Mazda AWD is it real AWD or just sales marketing?

Great videos you provided there. Makes me feel good about purchasing the car. So who's ready to race me? LOL
 
I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor. In my 1994 Subaru, I had two wheels in mud, and two wheels on dirt. The two wheels in mud spun out and I had to rock back and forth to get out.

My 2002 WRX, two wheels on dry pavement, two on ice. The two on ice sat and spun until I had to back up off the driveway.

My 2004 Outback VDC - top of the line with "VDC has AWD, traction control, vehicle skid control, variable torque distribution" did the same thing. Two wheels on pavement, two in snow, the two in snow spun out and I had to spin and spin until one of the two in snow finally hit pavement.

My 2005 Legacy GT Wagon, same damn thing.

Subaru lies, their AWD is wheels that GRIP to the wheels that SLIP.

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.
 
Those are some interesting tests. How is it that the other manufacturers never tried it with their AWD systems? The Nissan with the CVT was shocking. However, the fact that this is a Subaru promotional video makes me skeptical.
 
Infymus said:
I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor..
Click to expand...

Why have you owned eight subaru's if their AWD system was crap? You'd think you would have learned after two or three of them (thumb)
 
What do you guys think about the SH-AWD on the acura rdx/mdx?

they really push that in a lot of their marketing material
 
Infymus said:
I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor. In my 1994 Subaru, I had two wheels in mud, and two wheels on dirt. The two wheels in mud spun out and I had to rock back and forth to get out.

My 2002 WRX, two wheels on dry pavement, two on ice. The two on ice sat and spun until I had to back up off the driveway.

My 2004 Outback VDC - top of the line with "VDC has AWD, traction control, vehicle skid control, variable torque distribution" did the same thing. Two wheels on pavement, two in snow, the two in snow spun out and I had to spin and spin until one of the two in snow finally hit pavement.

My 2005 Legacy GT Wagon, same damn thing.

Subaru lies, their AWD is wheels that GRIP to the wheels that SLIP.

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.
Click to expand...

The traction control system is designed to prevent wheel slip. In some cases there isn't enough traction to move the vehicle without a little (or a lot) of wheel slip. That's why there is an off button for the traction control. Just don't spin the wheels too fast. At 20 MPH (approx) the Traction control automatically turns back on.
 
Infymus said:
I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.
Click to expand...

This is because of the crap tires the CX-7 comes with. I have Nokian WR tires on mine and I would have no problem climbing your driveway. Also try turning the traction control off.

Check my post half way down this page for info on the AWD system.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123660927&page=2
 
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All I know is that I was able to blow away a FWD toyota camry and keep up with a Nissan Xterra in my Mazdaspeed6. It was sleeting out and there was about 3" of slippery sloppy slush on the ground and we were heading up a steep incline. It was enough to induce 4 wheel slippage (running on stock tires which aren't even designed for snow). The back end got a little squirrelly but the speed6 made the grade. I left the camry and several other cars in the dust. By the time I reached the top of the hill they hadn't moved 100ft.

So if the CX-7 AWD is anything like the MS6 AWD I would say it works just fine.
 
AWmustang said:
The traction control system is designed to prevent wheel slip. In some cases there isn't enough traction to move the vehicle without a little (or a lot) of wheel slip. That's why there is an off button for the traction control. Just don't spin the wheels too fast. At 20 MPH (approx) the Traction control automatically turns back on.
Click to expand...


Absolutely correct.
 
chuyler1 said:
Those are some interesting tests. How is it that the other manufacturers never tried it with their AWD systems? The Nissan with the CVT was shocking. However, the fact that this is a Subaru promotional video makes me skeptical.
Click to expand...


That video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162 was actually used with their sales reps. It was financed and made for Subaru. Of course it will say that Subaru has the best system.
 
There are so many issue with this video...

...I don't know where to start.

A couple of observations:

You can't trust the voice over. Note that "he" leads many of the comparisons. Stating that one driver had more trouble with one car over the other is subjective since none of us are sitting with the driver to assess difficulty or if the driver is drving the competitive car as well as the Subaru.

Tires. All wheel drive is a nice feature, but if the tires are crap then AWD is useless. For example we don't know if the Sub's had more aggressive tread then the competition: i.e. did the Volvo loose control because of bad engineering or bad tires?

If you look closely the sub had issues with the uphill roller test. The announcer covers it up by leading the audience with a "positve outcome."

Personally that voice over drove me crazy. (bang) I wanted to strangle him(dark)

Moral of the story. Never trust Marketing :-)

RomanKuzmik said:
Take a look at 'Subaru AWD vs Competition' Video at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162

It is very interesting to hear any thoughts about Mazda AWD. Will it stuck just like Murano in similar situation?

Here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=786139873491896591&q=mazda+CX-7 you can see some interesting info about CX-7 original AWD.
Click to expand...
 
koala said:
Why have you owned eight subaru's if their AWD system was crap? You'd think you would have learned after two or three of them (thumb)
Click to expand...

Because I like pain? Subaru makes great cars, and for the most part, getting through the snow and rain it works very well. Plus if I hadn't, you wouldn't have been able to make your comment.
 
I have played with our CX-7s AWD on a dirt hill. (just for curiositys sake)

We did get the rear wheels to spin trying to climb a semi-sideways off camber hill. There is deff. power going to the rear wheels, as I saw sticking my head out the open door looking at the left rear wheel spin when I nailed it.
 
Antonio DiMarco said:
...I don't know where to start.

A couple of observations:

You can't trust the voice over. Note that "he" leads many of the comparisons. Stating that one driver had more trouble with one car over the other is subjective since none of us are sitting with the driver to assess difficulty or if the driver is drving the competitive car as well as the Subaru.

Tires. All wheel drive is a nice feature, but if the tires are crap then AWD is useless. For example we don't know if the Sub's had more aggressive tread then the competition: i.e. did the Volvo loose control because of bad engineering or bad tires?

If you look closely the sub had issues with the uphill roller test. The announcer covers it up by leading the audience with a "positve outcome."

Personally that voice over drove me crazy. (bang) I wanted to strangle him(dark)

Moral of the story. Never trust Marketing :-)
Click to expand...

Nice points Antonio! I especially agree with your point about the tires. I think in general, most people underestimate the impact that tires have on any car's performance (braking, acceleration, maneuvering, all of the above)! It cracks me up to see people putting money into tower and sway bars, only to throw no name rims and tires on!

Being in advertising though, I disagree with your point on Marketing and pass the blame onto sales. (drinks)
 
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