AWD & Snow Question-Future Owner?

[zimdba]

I'm trying to decide between a BMW 328i, G37x, and Audi A4. I want to ignore all the other discussions about power, reliability, etc, and focus on the AWD system. I live in Denver and go skiing every weekend (except during the summers of course).

I know that tires have a lot to do with traction. However, how does the AWD perform in the G37x? Is it comparable to the other two? I understand that there's more of a RWD bias in this car, but how does that equate to real-world driving. I'm *pretty* sure it will do fine around town even in our storms (correct me if I'm wrong), can it be my ski-mobile? Can I slap a ski rack on it and be confident running up I-70?

Thanks for the advice.

[JBP II]

I live in MI and have a G37 Type S RWD. I can't answer your question about the tires. My 225 18" F and 245 18" rear factory tires were useless in the snow. I switched to All Season vs. a dedicated snow tire in the Bridgestone Pole Position 970 AS and they handle decently in the snow. If we had as much snow or elevation like CO, I would have gone with a dedicated snow tire. I know this doesn't address the heart of your question but I found that driving a G37 in snow was a bit of an unknown topic. I have driven a loaner G37X in snow with its dealer all seasons on it and it was quite good. The RWD bias was not a problem. The traction control in the RWD Type S and the AWD X were both pretty liberal, allowing generous slip, but also VERY effective once it kicks in.

[spacy9]

I live in Highlands Ranch, CO and have had my G35X since Feb 2007. I drive this car everywhere during the winter and have never gotten stuck, spun out, or any other such drama. I have all season tires on the car and it goes like a champ. I had it out yesterday before the roads were cleared off and drove along just fine. I've been on C-470 coming home from the airport in snow and I'll be in the left lane going past other SUVs...

I haven't driven the BMW or Audi in snow so I can't give a fair comparison just that I've never had an issue with mine in winter.

[SVTCOBRA]

Have a 2008 G35X with all season tires.
I go out LOOKING for snow! (live in NC)
Have had it out in a few good snows and find that it does better than my previous 4x4's! (88 Bronco II 4x4, 99 Exploder 4x4, 01 Pathy 4x4, 03 Pathy 4x4).
Not sure how it compares to the others that you listed, but could not imagine them doing better than a G35/G37 X !

[audtatious]

I live in Highlands Ranch, CO and have had my G35X since Feb 2007. I drive this car everywhere during the winter and have never gotten stuck, spun out, or any other such drama. I have all season tires on the car and it goes like a champ. I had it out yesterday before the roads were cleared off and drove along just fine. I've been on C-470 coming home from the airport in snow and I'll be in the left lane going past other SUVs...

I haven't driven the BMW or Audi in snow so I can't give a fair comparison just that I've never had an issue with mine in winter.

What all-season's are you running?

[JBP II]

What all-season's are you running?[/quote]

Bridgeston Pole Position 970AS. 225/50 18"F and 245/50 18"R.

[audtatious]

Yeah, those tires have some good reviews. Very similar survey results as the ContiExtreme Contact DWS I have on both of my cars but with more dry traction (400 AA A vs. 540 A A).

I'll be getting a summer rim/tire set this spring anyway so I won't worry about traction loss running the DWS all season on the coupe.

[JBP II]

You are doing it the right way, I will probably do it next season. I want my summer tires on the aftermarket rims (already skinned one of the factory's) so that is why I put the AS's on the factory rims.

My wife is still upset with me about getting "cheap winter wheels" for a TL SH AWD that turned into putting the Blizzaks on the factory 19's and putting the factory Michelins on a set of OZ Ultra Leggeras. One step up in quality at a time resulted in a multi thousand dollar set of new rims that were far better than the factory rims I was trying to protect in the first place. I love them but it wasn't how I sold the project to the wife ;-) Doing it two years later to the Infiniti is not going to go well.

[kmckis1029]

In my Old G35x or my current G37x ive never gottten stuck in the snow/ice/sleet. Its pretty amazing to be in a sedan driving past all the trucks and SUVs in bad weather.

LOL i once had a cop pull me over to stay that moved off too fast from the Red light in the rain... I didn't press the gas pedal any different than i usually do on any other day, But the AWD system makes you feel like you on dry pavement in the rain. The pickup truck next to me moved off so slow, it made me look like i was trying to drag race. I had to explain to the cop my car was AWD and i wasnt taking off unsafely, i mean i never got past 40 mph in a 55 zone and was being pulled over. I just had so much grip compared to the truck next to me. I didnt get a ticket, just funny how the cop thought i was being unsafe when the AWD system was just doing its work.

I'm the experimental type, so on one of the snow/ice days i took my g35x to a steep hill that lead to a coltasac in my mothers nieghborhood. i wanted to see if i could make it up the hill from a dead stop. My g35x went up the hill with no problems. it was amazing after watching these SUVs struggle or just be parked at the bottom until the ice melted lol.

I've yet to find a youTube video or any video where another car company is comparing its AWD systems to Infiniti's... not even the famous Acura Ice hill climb has a single Infiniti in it, or the subraru "drive up the rollers" simulating loss of traction in 3 wheels, again not single Infiniti in the comparasion. That tells me the Infiniti's AWD system is equal or better...

NOTE: I run High performace M+S tires... tires matter...

[zimdba]

Thanks for all the advice.

[spacy9]

What all-season's are you running?

I'm running Pirelli Pzero Nero All Seasons 19" on my car.

[audtatious]

Not all all-season's are alike, which was the purpose of me asking. Here's a review I did for the first AS set I had on the sedan:

Hankook V4 Review

[kmckis1029]

+1 on the Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S

also take a look at the Toyo Versado LX, my favorite tire so far... ended up with the Pzero when the Versado was out of stock and i had two double pactched tires and needed tires ASAP smh, but the the Pzero turned out to be a great tire.

[JBP II]

I went with the Bridgestone AS because it was closest to the factory summer tires, which I like, and the other choices weren't one of the big 2 or 3 brands that I have used in the past. I am sure some of the newer companies make some great products but after cheaping out on a set of tires for my first car when I was 16, I am scared to get too adventerous. I picked the Bridgestone AS because it was the only brand, of the Tire Rack choices, I was comfortable with. General MultiMile's on my 83 Olds Delta 88 scarred me for life!

[audtatious]

Bridgestone RE92's scared the crap out of me on my '02 Maxima. Worse tire I've ever had. The RE050A's were not too bad.

[Mudgen]

We had quite a bit of snow last year after I got the car in Feb. On the crappy Goodyear all seasons that came on it, it felt at least as reliable as any of the three Subaru Legacys I had prior.

Agree with Aud, the RE92s are terrible, particularly considering what they cost. You can get better tires for half the money.

[cjs37xs]

I'm trying to decide between a BMW 328i, G37x, and Audi A4. I want to ignore all the other discussions about power, reliability, etc, and focus on the AWD system. I live in Denver and go skiing every weekend (except during the summers of course).

I know that tires have a lot to do with traction. However, how does the AWD perform in the G37x? Is it comparable to the other two? I understand that there's more of a RWD bias in this car, but how does that equate to real-world driving. I'm *pretty* sure it will do fine around town even in our storms (correct me if I'm wrong), can it be my ski-mobile? Can I slap a ski rack on it and be confident running up I-70?

Thanks for the advice.

So, have you made a decision? I'm curious if you posted on Audi & BMW forums...and what they might have told you.

I love my G in the Winter, but it was decided that I should spend the $500 I had saved up for tires - on the daughter's car for HER tires instead of the G, so I have been picking and choosing my snow days in the G this winter until the racing slicks can be replaced. It does perform quite well in the snow and ice when properly equipped.

Please let us know what you chose and why. Thanks!

[JBP II]

I should add that I went with Bridestone AS's on my RWD G37S because my other vehicle is a Z71 Silverado that is superb in deep snow and ice. I only needed the Infiniti to survive in the snow in case I got caught on a trip. If it were my only car, with the RWD and 245's on the back, I would have been compelled to go with a full winter performance tire.

[zimdba]

I'm trying to decide between a BMW 328i, G37x, and Audi A4. I want to ignore all the other discussions about power, reliability, etc, and focus on the AWD system. I live in Denver and go skiing every weekend (except during the summers of course).

I know that tires have a lot to do with traction. However, how does the AWD perform in the G37x? Is it comparable to the other two? I understand that there's more of a RWD bias in this car, but how does that equate to real-world driving. I'm *pretty* sure it will do fine around town even in our storms (correct me if I'm wrong), can it be my ski-mobile? Can I slap a ski rack on it and be confident running up I-70?

Thanks for the advice.

So, have you made a decision? I'm curious if you posted on Audi & BMW forums...and what they might have told you.

I love my G in the Winter, but it was decided that I should spend the $500 I had saved up for tires - on the daughter's car for HER tires instead of the G, so I have been picking and choosing my snow days in the G this winter until the racing slicks can be replaced. It does perform quite well in the snow and ice when properly equipped.

Please let us know what you chose and why. Thanks!

To me, the AWD systems on the Audi and BMW are a known quantity - it was the Infiniti that I was unfamiliar with. Thus, I didn't post a lot of questions on those forums.

My wife and I both thought the Audi steered and rode soft. Not sporty at all. It also gets expensive really quick with options. I also had a 2001 Jetta that left a bad taste in my mouth when it started falling apart at 60K miles. The BMW was the best driving of the bunch, but again quite expensive with options. It also doesn't age well and is expensive to repair.

That said, the Infiniti is the best vehicle with the options we would want for the price we want. I love the interior and the power. However, the wife has some emotional issues with the car (the last time she saw her mom was in one). So rather than put her through that (and me having to listen to it) - we're going with option D - Lexus GS350. It's bigger, heavier, and a LOT more expensive, but I think we'll be happy with it. The reliability is great and I can probably keep it for 8 years or so. I almost pulled the trigger last night (you'd be amazed at how much they're willing to deal on the last day of the month), but I couldn't get past the interior color. So we're going to wait until the right car comes along.

Knowledge is power and these forums are a great source of it. Thanks for everyone's help.