If you bought an AWD would you switch to RWD and vice versa?

tmblue

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I've had all wheel drive vehicles since 2000 (Audi's Subarus), my fun classic vehicles are obviously RWD. A MAch-E would not be our long hauler, have an AWD TDI for that.

But I also go straight to AWD, just seems that they are more secure in inclement weather, (while we don't get snow, we get rain). In the EV space, there is a hit on range, but... I'm really looking for others opinions on AWD vs RWD in the Mach-E.

So would you save a few bucks or spend a few bucks if you did it again?
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BMT1071

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I've had all wheel drive vehicles since 2000 (Audi's Subarus), my fun classic vehicles are obviously RWD. A MAch-E would not be our long hauler, have an AWD TDI for that.

But I also go straight to AWD, just seems that they are more secure in inclement weather, (while we don't get snow, we get rain). In the EV space, there is a hit on range, but... I'm really looking for others opinions on AWD vs RWD in the Mach-E.

So would you save a few bucks or spend a few bucks if you did it again?
I would probably go with AWD. The cost of AWD alone seemed worth it to me, but I didn't want to take the range hit. That meant adding the big battery for $5k. So it was almost 8 grand to be where I wanted and that just didn't seem worth it. Now that I've had my car for a while the reality that a 211 mile range is plenty for my usual usage has sunk in. ?
 

tbets

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I like my AWD and donā€™t regret going down that route. Being able to put the power to the ground a bit better is nice. Plus, the Mach-Eā€™s AWD isnā€™t symmetrical and has a rear power bias (in the non GT models I believe).

The only real downside is the decrease in range, but that doesnā€™t bother me.
 

JRT

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I'd say in CA with rain, my experience in AL the MME RWD is very heavy and solid in rain and water on the road. I drive in whisper mode to tame it down and do great. I would not buy AWD because of range impact fir my needs, if anything I wish I did the extended range battery at this point.

I have my 4x4 truck if I really needed it still and my wife's Challenger GT is AWD, which in that car is great because we had RWD before and it did get lose easy in rain and snow hills here
 

Avelli

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If the RWD put down the power I would have gone with that. There is something to be said for a little push from behind to get cars moving that feels visceral and raw. Also simplify the drivetrain; power from steering (bad memories of worn out CV joints!)
 


Mathington

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As I live in a winter climate, I would never switch out my AWD for a RWD. After getting multiple days with 4" of snow and seeing how incredibly well the AWD Mach-E handled it, my decision is even more solidified.
 
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ARK

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I wanted AWD because Iā€™ve only ever previously had RWD and FWD vehicles.

I enjoy being able to apply more power to blast out of turns when Iā€™m in the mood for some fast driving.

I have also enjoyed accelerating a bit faster than I otherwise would in the rain.

I also enjoy the faster acceleration that AWD provides on the Mach-E.

I would not switch to RWD for this vehicle for me personally.

But if you donā€™t particularly care for fast driving antics and donā€™t face snow or torrid rain, I donā€™t think itā€™s a ā€˜needā€™ at all. You wonā€™t really feel much of a difference in normal driving.
 

rohankumar

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Currently both my vehicles are all wheel drives because we moved from OH to CA recently. However it wasn't even a question of going to RWD here when specing my MME. Not sure why you would need an AWD (more expensive and less range for just 50 more HP for my model) in Livermore.
 

timbop

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I would certainly love to have gotten an ER AWD, but the financial hit was a bridge too far, especially since I had to make a bargain with the devil wife to get the ER battery. At the time I got my car NJ had a $5000 rebate for BEV's under $55,000 so I got the Route 1 for a net $46k. Had I gone AWD it would have been a net $56k (no rebate), which was just too much for the Mrs to deal with as $46k is already $12k over what we have ever spent on a car.

I've toyed with the idea of selling it and trying to get an ER AWD but it's not really practical at this point. I do love the car I have, but 6s 0-60 IS a bit disappointing.
 

Blue highway

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I originally ordered an AWD ER Premium expecting a 6 month wait but found a RWD SR on a lot. The AWD is a second faster to 60 and goes 40 miles furtherā€¦. Costs something around $8k moreā€¦
The SR RWD is the right decision for me. No problems in light snow and range is good.
 

HuntingPudel

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I went with a GT-PE because I wanted something fun to drive. Do I need AWD? Not at all. Just for fun. ???
 

Jim D

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I had a 2 wheel drive truck and was looking to switch to a 4 wheel drive truck, but they were so expensive that it worked out cheaper to go for the Mach E Select AWD after the tax credits.
 

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I wasn't interested in the GT because I didn't want to pay more for less range just to get a little more speed.

To me, of the 4 non-GT configurations, the two extremes (AWD Ext and RWD Standard) are clearly better than the two middle configurations (AWD Standard and RWD Ext). The range on the AWD Standard is just too skimpy, and the acceleration on the RWD Ext is too sluggish. So either go all out with an AWD Ext (the best), or stick to the RWD Standard (the second best and saves you $8k).

I am extremely happy that I went with the AWD Ext. We've had a few icy days recently and this thing is very sure footed. It is also noticeably quicker than an RWD Ext (just too much weight for one motor), and the 30mi advantage of the RWD Ext just isn't enough to be meaningful. Yes, the AWD Ext is the priciest non-GT configuration, but if you're gonna drop $50k on a crossover, you might as well drop $58k on the best configuration of that crossover. You can't upgrade this stuff later.
 
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tmblue

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Currently both my vehicles are all wheel drives because we moved from OH to CA recently. However it wasn't even a question of going to RWD here when specing my MME. Not sure why you would need an AWD (more expensive and less range for just 50 more HP for my model) in Livermore.
Ya nothing is ever a need for me, always a want :) And as I stated, I typically go straight to AWD as that is what I've driven for the last 22+ years :) Ever taken a driving course and they put you in a RWD vehicle and wonder why you continue to give it gas, when they don't want you to, well I've trained myself that giving it gas in my aWD, pulls me out of a lot of situations and not giving it throttle leads to disaster :) doesn't work so well in a RWD vehicle (ends up spinning you around!: )
 

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My SR RWD handles just fine in the rain. So if that's all you get, you'll be fine. Now that we have a bit of snow, though, I do wish that I had the AWD. I don't like the range hit but I would've gotten the ER. In snow/slush, the MME is a lot more squirrely than the FWD Chevy Bolt. But $8k for more range, AWD, and faster acceleration sounds about right - I just couldn't find any...
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