I have the '02 Sport model, and my AWD works great. Rear biased 60/40 torque split, and you can feel it on certain surfaces. Actually makes for great dry weather handling as well. I'll leave this one to more senior members, but I've found that when battling snow at slow speeds, under 30 mph, she handles better with my DSC turned off. For some reason, I have it in my head that at lower speeds she powers through the nasty stuff better when I allow the mechanical aspect to work on it's own without computer interferance. But as soon as I hit 30mph, I turn that DSC back on. It's probably all in my head, but I swear by it.

 

I don't even have DSC.

I just drift around every corner when it's snowing.

 

I have a 2005 x and have never been stuck in the snow. I just assumed it was because of the awd. was I just lucky? doesnt make a lot of sense to me. I guess the torque discussion makes sense, which I interpret to mean that so long as none of the wheels are on ice at start up you should be able to move the car. If you're on snow you should be able to at least get moving. Its only if one wheel is on ice and has no traction that the awd with an open differential becomes a cruel joke, right?

 

Tires. Tires. Tires. Tires make all the difference. The right compounds and siping for the proper conditions are the only way to get the most from the vehicle systems. You can have 50 wheel drive but with crap tires in the snow you may as well have none.

 

I love you man!!

 

+1000

I'm getting a RWD next.