Best Vehicle for Cleveland Winter

Another brutal Northeast OH winter is likely. At Barberton Junk Cars, in the auto recycling junk cars business, we see many vehicles become casualties to the conditions. As a buyer of junk cars and a buy my junk car company, we often encounter vehicle owners that have their cars reduced to junk cars and scrap cars by failing to limit their speed in icy and snowy conditions. What is the best vehicle for Cleveland winter? Today we examine the vehicles which are four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive to gain an understanding.

An article by Mac Demere on popularmechanics.com titled ‘The Myth of the All-Powerful All-Wheel Drive’ outlines the following: “I’d rather have a Camry on 4 snow tires than the best AWD vehicle on all-season tires.  AWD is great at aiding accelerating on slick surfaces & keeping a car moving on snowy roads. My experience—hard-earned from wrecking more than one AWD vehicle during snow-handling tests—is that AWD is counter-productive when the roads are slick. AWD provides the potential to be going much faster when you need to stop. The laws of physics mean a vehicle’s cornering power is the job of the tires & suspension. Having power to 4 wheels rather than 2 sounds like it would help the car handle, which is why you see those ads that infuriate me; good tires beat AWD.” The full article is available at this link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/industry/the-myth-of-the-all-powerful-all-wheel-drive-15202862

On driving.ca, Brian Harper posted ‘Think AWD makes you invincible in the snow? Think again’, with the following findings:  “Those who remember physics recognize Sir Isaac Newton’s 1st Law of Motion (aka the Law of Inertia):  An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force; often the bumper of the car or truck ahead!  Testing by the MTO of vehicle stopping distances from 50 kilometers/hour — on asphalt roads covered with 3 to 5 centimeters of snow — showed a 4WD SUV coming to a halt in 35.7 meters when fitted with winter tires. With all-season tires on, the stopping distance increased to 42.8 m. That can be the difference between a close call and a trip to the body shop — or hospital. The 2^nd best system for inclement weather is AWD; which can send torque to all 4 tires. The best system for inclement weather is an actively controlled 4×4 vehicle. These send an optimal amount of torque — based on demand — to the tires with the most traction. The complete story is here:  http://driving.ca/

The site digitaltrends.com has an article by Peter Braun called ‘What’s the difference between 4WD and AWD?’  Braun’s article is as follows:  “Let’s start with the old-school version 4WD (4×4); typically used on off-road vehicles. Power goes from the transmission to a transfer case; which splits power between the front & rear axles so that maximum torque is going to each wheel. When the transfer case splits power evenly, it ensures that each wheel turns at the same speed. Most modern 4WD systems are only on when you activate them (electronically or with a secondary lever). That way, you can use 4WD at low speed in snow or mud, but 2WD in normal conditions.

4WD Pros: Best traction in off-road conditions; can be turned off to save fuel & proven technology

4WD Cons: Adds weight & complexity to cars and is more expensive than 2WD models

AWD:  A more recent innovation and more complicated.  The big difference between 4WD and AWD is that an AWD drive system is on all the time.  There are 2 types of all-wheel drive: mechanical and electronic. The most common way of accomplishing a capable, mechanical AWD system is by using 3 differentials. A differential is a box of gears that can take power from the transmission & split it at different levels between 2 wheels or the front and rear axles. In AWD this system works to get power to the wheels with the most traction by splitting power between the front & rear axles on the center differential & the individual wheels by way of the front & rear differential. This is useful either in slippery conditions when different wheels might be getting different amounts of grip. AWD isn’t as robust as 4WD and can’t match the traction in extreme off-roading that the 4WD systems provide. Computers are involved in most AWD systems. Wheel sensors monitor traction & wheel speed. An ECU dictates where power is sent depending on wheel grip. This type of system, usually called torque vectoring, allowed massive improvements in handling and inclement weather capability.

AWD Pros: Better grip & control and sportier handling/traction to a broader range of cars

AWD Cons: Reduces fuel economy; increases vehicle weight; not as good off-road.

If you plan on using your vehicle off-road often, 4WD is the best bet. For most people, AWD makes more sense. In the sort of winter road conditions most drivers experience, it’s nice to have a drivetrain, like a modern AWD system, that responds instantly without the driver having to toggle any switches. Mr. Braun’s report in full can be seen here:  http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/whats-the-difference-between-four-wheel-drive-and-all-wheel-drive/

As a buyer of junk cars and expert in the business of auto recycling junk cars, we first recommend that those dealing with winters in areas of considerable snow such as Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Akron, Green and Wadsworth remember to slow the speed in which you normally travel amid the elements. Last year NE cities were literally running out of road salt and they inevitably are many hours behind on plowing and salting, even when the forecast calls for a decent amount of ice and snow. We regularly get calls to buy my junk car from people in an SUV that is only 5-7 years old that was totaled because of driver stupidity. To prevent having to call us to “buy my junk car” you should be sure your tires are good, reduce your speed by 20% and increase your stopping distance by 20%. This time of year in auto recycling junk cars, we see too many vehicles being sold to a buyer of junk cars simply because of driver mistakes in adverse weather conditions. For buy my junk car services in Bath, Clinton, Firestone Park or Norton, call (330) 732-JUNK today. To receive a junk car quote from our buyer of junk cars in Monroe Falls, Peninsula, Tallmadge and New Franklin, visit our website at https://www.barbertonjunkcars.com. Free towing is included, plus cash for your car in the areas of Kenmore, Hudson, Lakemore, Copley and Coventry Township. If looking to sell an old car for cash in Springfield Township, the Merriman Valley, Mogadore, Stow or Highland Square, contact BJC today.