Date:         Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:08:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Mark A Kippert <vanagon@KIPPERT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark A Kippert <vanagon@KIPPERT.COM>
Subject:      Re: AWD
In-Reply-To:  <944686276.443281229176279282.JavaMail.root@sz0063a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
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Two thoughts to share.

I drive a big ol' Expedition and have had 3 Bronco IIs. With 5 kids we
have always had a full sized van. 4 years ago someone ran a red light
and totaled our last one. My wife always felt safer in a big vehicle
so we got the Expedition. Then gas prices skyrocketed so we finally
got our first car, a Mercury Sable. Frankly, I feel safer driving the
Sable in slippery icy conditions than I do the Expedition. It's lower
profile and lighter weight makes it easier to stop and navigate. To be
honest I don't really care for the Expedition but the SUV market sucks
right now.

As other have pointed out, the most important thing is driving skills.
My youngest son (17 at the time) drove my 2nd Bronco II. I can't tell
you how many times I tried to stress that while it has great "go
power" in the snow, stopping isn't any better than the average car if
conditions are icy. I told him to stay on dry road and avoid the
slippery, icy streets back in the neighborhoods. But to a 17 year old
boy's mind "WHAT FUN IS THAT". Anyhow one day I get a call from my
wife (Patrick was too scared to call me) telling me that he was
zipping through the neighborhood and hit an icy patch. In a panic he
slammed on the brakes, lost control, and hit a tree at about 15-20
miles an hour. Thankfully Patrick was OK but the Bronco was totaled.

Why do kids have to learn lessons the hard (expensive) way?

-Mark


On Dec 13, 2008, at 8:51 AM, J Stewart wrote:

>> Two years ago, I drove a company Ford Taurus across state in the
>> midst of a
>> major snowstorm. I counted no less than twenty SUVs in the ditch
>> along the
>> way. I've long stated my hypothesis that AWD fills drivers with a
>> false
>> sense of security. As far as AWD systems go, the Quattro/Syncro
>> cars are
>> head and shoulders above the rest, but that doesn't mean their
>> drivers can
>> proceed with impunity.
>
>

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