The WRX on black ice
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From: ATL
Car Info: silver WRX 4-dr
The WRX on black ice
What advantage does a the manual WRX's AWD system have over FWD in patchy ice conditions? A couple of years ago, I was driving down I-20 near Atlanta in an Altima, and saw that the left side of the left lane has ice all over it (it was totally unexpected as it was bone dry everywhere else). The guy in front of me slowed down, and I tapped my brakes to keep distance. That's all it took, the wheels broke loose, the car spun out and ended up in a ditch. In this particular situation, is it possible that this wouldn't have happened if the car had AWD? I know there are lots of variables of course, but in general what are the advantages of AWD in "unannounced" black ice situations at speed (not slow driving in snow)?
Also, if there are any advantages to AWD in this situation, they would depend on you using just the brakes and not the clutch and the brakes at the same time, correct?
Thanks in advance,
Adnan
Also, if there are any advantages to AWD in this situation, they would depend on you using just the brakes and not the clutch and the brakes at the same time, correct?
Thanks in advance,
Adnan
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Unfortunately, AWD does little for you when you're braking. AWD distributes power "from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip".. not braking force. The problem you had was that the tires on dry pavement (right side of the car) got traction and slowed down, but the left side (on ice) didn't and kept on going. Obviously if one side of the car stops and the other goes, that causes a spin in the direction of the stopped side. What can help in that situation is abs, which stops the tires on the pavement from breaking loose and helps you steer the car away from spinning. Now accelerating with two tires on ice and two on pavement, AWD will help you out.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Pleasant Hill, CA
Car Info: 02 WRB Wagon (Cobb AccessPort, P7's), 2-73 914 2.0, 74 914-2.0
What might have helped in those conditions are the ABS. It might have prevented losing traction which is what caused you to spin.
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From: Bay Area
Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Originally posted by Sea Dragon Rex
What might have helped in those conditions are the ABS. It might have prevented losing traction which is what caused you to spin.
What might have helped in those conditions are the ABS. It might have prevented losing traction which is what caused you to spin.
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