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Large Cars With 4 Wheel Drive – Are They Worth Buying?

by

Dale Benton

All wheel drive large cars are dropping in price – some from $50,000 to around $20,000. It is little wonder that they are becoming more popular. However, many that buy SUVs do not really need them – any large car would meet their needs. Is it worthwhile buying such vehicles, and are there any negative aspects to them other than fuel consumption?

It is claimed that they are better for handling snow and ice, and are better off-road than regular cars. This may very well be the case, but how many people actually use their SUV or Hummer to drive off-road? It is not for nothing that many describe an SUV as a \’suburban utility vehicle rather than the correct \’sports utility vehicle.\’ It appears to be more of a status symbol than a genuine off-road vehicle.

Here are some of the negative aspects of large cars, particularly the larger and heavier SUVs that are used more for road driving than anything else. In fact many never see off-road terrain.

Is All-Wheel Drive Necessary?

Although many claim that all-wheel driving offers better road holding in winter, this is not necessarily the case. You can get stuck in snow with any vehicle if you have the wrong tires on. You may experience better traction during acceleration, but that\’s about all. Having all-wheel drive has no effect on your ability to stop the car or turn corners.

It is better to have a good set of winter tires with a good deep tread on snow and ice than having all four wheels driven. In fact, front wheel drive is better for grip than rear-wheel drive assuming your engine is in the front. One reason is that your tires have more weight to carry – more weight, better grip. Your car will handle better in snow and ice with a good set of tires than with four driven wheels.

Is the Weight of Large Cars Useful?

A lot less than you might believe. Sure, a heavier car will get through snow easier one you get going, but weight can also be a danger. A lighter car is much easier to control in a skid than a heavy car. Once you begin to slide, the heavier weight means more momentum.

This taxes your car\’s ability to change direction or stop because extra momentum needs more energy to counter it. You also need more grip on your tires, so the design and condition of the tires is more important than whether or not they are driven. It is not always an advantage to drive a heavy car – it can be useful to get you started, but it\’s the stopping that causes most damage!

Is a Powerful Engine a Help?

Not really. If you regularly tow heavy loads, then power can be an advantage. However, it makes little different for normal driving. Driving in snow and ice requires control, not power. First and second gears are more useful than 5th or 6th in such conditions, and excessive power and high revs will only lead to skidding.

In fact, few people actually use all the power available in large cars such as SUVs. Most people who buy large cars never reach full throttle. It is very common for some people to purchase the best and biggest cars they can afford without giving it much thought. It most cases, they would be better purchasing a less powerful vehicle with more luxurious fittings.

How Do Decide What Large Car to Buy?

Consider why you need a large car. Most people do not need large cars, and are spending too much money on fuel. If you need more seating space for a large family, then a 7-seater SUV or \’people carrier\’ would likely meet your needs. You would then need slightly more power, although a hybrid or diesel might help you save on gas.

Diesel gives you better fuel economy than gasoline, while a hybrid is a combination of gas and electrical power. This is particularly true if most of your driving is carried out in town or in a city. If you regularly drive long distances, you might be able to justify a larger more powerful car. However, why buy a car capable of 180 MPH if the highest freeway speed limit is 75?

Diesel is currently only 9.5% higher in price than regular gasoline in the USA. On average you get a lot more than this in fuel economy. Hybrids also give good fuel economy, the Ford Escape averaging 32 MPG (31/34).

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder crossover hybrid is rated at 26 MPG (25/27) from its supercharged engine. In comparison, you get 29 MPG with the Nissan Juke, and just 19 PG from the Ford Explorer SUV.)

Conclusion

You might be better with a hybrid or crossover – or safer spending your money on better tires. One day you will wake up to find that gas is so scarce that its price has risen dramatically – hybrids and electric cars such as the Nissan LEAF might then become extremely desirable!

In conclusion, when buying a car keep fuel economy in mind. Large cars might have massive engines, but why do you need them if you will never use half that power? Is an SUV,or any other large car with all wheel drive, really essential to you if you only ever drive on regular roads?

All wheel drive

large cars are very rarely used to their potential. However, if you are looking for an SUV or crossover, visit the Benton Nissan website at

bentonnissan.com/

where you will find a large selection – not just new and used Nissans, but also used Dodges, Jeeps, Chevys and many more.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com