I am looking at used Superbs preferably in an L&K version since I can...

 

Many models are 4x4 L&Ks from around 2014. I always pictured a 4x4 being used in off-road conditions, which isn't my driving area. 

 

Any reason to choose or exclude a 4x4? I always see the fuel economy is worse for a 4x4, but is it that much worse?

Just got a 4x4 elegance, fuel economy around the same as my previous Seat Exeo, better handling on the road. Like you, I don't expect too much off roading but it's always there. Thought about jeeps but tax and fuel costs put me off, went for the superb 4x4 instead 

The all wheel drive models are preferred. It's not for off-roading, it's for more convenient winter driving.

 

Plenty of people find the option justifiable with Estonian winter driving in mind, even if it comes at an extra cost.

I have had my 2013 (FL) Elegance 4x4 for almost a year now. It is honestly the best car I have owned. 

 

Fuel economy is no worse than my previous Insignia. 

 

The car is effortless and gives me the confidence that when called upon 4wheel drive is there. The car will Fwd most of the time in order to save fuel. 

 

Get one you won't regret it

The Haldex gearbox only engage rear wheels when you start loosing traction - otherwise it's just FWD car.

 

Like it was mentioned earlier - much better handling and only few % worse economy. 

 

If you buy diesel - chip or re-map it It will completely transform the car

Superior traction in the wet and during the winter months*.

 

More weight to drag around and additional servicing costs but for many the negatives are outweighed by the positives.

 

*suitable tyres are equally important. Having four wheels without traction is no better than two.

Agreed as above. Our FWD 170TDI is great, but when you need to get a move on (from stationary, in the wet), the front tyres are quickly overwhelmed by 350Nm of torque. Our next Superb will be 4x4.

My 4x4 is fantastic its running on Michelin cross climates and I have even pulled the caravan in snow!

Agree with Silver1011 - a good set of winter tyres alone can be even better than 4x4

I wouldn't bother again , more fuel consumption, less power, more expense and your tyres wear out quicker. Since I bought mine  3 years ago there hasn't been one snow flake ;-/ 

I  used to tow boats, I never once had a 4wd car, I always managed to pull the boat out with my 2wd  even on the most slippery of slip ways 

I like mine but I live in a hilly area with often poor "roads".

 

A heavy downpour can turn one into a river of muddy water and stones washed from the verge quite easily. It's handy to have in that situation, or if it snows. It most often kicks in when the weather is poor pulling into a main road along the "top" of the moor from a steep valley side road, when even my 105BHP Roomster would spin the front wheels in the past. I too use good winter tyres November - March(ish).

 

Definitely would have it again on a year-round daily driver I wanted to cope with all road conditions.

 

Cheers,

Steve

I think 4x4 is usefull maybe 1% of the time. Even on snow chances are your're getting stuck because of an idiot with summer tires, not because of your own lack of grip.

The rest of 99% you carry extra 100kgs and you waste energy to heat up additional diffs and planetary gears for nothing.  I wonder how the awd system actually changes also the unsprung mass ratio as well, damaging thus the road handling.

@Kilowatt - try few harder maneuvers with and without 4x4

If you do that more than 1% of the times you'll probably get in trouble

I went to the race track 3 times so far with my own car. Both AWD and FWD are naturally understeering (most of the road cars are)  so normally during the turns the awd won't help much. G forces are the same. The only real advantage is when you get out of the slow turns. With fwd sometimes your inner wheel might spin up when hitting the throttle too strong and too early and you might lose some fractions of a second.  But this won't happen to the average driver on a public road under normal conditions.

 

I don't expect to convince anybody, especially someone who already bought it.   I'm just bringing some additional arguments.  I see snow on the road where I live very rarely,  and when I do driving it's a bad idea, traffic is terrible as most people don't have winter tyres. In these rare situations  walking is faster than driving anyway around here. 

I go to the mountains every winter and never got stuck in snow anywhere. Only got stuck in traffic caused by the snow falling far far away, beyond the horizon...

 

But if you live in a more remote area, with regular snowfalls and where the traffic is not a problem I can see the point in buying a awd.

Edited 30 August, 20178 yr by Kilowatt

3 hours ago, Kilowatt said:

I think 4x4 is usefull maybe 1% of the time.

 

Yes, if you are living in Belgium.

Original poster is living in Estonia, where we call summer "3 months bad for skiing".

 

3 minutes ago, linni said:

 

Original poster is living in Estonia, where we call summer "3 months bad for skiing".

 

 

You're right.

Global warming is taking too long :))

I have had 4wd cars since the turn of the century, including my current one.

It's not about snow, it's about traction and lack of torque steer all year round. And I believe you will find that all 4wd Superbs, Octavias, Yetis etc with the latest Haldex always start off in 4wd up to 18kmh

I don't expect to convince anybody, especially someone who already decided not to buy it. the difference in fuel costs spread over the life of the vehicle is minuscule compared to depreciation anyway, so I am happy to put up with it

 

Oh, and a 4wd with winter tyres is great

Edited 30 August, 20178 yr by Bristolf2b

If you're only driving on the road, you don't need AWD, but it helps. You don't really need air conditioning, but it helps.

There are exceptions to both cases.

 

My FWD Superb is my only car without studded winter tires and it has performed exemplary in all driving conditions, in Estonia. Do I need AWD? No, but it would be nice.

We had a Peugeot 807 2 wd taxi back from a ski holiday in Val d'isere , the roads were covered in snow and really icy , after a few miles of treacherous roads we came across lots of 4 x 4's parked on the top of a steep hill chaining up in preparation for the descent , he cursed them as "tourists and Parisians ", he maneuvered in between and just drove down the mountain like normal to the amazement of the 4x4 people, then spent the next 80 miles cursing under his breath about  "tourists and Parisians " lol