FWD or AWD ? Does It Make A Diff

[yousif]

Hi,

Im planning to buy the CX-7 real soon. I really wana know if there is a difference between the AWD and FWD? Is AWD worth the money? I also read that the AWD doesn't really work unless the car is slipping or something like that.

Need help quick I need to decide in a couple of days.

 

[Kansei]

Why would you want the AWD to work unless it's slipping?

I'd definitely go for the AWD if you live somewhere where it snows.

 

[yousif]

Why would you want the AWD to work unless it's slipping?

I'd definitely go for the AWD if you live somewhere where it snows.

I live in Los Angeles. Definately no snow there other comments on the AWD or FWD?

Thanks

 

[Kansei]

Well then if you aren't going to be taking the car autocrossing (I don't know if they would let it, they'd probably consider it an SUV but boy does it handle well!) I wouldn't really worry about the AWD.

I'm sure someone else can chime in but my Protege5 is FWD and I still love it. Plus, I go to school in Rochester, NY so I'm quite familiar with snow.

I'd love to live in SoCal maybe when I'm done with school

 

[yousif]

Well then if you aren't going to be taking the car autocrossing (I don't know if they would let it, they'd probably consider it an SUV but boy does it handle well!) I wouldn't really worry about the AWD.

I'm sure someone else can chime in but my Protege5 is FWD and I still love it. Plus, I go to school in Rochester, NY so I'm quite familiar with snow.

I'd love to live in SoCal maybe when I'm done with school

Thanks man. Then i'm taking the FWD the money difference is worth it. Does anybody else have any remarks? Need several opinions.
Thank You

-yousif

 

[Kansei]

Unless it affects other options on the car.. like you know, if you can't get a moonroof because you didn't get AWD or something like that.

 

[Brian MP5T]

Good call on the FWD..

Basically, it would add weight to the veh, It sounds like you would never need it..

 

[Kansei]

Yeah like if we were talking a lambo gallardo.. hell yeah I'd get the AWD. But we're talking a fun, practical mini-suv thing

I'd get AWD because of where I live.. but hell my FWD protege is great in the snow with the right tires so AWD isn't really needed.

 

[orlandomsp]

Doesn't the CX-7 come with a V6 in the FWD variant?

 

[Brian MP5T]

Oh, That would SUCK!

 

[wongster]

well i got the awd cause of where i live too.. the winter, and rain.. as well one good thing abt awd is if you take off it helps reduce of understeering as well if you do a fast take off.. but if none of those apply than you dont need it really...

 

[spike blue]

i got min fwd and im pretty happy!!!

 

[Rogue]

Doesn't the CX-7 come with a V6 in the FWD variant?

no, all the CX-7s come with the 2.3L turbo engine. The new CX-9 will be offered with the new Ford 3.5L 255hp V6.

 

[xavier]

FWD is fine in LA. The AWD in the CX7 is more like Real Time AWD. Its not constant like some AWD systems which means that Mazda really didnt need to make the components that strong. When your front wheels start to slip, the rear wheels start to grab. I havent read up on the CX7 's awd since I got a fwd but I know about Hondas RTAWD system and that appears to be rather frail. It uses hydraulic pumps to determine wheel slippage on the front end. Basically, if the front wheels begin to spin at different speeds, there becomes a difference of pressure in the hydraulic system which opens a valve and lets the hydraulic fluid to the rearend engaging the back wheels. Once the front wheels cease slipping, the valve is closed and the hydraulic fluid stays up front. Its pretty complex but fragile.

 

[Kansei]

It's the same AWD system that the Mazdaspeed 6 has from what I can tell, and I'm sure they made the MS6 AWD pretty beefy.

 

[G-Papi]

The AWD is an on-demand system. It will apply varying percentages to power to the rear wheels, dependant on the amount of traction lost in either front wheel. It's not just a snow and ice situation. It's particularly good in wet conditions as well.

There's a combination of part-time AWD which corrects for traction lost between front and rear - and TCS, which corrects traction differences between wheels on the same axle (i.e. fronts or rears).

All in all, it's an amazing (and complicated) system. There is the downside of more things to go wrong - but it's always that way; the more moving parts and the more electrical circuits, and computer lines and on, and on.

All that having been said; I believe that if you needed to ask - then FWD will do fine for you - or you need to do some serious research on the differences before you decide - including test driving.

btw - there's only one motor - the four cylinder, available in all models of the CX-7.

 

[CX7_Scott]

To echo other replies - if you're not in an area that requires AWD traction, the FWD will save you money up-front and long-term.

I live in the New England area and will be frequenting the northern areas of Maine during the winter. Bumping to AWD was a no-brainer for me.

As others have said - the AWD acts as FWD until there is a loss of traction. I have no heavenly clue as to how it works. I am actually quite surprised at the feedback one of the owners from Canada gave regarding traction on packed-snow/ice... saying it was not that great... although it was more of a reflection of tire performance, not the AWD system.

I guess I'll find-out first-hand soon enough when winter hits.

 

[xavier]

It's the same AWD system that the Mazdaspeed 6 has from what I can tell, and I'm sure they made the MS6 AWD pretty beefy.

Thats good to know. I wasnt sure how strong it was but if its the same awd from the speed6 then it should be able to take a fair amount of punishment

 

[G-Papi]

. . . I am actually quite surprised at the feedback one of the owners from Canada gave regarding traction on packed-snow/ice... saying it was not that great... although it was more of a reflection of tire performance, not the AWD system.

I do believe the owner who expressed that concerd did have some tire issues.

Also, believe his biggest problem was cornering traction and stability.

While the CX-7 does handle like a sports car on a dry surface, much is due to the suspension setup that Mazda put together. It handles quickly and seemingly effortlessly.

On snow or ice, however, I would expect some basic laws of physics to begin to have a greater impact on cornering stability. The car has a high center of gravity which gives its two-ton weight a longer lever to force laterally against the tires' mission of providing lateral traction. (I hope I expressed that thought clearly(shocked).)

Incidentally, I'd expect similar diminishing of braking capability for the same reason.

I believe that snow or ice should cause any driver to learn the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle as equipped. In bad weather - I'd think snow tires would be a must!

 

[CX7_Scott]

If I had the extra $1k+... I'd get the snow tires... but about to move and need to save my pennies.