Ferris

A most interesting thread for me, as I almost purchased a RWD, but finally settled on AWD.
Living in Darwin with the wet season approaching, I pondered on the benefits of the system that would make its presence felt only a small part of the time. It was at that point that I realised that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
I have driven Nissan patrols for many years, and despite the fact that I used their true capabilities very infrequently, I was often on dirt roads. Even for short stretches I would stop and placed the vehicle in 4WD, as the difference in stability is amazing.

We have been having a bit of rain here in the last week or so (anyone familiar with weather in the tropics will understand what I mean), and I have had the opportunity to test out the AWD system with DSC, without DSC, and also without traction control. Watching others getting sideways in the slippery conditions whilst the territory held its line was most gratifying. Even with all the electronics turned off, the chassis stability and the intrinsic handling is amazing, let alone for vehicle weighing two tonnes. With the system is turned on, it is almost impossible to upset the vehicle.

With this I am talking about slick surfaces with the oil just starting to lift, corners where the kerbside is 2 inches deep in water, and transitions from ashphalt to mud. I can't imagine sacrificing this level of stability and security for a few dollars.

The AWD territory handles better than most vehicles on the road, short of true sports cars. I can't imagine swapping it for real wheel drive only now.