To go for AWD or not in a SL

[JMJ]

Should I go for one with or without AWD. I live in Florida and although we don't get any snow, we do get quite a bit of rain every year, especially during the summer months. I just wanted to know your take on the AWD, if it is really beneficial in regular day to day driving and driving in rain. Does it make a big difference in the quality of driving in normal driving conditions. Also would like yr inputs on maintenance/breaking down issues with AWD down the road since I'm planning to keep the vehicle for more than 5 years. Thanks in advance!!

[njjoe]

JMJ-

In the absense of snow I would opt for a FWD MO. The only exception would be if I lived in a rural area with hilly, gravel roads where AWD might keep you from getting stuck. If you regularly haul a boat out of the water at a steep, wet ramp then AWD might be beneficial. Otherwise, an FWD MO would be my choice.

-njjoe

[BillArf]

Go with FWD, unless you do drive on the beach often as you can do say in Daytona Beach, Florida. Frequent Florida boat ramp use would warrant AWD also.

Can also tell you that AWD's are a little scarce at Florida dealerships and while the dealership will get you one / find what you want they do that at a premium and bargaining power is lost.

.

[Pilgrim]

I think you will do just fine without the AWD, and you also will simplify the drivetrain and probably lighten the vehicle a bit.

[Halwg]

I would also go with FWD. I have had FWD cars, most recently a Maxima, and I live on a hill where we get snow. For that reason I opted for AWD because it sometimes gets dicey in FWD and I have been stuck before. But since I bought the AWD MO we have had the warmest winter on record. Go figure!

[mattski]

Ditto - FWD will be fine.

[tjmatx]

Sounds like your situation is similar to mine; I live in Dallas where we get very little snow and some ice. In my experience, nothing short of tire chains will help on ice, but we do get big downpours of rain in the Spring. Maybe something like you get in the Summer. I went for AWD mainly from the rain. If I, or my wife, are driving at 45 through our town during a downpour, it is not unusual to lose traction when hitting a low spot on the road that has 6 -8 inches of water in it. I haven't had the car over a Spring rainy season yet, but I'm hopeful that the AWD on our 2011 SL will help in this situation.

[TopazM3]

Originally Posted by tjmatx

Sounds like your situation is similar to mine; I live in Dallas where we get very little snow and some ice. In my experience, nothing short of tire chains will help on ice, but we do get big downpours of rain in the Spring. Maybe something like you get in the Summer. I went for AWD mainly from the rain. If I, or my wife, are driving at 45 through our town during a downpour, it is not unusual to lose traction when hitting a low spot on the road that has 6 -8 inches of water in it. I haven't had the car over a Spring rainy season yet, but I'm hopeful that the AWD on our 2011 SL will help in this situation.

The AWD in these cars is mostly to get you started in low traction situations. It is largely not functioning at quite low speeds, 18-20 MPH IIRC. The loss of traction you describe above is classic hydroplaning where your tire gets elevated from the road surface due to the incompressible water. As little as 1/2" can do it. The greater the speed, the easier it happens.

[BANSwee]

Isn't the AWD only activates when you loss traction. Most of the time its basically FWD

[JMJ]

Thanks a lot for your inputs. Since everyone of you feel the same and it also makes sense, I'll go for a FWD and save some money.

[MuranoSV]

You'll get better fuel economy, too.

[tjmatx]

Hmmmm. I was disappointed to hear what your were saying about the AWD at other than slow speeds, TopazM3. I had always assumed that the MO AWD system would provide traction assistance at any speed if slippage is detected on a driven axle. The Nissan advertising certainly leads one to believe that is the case. You are saying that there is never any power applied to the rear axle at speeds above 25 mph or so? For example when cornering on a slippery road at 25 mph and a front wheel starts to slip in mud, the AWD system won't help out at all? That would certainly be a letdown for me.

[HVT]

Originally Posted by TopazM3

The AWD in these cars is mostly to get you started in low traction situations. It is largely not functioning at quite low speeds, 18-20 MPH IIRC. The loss of traction you describe above is classic hydroplaning where your tire gets elevated from the road surface due to the incompressible water. As little as 1/2" can do it. The greater the speed, the easier it happens.

This may be different for other model years, but on the 2011 Muranos, the AWD is always on from a stop. So when you start out (works great on wet roads...not just in snow) it's 50/50 AWD, then changes to FWD once up to speed. No one front wheel spin when pulling away from a light in a hurry here! It also, using yaw sensors, switches to 70/30 for better cornering. There's a lot more to the newer Muranos AWD system. I'd never buy an SUV/Crossover w/o AWD. Otherwise, to me, just get a FWD sedan.

[Suter]

Originally Posted by HVT

I'd never buy an SUV/Crossover w/o AWD. Otherwise, to me, just get a FWD sedan.

Yeah, the whole point of buying SUV/CUV is to have enough clearance and traction when you need it (in snow or mud, 2 days of heavy rain a year don't count). So, it's obvious you're getting it with AWD. I don't see how CUV can be a better choice over a wagon or a minivan in places where there's no snow. But that is just my opinion.

I live in North East and was very close to getting TSX Wagon, but wife "needed" AWD and it's her car. We got AWD Murano but I doubt we'll ever see a need for 4 wheel traction, especially with winter tires. Plus, whenever it's really bad outside she is still getting my 4x4 truck.

[HVT]

I'm the same way. And we also have a 4X4 Titan for when it's really bad out but I just wanted the OP to realize that there's quite a bit more to the Muranos AWD system than just snow. There are many non snow related advantages to the AWD setup.


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