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Subaru has a number of different types of awd systems. The type used with the 4EAT equipped Forester and 5EAT VDC equipped Legacy are both superior to that used on the Toyota Highlander/Lexus RX...as well as the manual transmission equipped Subaru Legacy and Impreza's (STi excepted). The type used on the manual transmission Subaru's is similar to the type used on the Lexus RX - it has a viscous center differential. However, as the Highlander portion of the video points out, the traction control limits the ability of the viscous center differential to do it's job and transfer enough torque to the rear to climb a moderate grade.
Having said all that, any car with decent snow tires and a driver with a bit of common sense should fare well in the snow and I bet the RX does better at this than many vehicles. I'll find out if it ever snows again this year in the Sierras.
Having said all that, any car with decent snow tires and a driver with a bit of common sense should fare well in the snow and I bet the RX does better at this than many vehicles. I'll find out if it ever snows again this year in the Sierras.
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The AWD system does absolutely nothing for freeway handling, snow, dry or otherwise.Originally Posted by biff44
I really do not understand the lexus engineers. The RX awd handles great in highway snow. You can tool along at 65 when many other cars going 40 are lying on their roofs in a ditch.
salimshah
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Do not confuse highway speed operation, which is excellent, with slow speed (<10 mph) travel, like trying to get up a driveway. The engine just cuts out, you get stuck, and have to back up and try it again.
The system SHOULD keep the engine going, let the wheel spin a little, but give more power to the other wheels.
VSC is different from TRACK.Originally Posted by biff44
No, not at slow speed it doesn't. Like the other poster said, the wheel just turns round and round. Do not confuse highway speed operation, which is excellent, with slow speed (<10 mph) travel, like trying to get up a driveway. The engine just cuts out, you get stuck, and have to back up and try it again.
The system SHOULD keep the engine going, let the wheel spin a little, but give more power to the other wheels.
Salim
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Salim
So, from a stop, if the front wheels start to spin, the TC applies the brakes and routes pwr to the rear. Then the rear spins and is pushing against the front brakes and you go sideways. Yep, been there.Originally Posted by salimshah
The TRAC (traction control) does that by sensing the spin of one wheel vs the other and applying brake to the spinning one, thus the net turning force is applied to the wheel that is not spinning.Salim
Has anyone come up with the answer "what does the "snow mode" button do?"
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Has anyone come up with the answer "what does the "snow mode" button do?"
Grouch, I am more familiar with the Track on my FWD, and the TC works on sensing the left vs right front wheels. The mechanism to drive the rear wheels has changed over years on an RX. For AWD I cant say with authority how the trac works (on all 4? brake the one that is spinning)Originally Posted by grouch
So, from a stop, if the front wheels start to spin, the TC applies the brakes and routes pwr to the rear. Then the rear spins and is pushing against the front brakes and you go sideways. Yep, been there.Has anyone come up with the answer "what does the "snow mode" button do?"
SNOW mode: The problem with normal mode is that you get max-torque with gear 1. If the wheel traction is poor (in snow), the wheels would spin out. The "snow" mode engages gear "2" from standstill. This reduces torque and hopefully prevent spin out.
Salim
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Yes, nutty, but it actually handles very well in the snow with regular Dunlop Sports and I've had Yokohamas on there too. It's a 5-speed, so I launch in either 2nd or 3rd gear, gently apply the gas, and it's never failed me. The problem with driving with an automatic is that even with a "snow" mode, it only retards the launch from 2nd gear, but for cars like the RX and LS, that is still too much power to the wheels that you would have to step so gently to get grip and it's just human nature to think "oh, I'm not stepping hard enough, I have to FLOOR IT and spin my way out."Originally Posted by triplecore
An inetgra in the snow ! your nuts... that's a sports car. I don't even think you can find winter tires for it. They are sick tho. Though my friend has one its not the performance kind just like yours but a stock LS with Automatic. But it drives so well and you can feel the road without it being overbearing. I wish Acura had kept that a little longer. I don't really dig the RSX its kind of looks more feminine. Imagine a rear wheel drive or All Wheel Drive intergra... that would be ridiculous.
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Salim
That was my understanding, but I wanted to verify it.Originally Posted by salimshah
SNOW mode: The problem with normal mode is that you get max-torque with gear 1. If the wheel traction is poor (in snow), the wheels would spin out. The "snow" mode engages gear "2" from standstill. This reduces torque and hopefully prevent spin out.Salim