| Motors
Think you need a 4x4?
You’ve decided that a 4x4 could be right for you, but is
that strictly true?
hilst they’re great for
towing horseboxes across
muddy fields or improving
your chances of making it
through the snow and ice
of a British winter, how
often do you actually need
the extra capabilities they offer?
Assuming it’s often enough, then
GEM Motoring Assist has some
sound advice to help ensure you
get the vehicle you need – at the
right price…
If you do a lot of towing then it
makes sense to have a big heavy
vehicle with good torque and
traction to pull the load with the
minimum of fuss, and if you need
to detour from the tarmac on a
regular basis then four-wheel drive
is almost a given. But let’s be
honest... we do fall for the image
and driving position, so we justify
the ‘need’ with self-deception and
tenuous self-justifications.
Of course, if you want a 4x4
(and within the term 4x4 we also
include AWD vehicles) for no other
reason than personal choice, then
fine, but what are they like to live
with? Four-wheel or all-wheel drive
vehicles cover a broad church,
from the small but perfectly formed
Fiat Panda, through the various
sporty Audi Quattros, and on to
the world-beating ‘Green Oval’.
Although they vary in shape, size
and ability, the one thing that they
all have in common is a
transmission system that connects
drive to all of the wheels.
W
As capable as modern off
roaders are, most people will
never (or infrequently) venture
far into the wilderness.
Stating the obvious, all types
will tend to use more fuel than
equivalent ‘normal’ cars, due to
their weight, aerodynamics, and
inefficiency of applying power to a
much larger drive train. Some
modern 4x4s counter this by
employing intelligent power
management that drives only the
front wheels most of the time, and
then transfers drive to the rear if
they detect a lack of traction. Many
of these systems have become so
good that it’s often difficult to spot
the join.
One thing you will certainly
notice, though, are the road
manners of the traditional ‘big’
4x4s. Despite (in some cases)
some very advanced traction aids,
they still let you know you are not
cornering or braking in a Porsche
911. So some consideration of this
will be required in your driving
style if you intend to keep it shiny
side up and un-bent.
You’ll also get through more
tyres, as both axles are driven, and
lateral forces and tyre scrubbing
are greater in a heavier vehicle
with a higher centre of gravity.
In the interest of balance,
though, with the larger 4x4s you
do get plenty of interior room (and
sometimes fantastic levels of
luxury), a commanding driving
position, and a feeling of security,
that, should the worst happen,
ensures you have plenty of metal
around you.
Avoiding the worst could also
be more likely in a 4x4, as they are
less prone to aquaplane in wet
weather, and more likely to get you
home in the snow or flood waters
(up to a limit). On the sportier
4x4s, the benefit of the extra
traction can often also be felt in the
cornering (think Quattro, Impreza
or Evo). This can increase the grin
factor of a spirited drive along your
favourite ribbon of twisty stuff.
Still, as capable as modern offroaders are, most people will
never (or infrequently) venture far
into the wilderness. If you do,
remember that off-road driving is
not the same as on-road driving,
and requires a different skill-set
and experience from the driver if
you are to be safe and successful
in your expedition. Some
manufacturers offer an off-road
driving experience for their
customers, and we would strongly
recommend that your first foray
into the muddy stuff is under the
instruction of an experienced offroad driver to keep you and your
vehicle safe while you learn your
new craft.
One final word of warning to
anyone who thinks that four-wheel
drive is a panacea