Jalopnik
Traction was an issue for many commuters this morning as large chunks of the country are still recovering from storms that brought rain, snow and even a few tornadoes. It's during these times that having an AWD car, while not always necessary, can be sort of fun. And whether it's a bruiser like the Subaru WRX STI or a cruiser like the W12 VW Phaeton, there's nothing like the feeling of leaving heavy RWD trucks to spin off into icy ditches.
Unfortunately, two of our favorite AWD cars are not available in the US. We think that both the Volkswagen Crossfox (pictured above) and the Fiat Panda would be great additions to the American market. Anyone? Anyone?
But you tell us, what's your favorite AWD car? And just to get it out of the way, we include all AWD/4x4/symmetrical/asymmetrical/two-engined Hyundais... whatever. It's gotta be a car and it's gotta put power down through all four wheels.
Comments
Fiat Panda 4x4 FTW!!!
Audi S6 Avant because it looks like it eats its own young.
AMC Eagle Wagon (with faux woodgrain):
Second best would have to be the four dour AMC Eagle:
1986-1989 Toyota Van 4x4 conversion van. Go anywhere, have toyota reliability, and a plush (for the 80s) interior w/ an ice maker.
The non-US Hiace/Townace with a turbo diesel would be wonderful. Our Canuck friends up north get access to these.
Those 4x4 Tercel Wagons were pretty cool too!
Subaru Legacy Wagon. any year.
Gawker has the worst IT department ever. Seriously. Does nobody test anything on both major browsers before deploying? Puh thetic.
Subaru SVX.
Uh, Bugatti Veyron.
MONSTER TRUCK.
Though I could only probably afford a Suzuki Swift 4x4, or a Subaru Justy at this time.
Original Audi Coupe GT.
Also: Mitsu 3000GT VR4.
Actually come to think of it, a '60 VW camper van with 911 4S engine and running gear. Black and Cherry finish.
@oyumurtaci: The SX4 ain't all bad for the money.
Funny how very few actual AWD vehicles were listed in comments.
It's unfortunate that people still do not realize the differance between AWD and 4WD
Lada Niva by far!
These things never break down and are probably based upon the floorpan of some old russian tank which proved itself during the second world war!
Daihatsu Boon X4
Saab 9-3x Black Turbo. 'Course, I haven't driven one, but they tell me it's nice.
@impreza:
ahem, I retract this statement. However, how do you lump in 4x4 with AWD? I can understand if you said list your favorite 4x4, and allowed AWD because it's the successor of the system, but the other way around, well, its blasphemous.
@Triborough:
Aww, you beat me to it. Glad to see I'm not the only goof with love for the Eagle though. Here's mine. It's been known to help a RWD S-10 out of a ditch once in a while.
@saabophile2:
Here here!
Ever since I sold my 450bhp subie, I've been waiting for the Turbo X, order placed in december 1st, however, scheduled production is still not until the last week of march. :(
long ass wait honestly.
two-engined Hyundais: +35 points for Matt.
Skylines are too obvious, right?
Oh, Mosler TwinStar Eldorado. And that mud racing smart fortwo.
That's the Jalopniker answer, but I can't say I don't like any of the last three Skylines better.
@beercheck: Isn't that webdesign 101?
Test it in your browser before you launch it.
The original Panda 4x4
Sorry, I fail at HTML.
323 GTX!
Or Mitsu Galant VR-4. That's a pretty cool machine, too.
first obvious answer: Audi 5000 CS Quattro Turbo. Locking front, center and rear diffs with defeatable ABS for dirt road hotness, a 5-speed and a turbocharged 10v 2.2L 5-banger that sounds completely glorious. Fun car.
Second choice: GMC Syclone. 'Nuff said.
Third choice: Subaru Legacy wagon + 5 speed + turbo = epic win
VW Crossfox is front wheel drive
@impreza: Just go with it.
I'm going to have to second the AMC Eagle. A friend's Dad had one when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest car.
Dodge Stealth
Eagle Talon
USA! USA! USA!
Audi Quattro with lockable diff.... hands down.
No electronics, extremely simple but highly reliable set-up, very lightweight, small, very short overhangs..
sos10: that was my second choice. ;)
GMC Typhoon over the Syclone for me as I like my storage area less vulnerable to the outside world, but solid call. 1st choice would be an Audi Allroad 2.7 manual. I know they just tarted up an A6 with an adjustable suspension and plastic cladding, but plastic cladding speaks to me.
The Hurst Hairy Olds. Thread over, I win.
[hursthairyolds.com]
The only thing better than a tire-frying big-block Oldsmobile motor is TWO of them driving all four wheels.
1. the audi coupe gt was fwd not awd. you're thinking of the ur-quattro, awd, I-5, coupe.
2. AWD IS NOT THE SAME AS 4WD: [en.wikipedia.org]
3. the greatest awd car of all time, without question, is the audi sport quattro - the short wheelbase version of the ur-quattro.
@Dr. Spaceman: Now that's comedy.
The 24hrs of LeMons car that never was. Friend flipped it in the field the day these pictures were taken. Was an 87 GL Sedan FWD, had the suspension, transmission, clutch, and rear end from a GL-10 Wagon. Painstakingly installed in the garage in the first picture. Suprisingly, the welds held on the rear subframe pins and the diff carrier and rear suspesnion was in tact after the flip. The roof was crushed beyond repair.
Tie:
Subaru Brat and RS6.
One has the spare in the engine compartment and jump seats in the bed. The other has a 580hp twin-turbo V10 and room for the whole family.
@iin10ded: Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information!
Just look where All wheel drive takes you!
Plus someone there keeps killing off David Dinkins.
I like the Acura RL, RDX and MDX for their Super-Handling All Wheel Drive systems.
No, no, no... The VW CrossFox is not AWD. It's just a shameless FWD car with raised suspension, off-road decoration and lots (and I mean LOTS) of cheap, horrible plastic.
And that picture shows the old model. The new one is even worse!!!
These are so weird I have to love it.
Audi TT Quattro, cuz I had it and it was a really fun car if not squeak and rattle intensive. I loved ripping past people on I80 through the Poconos in 6 inches of snow with high performance all season tires and not a shred of instability.
But after 2 winters with RWD I say I don't need no stinking AWD.
Land Rover Freelander HSE. Luxury interior, nice features, decent mileage figures, and the best gearing in any autobox I've ever driven. You could coast down a long grade and not gain a single mph. Were it not for recurring thermostat/heater core issues, I'd probably still be driving it.
Yep, the Tempo was offered with AWD.
Can't believe no one has posted Jensen FF. It has to be almost off the Jalop scale. Brisith chassis, Chrysler Big Block, 1970's Lucas ABS! It is the one Audi studied for the Quattro in the 80's.
Fantasy Garage Material or at least PCH!
@iin10ded: Sport Quattro for the win!!!
Anyways since it hasn't already been mentioned, these are pretty kickass too.
ITS GOLF COUNTRY!!!!!!!
If this doesn't clinch it for the AMC Eagle, we don't know what does.
We just discovered that there was a Gremlin mashup they sold as a Kammback.
I too, have failed at html.
The Citroen 2CV Sahara, because what could be better than all wheel drive with 2 engines, one in each end of the car.
Audi B5 S4/RS4!
The Subaru Justy deserves some props for having more drive-wheels than cylinders.
I'm going with the Subaru XT Coupe, just because of the "I thought you were getting a Subaru" commercial.
Vanagon Syncro, of course! Despite being intended for off-road use, the center diff isn't manualy disengagable so according to Wikipedia, it's awd. As for being a car (vs a van?) Well, it's cool enough to not care about your pedistrian distinctions. And, hey, someone already threw in the (inferior) Toyota vans already.
@ezero: I'm a moron, so I'm keeping it. I could have sworn the Mexican variant had AWD. Let this stand as a testament to my obvious fallibility. Next time I'm just going with a 22b.