How useful is FWD?

[JRL]

You can't TOW up a hill with FWD and expect it to work well
Try HD rear springs

[Willy]

You can't TOW up a hill with FWD and expect it to work well

Exactly!
That is one of the reasons I prefer RWD

[JRL]

But you're in a XC website and you should have AWD (which negates my comment).

[IVIUSTANG]

Works for me. What year is your XC?

Mine is a 2006 MY.

Jesse

[Willy]

But you're in a XC website and you should have AWD (which negates my comment).

Yes of course, it has.
I am just curious if a FWD T5 is a "realistic" combination, more specific if the T5's power can be applied
without the traction control constantly intervening.
Although I am not a big fan of FWD cars, I have had several already, but always as a second car
for local traffic, not for travelling.
And who knows, perhaps I may try a FWD "for all seasons"...once
Not just yet, my XC harldly has 70K Km on the clock. Yes, Kilometers

[vtl]

And who knows, perhaps I may try a FWD "for all seasons"...once
Not just yet, my XC harldly has 70K Km on the clock. Yes, Kilometers

That not surprises me, with gas price of 1.50 EURO per liter... My gas expenses are less now than I was paying for weak and sluggish 1.4TDI Seat Ibiza in Europe

[JRL]

While the T5 is more of a fun wagon to drive, it's not a good tow car at all.
Besides being FWD only all the power is at TOP end of the RPM range with very little low end torque that you need for towing.
In fact a T5 could be a horror show, towing up hills, etc.

[Willy]

That not surprises me, with gas price of 1.50 EURO per liter... My gas expenses are less now than I was paying for weak and sluggish 1.4TDI Seat Ibiza in Europe

Gas is indeed quite expensive here.
On the other hand, driving only about 6,500Km per year helps to keep the cost (somewhat) in control

[Antherzoll]

Really??? last time I pulled the parking brake while driving it really torqued up the AWD system and when I released it it released a fury of power to the rear end and kicked my back end out!

Jesse

Well I tried it this morning and it didn't work... strange it used to, the XC just pulled along like normal. Pulling fuse 23 (7.5A) (MY2005) in the rear panel works. Was able to spin all the way through first no problem .

[Astro14]

While the T5 is more of a fun wagon to drive, it's not a good tow car at all.
Besides being FWD only all the power is at TOP end of the RPM range with very little low end torque that you need for towing.
In fact a T5 could be a horror show, towing up hills, etc.

The T5 wouldn't be my first choice for towing because of the power band, but with a tow limit of only 3,000# or so, there wouldn't be much of a traction problem, unless you were using full throttle and the road was wet.

But the T5 is a more responsive car, since it's lighter, with more power, firmer suspension and lower profile tires. No angle gear, no viscous coupling or Haldex, no rear differential, no rear driveshafts, means fewer maintenance issues. Larger tank and better MPG (by about 5 on the highway) means substantially more range.

As far as power/traction, the 247 HP is about the limit for this chassis with FWD. Full throttle in the rain engages traction control. It's good on dry roads and surprises BMWs and other performance cars when full power is applied. (Once dragged a friend's new BMW 335...sweet car, but slower than my decade-old wagon).