I'm considering replacing my 330i and Jeep Wrangler with an Evo and one of the things that I really like is getting a car that would out perform my BMW on dry roads and my Jeep on bad roads. My Jeep has a pretty big advantage in deep snow with lockers, lower gears and larger tires but the limited slips should be better in hard pack and on ice (with snow tires of course).

I read through the stickies posted above and noticed that limited slips were not standard equipment until later models. Did the earlier models have any traction enhancing devices that would come in hand on bad roads other than just AWD?

 

None of the pre-X Evos have traction control.

 

Only "traction enhancing" device on US models is AYC on the 05-06's.

How deep of snow you looking to drive through? I was driving through about 5-6 inch deep snow this past winter in my 03 with 4 year old michelin pilot sport all seasons on stock suspension, didn't have too much trouble. The jeep would definitely be better in the snow though

 

With a good set of snow tires these cars are remarkable!

I also live in WV, granted I'm in the north, but I have never had any traction issues. I also have an MR and haven't used the snow setting on the acd either.

 

We didn't get AYC here in the US for the 8s and 9s, we did however get ACD.

 

The early cars have a posi clutch type rear differential that is deliberately disabled by the maker. To get it working the plates inside have to be restacked in the correct order. The center differential has a viscous coupling. That said, the early 8 with snow tires is only limited by how much snow it can traverse by body clearance. The deepest snowfall I ever drove through was 20 inches. I pushed out the mesh in the bumper but didn't have any trouble getting around.

 

Didn't the IX's or at least 05/06 MR's have limited slip differentials? I thought I read that some of them had front and read limited slip differentials. That would be an ideal setup especially if you could get some type of skid control

How far north are you? I'm just below Morgantown. I think for the most part my 330i would be fine in the snow around here with a good set of tires but the area just around my neighborhood can get pretty nasty in the winter.

How does ACD work? I'm guessing that stands for Active center differential. Is it like a center limited slip?

It would probably be better than my Jeep in some situations. The auto lockers can make curvy hills fun. I rarely use my brakes because I don't have anti-locks and my rear drums will lock my mud terrains up pretty quickly. I usually just choose a low gear and let the engine hold me back.

 

Yes they have LSD's, my usage of the term "traction control" was limited to the electronic kind that cuts power to a wheel when it starts spinning.

 

The point is that an Evo 8 with only a viscous coupling in the center differential, the rear posi differential from the factory disabled, has more than enough traction for any slick condition. This is a car with real snow tires and at stock height. Once you start pushing lots of snow with the front bumper you then encounter some trouble and maybe smoke the clutch.

The rear diff can be can be restored to operation to get rid of some understeer but this is for racing. A car with acd locks and unlocks the center diff and is computer controlled. This is also for racing and improves both traction and cornering. Later cars also came equipped with a front limited slip differential.

So, when looking for a snow Evo, no need to worry about traction. Look at bumper height.

 

AWD is different than 4WD. Evo's don't have traction control, because they don't need it. The only reason it's on the X is because the government mandates that nonsense.

LSD =/= traction control at all really.

The ACD (Active Center Diff) and it's 3 modes simply provide different timing as to how fast the clutches engage to shift power fore and aft.

I wanted to say that to be clear that there's no way to "lock the diffs" in an Evo the way you could in a 4WD system.

Barney knows his stuff... his info is reliable.

To add... the Evo is not a truck, and it's AWD system isn't like the AWD system in a minivan, or whatever other beigemobile people think is AWD these days. It's a performance AWD system. If you want to hang the rear out, you can. If you want to plow the nose, you can. If you want to take the car past the limit, you can. There are no nannies, and if you know how to drive the car, and use the system... it's glorious. But if you're expecting it to work like a Jeep... it won't.

Comparing AWD to 4WD is like comparing apples to oranges. They're DEFINITELY both fruit, but they're very different in principle of implementation.

 

This is why I want an Evo. I've spent a good bit of money on off road modifications for my Jeep and it hasn't seen trail duty for a few years. It's unstoppable in the snow but it almost seems like work driving it on the road. I want something with the room and on road fun of my car but bad weather (on road) ability of my Jeep. I don't expect the Evo to work like my Jeep at all I just want something that won't leave me stranded in a snow storm. My Jeep has no nannies either, just a lot of wheel sawing and working the pedals.

 

Usdm Evo 8/9 didnt have ayc

 

Personally I'd keep the jeep if possible and sell the 330i to get the evo. The evo is a great car but if you have deep snow every year it would be smart to have the jeep for those occasions. The ground clearance the jeep provides is something you just can't beat!

 

I figured... I was just clarifying.

FWIW... the Evo would probably best fit in between the Jeep and the 330. I'm also not going to turn you away from an Evo, but since there are relatively few of them rolling around, you might find the Subaru's a bit more available? I just hate seeing the Evo become the b!tch in the relationship.

 

I've considered an STi or even a Legacy Spec B but the ringland issue scares me a little. I'm also considering a 335xi but it seems like the Evos are the most reliable