Going to purchase a 2010 Ford Escape and wanted to know is the 4wd worth the extra money for the snow or will the fwd work almost as good? Any problem anyone is having with the 4wd?

 

How do you think that the 4WD system works?

 

I was asking if it is worth the extra cost and if the fwd works almost as good? I know how a 4wd works.

 

Depends where you live, and what you are using it for. I live in NE PA, and we have had some severe storms this past winter. I would not buy an Escape that is not 4WD for these reasons. There is no substitute for 4WD!

 

I live in central PA and I have both a FWD Tribute and a 4WD Escape. There are certainly times when my Escape can go places that my Tribute won't but my wife drives the Tribute every day to work, including some 75 mile commutes to off-site locations and has never had any problems. I like the 4WD for boat ramps and when I occassionally go off road for work into agricultural areas. If you don't tow and don't go off-road you can do fine with FWD and enjoy the extra 1-2 mpg.

 

I asked because one may think that 4WD kicks in "only" when needed but that isn't the case with this system. You have rear wheel torque every time you leave from a dead stop even on dry pavement and it slowly drops out as you reach a steady speed. Intelligent 4WD it's not!!

 

If you don't mind looking at the "wrench" dash icon, pull the fuse for the 4WD module and enjoy the extra MPG too!

 

Thank you ,this helps make my decision.

 

Have you tried this and if so, could you note a difference in mpg? I would be tempted to try this as most of my miles are on the interstate and every extra mpg means dollars in my pocket.

 

I've pulled the fuse and driven it but haven't compared MPG but suggested it in a Hybrid forum and here a link to a post where one reported on the results: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/204902-post65.html. They later said that the "wrench" icon was indeed ON. It's a long but interesting thread which actually changed my mind about how the 4WD really works!

 

I will have to get out my owners manual and check into the fuse location. I have 54,000 miles on my 09 Escape and I check the mileage on every tank (I also get about 1 mpg less than what the dash readout says) so I have a pretty good idea of what I should be getting.

 

Wow! You drive lots of miles! I believe that it's #11 but double check that. There's two for the module but you want the one that says 4WD module only for it.

 

You are right, too many miles and that is exactly what I will be thinkng tomorrow morning when I put my rear end into the driver's seat.

 

Anyone have the powermoon roof leak?

 

Mine doesn't leak.