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by csimme01 and Ninja Cooper UNMASKED on September 17th, 2008
There are pros and cons to AWD as opposed to 4wd.
The on demand 4wd can give slightly better fuel econmy but the difference is small. There are two big advantages of AWD
#1 It is there when you need it. Because it is always engaged you don't have to worry about hitting a slick spot and spinning out because you are in 2wd.
#2 It makes the vehicle easier to drive. With a regular 4wd system a vehicle will drive different depending on the selected mode (2wd or 4wd). The driver must know which mode and drive it correctly. Make the wrong choice and it can go bad fast. With AWD there is only 1 mode and the vehicle always drives the same way. This also means that the manufacture of the vehicle can tune the ride and handling of the vehicle without making any compromises. With a 4wd drive vehicle the tuning has to ba a compromise between the two different driving modes. IMHO
by Elwood on June 23rd, 2009
All hummers, from the original HMMWV to the H3, use a center differential. This makes them all AWD, not 4WD, during normal use. As soon as the operator switches the center differential into a "lock" mode, the vehicle becomes 4WD (like an early model Subaru 4WD). This locking increases tire wear and decreases traction and mileage on smooth dry roads. But it increases traction and reduces wheel spin on slippery surfaces.
by Bugs-Bunny on February 27th, 2009
Yes the H2 is a full time 4wd. Even the H3 (which I own and is a far scaled down version ofthe H2) is a permanent 4wd.
First answer is good with respect to the reasoning. Bottom line from me is that it is a simpler construction, and hence more reliable, to have full time 4wd. Hummer is built to be reliable, not fancy. The H3 balances these two concepts out nicely.
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You're reading Is the H2 a full-time 4wd vehicle, & if so...Why? It would seem that GM would have went for the sensibility of a on-demand 4wd... The weather in most of the usa doesn't warrant full-time 4wd... Thanks
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