22nd Dec 2010, 07:04
Do you really need AWD?
I've been using Blizzak snow/ice tires in the winter on all my cars because of their incredible stopping ability. On my RWD van, it never gets stuck in snow, unless you try to go through a 30 inch bank made by the snow plow. Otherwise, never get stuck.
On my AWD van, you'd never get stuck, even if your tires were bald. But braking is scary dangerous, unless you have good traction tires anyway like the Blizzak.
My conclusion is that 90% of Americans who buy AWD don't actually need it. I live in the snow belt (but not on a mountain or on mud roads) and would NOT opt for AWD again. It adds weight, hurts performance, and adds repair and maintenance costs. But yes, I'm willing to swap summer wheels and winter wheels twice a year - but feel MUCH safer for doing so.
15th Feb 2013, 09:35
I agree very much with this comment, and I'd like to expand that to include 4wds as well. People forget AWD does not help you stop, and they can go off the road just as easily in wet weather with greasy roads, because AWD does not help when you have no traction on any wheel.
2nd Nov 2014, 15:56
Totally agree. So many people these days have been "brainwashed" into believing that if they don't have AWD, they are just asking for trouble... Ugh, so annoying trying to explain to people that nobody NEEDS AWD if they are commuting in the city... Snow tires are all anyone needs! Come on people, wake up and smell the coffee! You're wasting money on gas and maintenance on a setup that's wastefully complex.
9th Feb 2018, 17:10
In my experience, 90% of car enthusiasts need people to buy cars with AWD, in order to gloat about how it's an unnecessary feature for those 'in the know'.
19th Aug 2010, 19:48
I agree, this is more about the shop than it is about Subaru. If the same exact thing keeps happening, then they aren't fixing it right and have no clue how to work on these engines.
Subaru's are excellent cars really, and it is unfortunate you've had bad luck with yours.