outback_97 Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Sorry if this has been posted before, I've never seen it here and I searched for it too. Found it interesting. http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/13/video-volvo-vs-subaru-awd/ Video shows a second gen Outback and a Volvo XC70 wagon driving up a muddy hill, and pulling a small trailer up a hill. Guess which one makes it I don't have speakers on this computer and I don't understand Swedish anyway, but supposedly the tires are the same on both cars. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 YUP, I agree with that. When MY90 Legacy AWD LS wagon was brand new, I watched an Explorer fail to make it up a snow covered hill near my home at the time in northern NJ. (in 1990) My Legacy just went up that hill, past the Explorer, like it was summertime. It was my first impression on AWD over the 4WD I had in my 85 Subaru wagon. I fell certain that would have gone up that hill also as it had in the past, but the 85 would wag it's tail on the way up. The Legacy went straight up...no tail wagging....no slipping you could feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subie94 Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 that's all to funny,the volvo had so much trouble at the bottom of the hill.. (i can see if it got to the top of the hill,but the bottom) i'm wondering if they did have the same type tires.? couldn't tell. don't think i'm standing up for volvo (i can't stand copy-cat companys) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 14, 2006 Author Share Posted June 14, 2006 ... i'm wondering if they did have the same type tires.? If you read through the comments below the video (most are pretty lame), someone explained that the guy in the video says they do have the same tires. Any Swedish speakers here to verify that? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subie94 Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 If you read through the comments below the video (most are pretty lame), someone explained that the guy in the video says they do have the same tires. Any Swedish speakers here to verify that? Steve apparently this guy does speak swedish... let me clear things up a bit..the language the guy is speaking is swedish and the test seems to be sort of a re-test after volvo complained about the results of an earlier test. the guy says they used exactly the same kind of tires on both cars. and the reason the volvos back wheels didnt spinn is that it’s AWD system gives 75% of the power to the front wheels and the remaining 25% to the back while the subaru gives 50% to each. Comment by swe' date=' posted on June13 at 12:03 pm it seems pretty stupid to me that volvo to have a 75/25 split of power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 I speak Danish which is near enough. Before your man takes the Volvo up the hill, he stress that BOTH are automatic transmission and the are fitted with the exact same tyres. At the end he says "Why is this so? Because Volvo chose a cheap system." A rep from the the Danish importer actually shamed the Volvo too. Similar setup, he pulled a CARAVAN up a muddy hill, and the Volvo was able to follow - even though it spun the front wheels. So he upped the ante..drove half way up and stopped the Subaru, set off again without problems. Volvo got stuck....LOL ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 It doesnt surprise me, as volvo seemed to get on the awd crossover bandwagon a bit late and is playing catch-up. Maybe they dont climb muddy hills in sweeden? Does anyone know what system is used in the ford escape hybrid (mazda+toyota+ford). nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthenium Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 I find this to be Hilarious! I have a SNOOTY neighbor who drives nothing But Volvo's. His family has 4 or 5. He SNEARS at my Lowly Loyale everytime he see's me in it. (Funny, but he just looks away when I'm in my Maserati ) I'll have to find out what his e-mail address is somehow, and forward this link to him. Fat Tony - Lowly Loyale Lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 14, 2006 Author Share Posted June 14, 2006 We were snowshoeing up one of the local canyons, and it was snowing *hard* and accumulating. Coming back down, the trail overlooks the parking area and I watched a guy in a Volvo XC90 (the bigger SUV thingy) trying to get out of where he was parked, he barely made it after a lot of spinning and slipping around. I started to worry if we'd get stuck. We got back to our car (snow was about a foot deep) and we backed right out with no problems. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 14, 2006 Author Share Posted June 14, 2006 Does anyone know what system is used in the ford escape hybrid (mazda+toyota+ford). nipper Per this link: http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/RT2005FordEscapeHybrid.htm The 4 wheel drive version uses Ford’s new automatic Intelligent 4WD System. Unless needed, Escape remains in front drive mode. If needed, a computer controlled clutch delivers just the right amount of torque to the rear wheels. The benefit is that parking lot maneuvers are smooth as a front drive car but maximum traction is equivalent to a “locked” 4 X 4 system. The computer algorithm for Intelligent 4WD monitors all four wheels to not just detect wheel slippage, it can actually predict it. There is no on/off or mode switch as with the current Control Trac II. Intelligent 4WD is claimed to improve fuel economy by .2 mpg. That was the only info I found on it, maybe someone else here has more. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Per this link:http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/RT2005FordEscapeHybrid.htm That was the only info I found on it, maybe someone else here has more. Steve thanks. If (when) gas hits the 4-5 range im thiniking of one of these (unless sooby makes one). Dont worry i would trade in my OBW for an svx (drool). If i get rear ended again i WILL be getting one of these. I rented a gas escape and i liked it, and im not a ford fan. Its a differnt 4wd system, its not AWD, thats what i was wondering. It also sounds like it has a hard time coping with needing more traction on a turn. i wil have to see if any four wheeling mag actually has taken this thing out to poor traction areas to see how well it works. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 14, 2006 Author Share Posted June 14, 2006 Nipper: In searching for that I came across some forums that talked about the real world gas mileage, you may want to check into that as I saw a lot of people stating mid to high 20's rather than the high 30's claimed by Ford. But, as they say, your mileage may vary. That being said, I had an Escape as a rental and liked it better than I expected to. Drove it on some back roads in northern WI and the UP of MI and in some bad rain but not really anything that could have tested the traction. Mileage was not too good (it wasn't the hybrid of course) and handling was decent for what kind of vehicle it was, but... it was no Subaru. My $.02. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Nipper: In searching for that I came across some forums that talked about the real world gas mileage, you may want to check into that as I saw a lot of people stating mid to high 20's rather than the high 30's claimed by Ford. But, as they say, your mileage may vary. That being said, I had an Escape as a rental and liked it better than I expected to. Drove it on some back roads in northern WI and the UP of MI and in some bad rain but not really anything that could have tested the traction. Mileage was not too good (it wasn't the hybrid of course) and handling was decent for what kind of vehicle it was, but... it was no Subaru. My $.02. Steve i know but i live in the land of bumper to bumper 2 hrs to drive thirty miles commuting, so it would be perfect for me. Hybrids are made for city under 30mph driving. NYC and Long island the only time we dont have traffic is 10am-noon and 130 - 3 pm. Even weekends are jammed. Trust me ive researched this well, and since i shold have a huge improvement in my finacial picture in the next year (i hope). nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 Blah..blah...actually predict wheelspin...blah..blah :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinister Subaru Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 YUP, I agree with that. When MY90 Legacy AWD LS wagon was brand new, I watched an Explorer fail to make it up a snow covered hill near my home at the time in northern NJ. (in 1990) My Legacy just went up that hill, past the Explorer, like it was summertime. It was my first impression on AWD over the 4WD I had in my 85 Subaru wagon. I fell certain that would have gone up that will also as it had in the past, but the 85 would wag it's tail on the way up. The Legacy went straight up...no tail wagging....no slipping you could feel. At one point the Outback actually had a higher ground clearance than the Explorer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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