Purchased a 2018 Signature AWD last night.
You guys are awesome, many thanks for all the info! T
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Congrats on your purchase! I think you made the right decision going AWD...
Purchased a 2018 Signature AWD last night.
You guys are awesome, many thanks for all the info! T
����
Thanks tekbis!Congrats on your purchase! I think you made the right decision going AWD...
I think he believes that AWD will cause more harm than good because it makes use driver overconfident thereby causing the driver more accidents like going over ditches. He also believes that if you buy a set of good winter tires, you're better than the AWD.
The question is, what will happen if the drivers who read this buys winter tires, gets overconfident and fell on ditches?
[emoji16]
I think he believes that AWD will cause more harm than good because it makes use driver overconfident thereby causing the driver more accidents like going over ditches. He also believes that if you buy a set of good winter tires, you're better than the AWD.
The question is, what will happen if the drivers who read this buys winter tires, gets overconfident and fell on ditches?
[emoji16]
hey thaumaturge, I a gree that there is extra weight on awd systems but that is the end of the negative side of it . new awd systems like the one in the cx9 s are quite sophisticated sendig power to the tires that needed so there is no loosing of traction at any moment. in slippery conditions I believe you have to be a very competent driver to our drive a awd system . and reality is that not every one is a very competent driver. its so much easier to drive at 60 to 80% in mountain roads a car with an awd system than front wheeled ones specially in raining conditions or spipery for any reason.
ah yes its more expensive... on the other side there is no difference in stopping distances in awd or fwd cars.
I think he believes that AWD will cause more harm than good because it makes use driver overconfident thereby causing the driver more accidents like going over ditches. He also believes that if you buy a set of good winter tires, you're better than the AWD.
The question is, what will happen if the drivers who read this buys winter tires, gets overconfident and fell on ditches?
[emoji16]
I may agree with you but ignorance (not knowing how to drive in a specific road type), over confident (you think you know everything) and AWD are INCOMPARABLE sets.Light-duty AWD = Manufacturer Profit in the snowbelt
First, the AWD system in current Mazdas is not sophisticated in any way compared to other systems. You're buying into the marketing. Check out the video of the Mazda CX-9 I-active AWD stuck on the paved hump in the road and the accompanying threads and then tell me about its sophistication as you watch the wheels spin. It's not even apparent that Mazda had anything to do with the AWD design given how mystified they were when that video came out. (Dumb video, but it proves my point.) Many, if not most, manufacturers simply buy an outsourced AWD system from Dana, Borg-Warner, Magna, GKN, etc. and plop it in the car barely understanding how it works. That's why AWD systems in Mazdas are full part replacement items that dealers are not prepared to fix.
If you think it's easier to drive an AWD on PAVED mountain roads over a FWD or even RWD, then you once again have bought into the marketing. Heck, I will jump in just about any 40-year old RWD car with reasonable HP and I will beat you up and down the mountains in the rain or snow if you let me choose the tires. Search for the video "RWD in a Snowstorm..." and see what I mean while you watch a very light and low FRS zip around with AWD SUVs on mountain highways. Back in the day I watched a very crappy gen-1 Ford minivan blow past my AWD 4Runner in a blizzard outside of Calgary. How you ask? Snow tires. I learned my final AWD-debunking lesson that day. Now that minivan wouldn't have done well off-road where the 4Runner had been in the summer, but that's another application.
An AWD vehicle with identical tires and driver will indeed require a greater distance to stop than a FWD because of the impact of the weight. It may the difference of a few feet or even inches, but physics is a ruthless master and will not allow that extra mass to just disappear.
I wish all you AWD drivers well with your vehicles but take my advice and swap out those OEM tires and see how things change for you in the sloppy seasons.
Yep, overconfidence is a killer when you're behind the wheel of a 2-ton missile.
I have no worries about people who invest in winter tires over AWD. They will be safer and wiser for the experience of stopping shorter and cornering safer in the slop.
I've yet to see someone with snow tires in a ditch but I confess I haven't looked that closely.
I may agree with you but ignorance (not knowing how to drive in a specific road type), over confident (you think you know everything) and AWD are INCOMPARABLE sets.
You can NEVER conclude or generalize that AWD is dangerous because it builds over confidence.
Guys, this thread is pretty much irrelevant now as the OP has already decided and bought his new vehicle (went with AWD)! Better start a new thread if you guys want to continue debating AWD vs FWD...
Didn't know you were a mod now Tekbis.
This board is full of great discussions and information buried in threads where the OP had moved on.
Light-duty AWD = Manufacturer Profit in the snowbelt
First, the AWD system in current Mazdas is not sophisticated in any way compared to other systems. You're buying into the marketing. Check out the video of the Mazda CX-9 I-active AWD stuck on the paved hump in the road and the accompanying threads and then tell me about its sophistication as you watch the wheels spin. It's not even apparent that Mazda had anything to do with the AWD design given how mystified they were when that video came out. (Dumb video, but it proves my point.) Many, if not most, manufacturers simply buy an outsourced AWD system from Dana, Borg-Warner, Magna, GKN, etc. and plop it in the car barely understanding how it works. That's why AWD systems in Mazdas are full part replacement items that dealers are not prepared to fix.
If you think it's easier to drive an AWD on PAVED mountain roads over a FWD or even RWD, then you once again have bought into the marketing. Heck, I will jump in just about any 40-year old RWD car with reasonable HP and I will beat you up and down the mountains in the rain or snow if you let me choose the tires. Search for the video "RWD in a Snowstorm..." and see what I mean while you watch a very light and low FRS zip around with AWD SUVs on mountain highways. Back in the day I watched a very crappy gen-1 Ford minivan blow past my AWD 4Runner in a blizzard outside of Calgary. How you ask? Snow tires. I learned my final AWD-debunking lesson that day. Now that minivan wouldn't have done well off-road where the 4Runner had been in the summer, but that's another application.
An AWD vehicle with identical tires and driver will indeed require a greater distance to stop than a FWD because of the impact of the weight. It may the difference of a few feet or even inches, but physics is a ruthless master and will not allow that extra mass to just disappear.
I wish all you AWD drivers well with your vehicles but take my advice and swap out those OEM tires and see how things change for you in the sloppy seasons.
Light-duty AWD = Manufacturer Profit in the snowbelt
First, the AWD system in current Mazdas is not sophisticated in any way compared to other systems. You're buying into the marketing. Check out the video of the Mazda CX-9 I-active AWD stuck on the paved hump in the road and the accompanying threads and then tell me about its sophistication as you watch the wheels spin. It's not even apparent that Mazda had anything to do with the AWD design given how mystified they were when that video came out. (Dumb video, but it proves my point.) Many, if not most, manufacturers simply buy an outsourced AWD system from Dana, Borg-Warner, Magna, GKN, etc. and plop it in the car barely understanding how it works. That's why AWD systems in Mazdas are full part replacement items that dealers are not prepared to fix.
If you think it's easier to drive an AWD on PAVED mountain roads over a FWD or even RWD, then you once again have bought into the marketing. Heck, I will jump in just about any 40-year old RWD car with reasonable HP and I will beat you up and down the mountains in the rain or snow if you let me choose the tires. Search for the video "RWD in a Snowstorm..." and see what I mean while you watch a very light and low FRS zip around with AWD SUVs on mountain highways. Back in the day I watched a very crappy gen-1 Ford minivan blow past my AWD 4Runner in a blizzard outside of Calgary. How you ask? Snow tires. I learned my final AWD-debunking lesson that day. Now that minivan wouldn't have done well off-road where the 4Runner had been in the summer, but that's another application.
An AWD vehicle with identical tires and driver will indeed require a greater distance to stop than a FWD because of the impact of the weight. It may the difference of a few feet or even inches, but physics is a ruthless master and will not allow that extra mass to just disappear.
I wish all you AWD drivers well with your vehicles but take my advice and swap out those OEM tires and see how things change for you in the sloppy seasons.
Hey Mazda Cats...
First off, I like this forum. Most of you guys seem to know what you're talking about. So....
Soon to be 2018 CX-9 owner here.
I'm trying to decide on what drivetrain to get in a GT.
I realize that the AWD might have better handling but it's more expensive when "signing zee papers" and at the fuel pump.
My experience with most FWD vehicles has been this: They seem to "hop around" a bit while accelerating from takeoff through turns. However, FWD costs less in both gas and sticker price and is fantastic when it snows.
Is the FWD experience in the CX-9 acceptable to most? Is there really that big a difference? Of course, I'll test drive both to make a final decision.
Chime in bit*hes and thanks! �� Wishing you serenity and happiness.
Hey Deepfried..Going back to the OP's original concern, I am questioning the same thing. As someone who lives in sunny San Diego and not test driven a FWD cx9 yet, how is it's drivability in dry/wet conditions?
I know FWD is all I would really need in this type of climate, but with 310lbft at low RPMs, I would imagine it's easy to trigger traction control or wheel spin with aggressive throttle application. Is it easily triggered when the car is loaded? On a hill? Thoughts?
For reference, I've driven many miles in a 2014 FWD MDX and a 2016 FWD V6 Sorrento and had no issues with traction. However, they don't have 310lbft of torque at 2000rpm. I've test driven an AWD CX9 and traction was not an issue, as expected.
Light-duty AWD = Manufacturer Profit in the snowbelt
First, the AWD system in current Mazdas is not sophisticated in any way compared to other systems. You're buying into the marketing. Check out the video of the Mazda CX-9 I-active AWD stuck on the paved hump in the road and the accompanying threads and then tell me about its sophistication as you watch the wheels spin.
(Dumb video, but it proves my point.)
Many, if not most, manufacturers simply buy an outsourced AWD system from Dana, Borg-Warner, Magna, GKN, etc. and plop it in the car barely understanding how it works. That's why AWD systems in Mazdas are full part replacement items that dealers are not prepared to fix.
If you think it's easier to drive an AWD on PAVED mountain roads over a FWD or even RWD, then you once again have bought into the marketing.
Heck, I will jump in just about any 40-year old RWD car with reasonable HP and I will beat you up and down the mountains in the rain or snow if you let me choose the tires.
Search for the video "RWD in a Snowstorm..." and see what I mean while you watch a very light and low FRS zip around with AWD SUVs on mountain highways. Back in the day I watched a very crappy gen-1 Ford minivan blow past my AWD 4Runner in a blizzard outside of Calgary. How you ask? Snow tires. I learned my final AWD-debunking lesson that day. Now that minivan wouldn't have done well off-road where the 4Runner had been in the summer, but that's another application.
Guys, this thread is pretty much irrelevant now as the OP has already decided and bought his new vehicle (went with AWD)! Better start a new thread if you guys want to continue debating AWD vs FWD...