Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
What do you know about all-wheel-drive? Is it for you?
By Product Expert | Posted in Technology on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 at 2:02 pm
What are the pros and cons of having all-wheel-drive?
One of the many great reasons to choose a pre-owned vehicle is that a buyer’s dollar can go a lot further. With that intrinsic value on the rise in the secondary vehicle market, people will be able to choose models with features and equipment that they might not otherwise be able to afford. We’ve found that all-wheel-drive is something that interests a lot of Third Coast Auto Group customers. So, what are the pros and cons of having all-wheel-drive? There are a few things you should know about this technology and how it can affect the way you drive. Let’s take a closer look at what our team of product experts found in an effort to help our customers.
READ MORE: Which vehicles have AWD at Third Coast Auto?
How does all-wheel-drive work?
Without getting too deep into the weeds of automotive engineering jargon, all-wheel-drive describes a mechanical system when the power (torque) produced by the engine is sent to all four wheels. This ability is very important when the road is wet, slippery, icy or all of the above. Additionally, since the engine directly powers all four wheels, a platform with all-wheel-drive will be able to accelerate faster on dry pavement and more confidently on less-than-ideal road surface conditions.
Why is AWD good to have?
Improved Traction — As we have already said a few times, the number one reason people choose all-wheel-drive-equipped vehicles is for additional traction on obscured road conditions. When a wheel slips, the vehicle can get out of control. By always have power sent to the wheels, the chances of a sliding vehicle are dramatically reduced.
Better Cornering — It’s not uncommon for vehicles to lose control when going around a corner, even if the road surface is dry. Just like in slippery conditions, going around a corner can cause a loss of control because the wheels slip as the vehicle changes direction. An all-wheel-drive vehicle will keep those wheels turning and in contact with the road.
READ MORE: Should I use premium-grade gasoline?
What are the cons of having AWD?
Overconfidence — Simply stated, all-wheel-drive is just a tool at a driver’s disposal. It is not magic, and it cannot negate the laws of physics. If someone is on a wet or slippery road, and their vehicle has AWD, they will still need to give the traffic in front of them additional space. There is no all-wheel-drive system in existence that will make a vehicle stop faster in poor driving conditions. People can put too much faith in this technology.
Additional Complexity — All-wheel-drive systems are pretty complex. In the event this system has a problem that requires repairs, the cost could climb rather quickly when compared to simpler systems like front- or rear-wheel-drive. For the most part, as long as an owner keeps up with scheduled maintenance, the risks of an all-wheel-drive system failure can be kept to a minimum.
If you would like to see what Third Coast Auto Group has available, make an appointment with one of our product experts today.
