is more efficient. Better for me doing long trips to mountains and has enough ground clearance for rough dirt roads.

My wife has a Jetta, those things bottom out if they even look at a rut

So it's all a compromise on what works. If I had my way I'd drive a sports car all year round but that doesn't jive well with skiing and paddling.

I haven't figured out how to strap a canoe on my miata And where do I put my backpack

[Raventele]

I like the look of the Subaru Baja!
But I'll never give up a good 4x4 pickup!
Not sure why you have a hard time steering one..
Christ's sakes, get about 500lbs over that rear axle--slightly ahead of it and over.
Forester's wheel base is too short!
a longer wheelbase is more stable steering! And most mid-sized pickups are good that way..

[MikeK]

I can steer it. Funny thing is around here I see more big 4x4 trucks in the ditches than anything else.

I think people forget that 5000 lbs is a lot more inertia than 3500 lb (my F150 vs my Forester). You might be able to get going just as well but you can't stop or corner as fast.

I did fine with the truck. I used the 4wd on it very infrequently. It was a gas hog though.

[MikeK]

PS Ron, I've raced rally and karts. Not much shorter wheelbase than a kart!

[Raventele]

Rule #1 on steering on snow is NOTHING happens abruptly..I don't care what the wheelbase or size of the vehicle is..once a heavier rig begins to slide it becomes , at some point, harder to control, BUT more weight properly distributed is much more stable provided you do not jerk it around ..but , in any case the shorter rig's back end will pass the front in of the vehicle much faster than the longer rig's rear will..in other words, there can be much more recovery time for the longer rig