4wd on snow covered road

The advise I gave my Kate was drive in 2wd unless you are not making progress, then its 4wd time.

This is the trouble with recommending the Jimny as an all weather car. Unless people fully understand how and when to use 4wd, there is no safety benefit to the system at all. In 2wd the Jimny is a terrible car to drive on wintery roads. If you accelerate over a patch of ice or snow the back end steps out almost immediately, requiring quick reactions and a dose of opposite lock. In 4wd the handling is much more assured, but people are scared of using it in patchy conditions for fear of damaging the transmission.

Personally I love it because if I'm on a snow packed road with no traffic about I'm in 2wd doing my best Ken Block impression around every corner, always with the assurance than 4wd is just a flick of a lever away. But for somebody that is not a confident driver, relying on their 4wd car to get them through inclement conditions, it's not an ideal setup.

If in doubt my advice would always be it's better to use 4wd and damage something mechanical than to not use it and have an accident. But regularly testing the level of grip available, getting a feel for when the transmission is winding up and knowing how to handle a bit of oversteer is the way to get the best out of the system.

1066Boy wrote: The advise I gave my Kate was drive in 2wd unless you are not making progress, then its 4wd time.

Sounds good to me lol.
The problem is that once you have got going and are clear of whatever it is like that snowdrift you will probably need to get back into 2H (2WD) - this is why I like the system used for example on Rav4s and Freelanders because it is always there and so makes variable road conditions so much safer. My Pajero has the best of both worlds - selectable and permanent. lol My only other requirement is ground clearance and unhappily a lot of the allgrip types of vehicle don't have it.

Busta wrote: This is the trouble with recommending the Jimny as an all weather car. Unless people fully understand how and when to use 4wd, there is no safety benefit to the system at all. In 2wd the Jimny is a terrible car to drive on wintery roads. If you accelerate over a patch of ice or snow the back end steps out almost immediately, requiring quick reactions and a dose of opposite lock. In 4wd the handling is much more assured, but people are scared of using it in patchy conditions for fear of damaging the transmission.

Personally I love it because if I'm on a snow packed road with no traffic about I'm in 2wd doing my best Ken Block impression around every corner, always with the assurance than 4wd is just a flick of a lever away. But for somebody that is not a confident driver, relying on their 4wd car to get them through inclement conditions, it's not an ideal setup.

If in doubt my advice would always be it's better to use 4wd and damage something mechanical than to not use it and have an accident. But regularly testing the level of grip available, getting a feel for when the transmission is winding up and knowing how to handle a bit of oversteer is the way to get the best out of the system.

Yes what you say is so right mostly though I would prefer not to break my transmission. Rear wheel drive is not for the faint-hearted and needs to be used by folks used to such. Another point that needs to be mentioned is that the Jimny is very light. I used both my Mitsy Junior and my Mitsy Pajero in this weather and the Pajero didn't even need 4x4 though I could have had it on permanently as it is Super Select and I did use it in some places (where roads were lost due to drifts). My point is that the weight of my Pajero really made a difference.

Pulling out of a side road is also a problem when in 2WD in a lightweight motor.

I was brought up in worse snow than this and drove rear wheel drive cars with almost no trouble.

The other problem is stopping. Just because it is a fourbie does not mean it will stop. When I drive the Pajero I am fully aware that I have two tons weight as I approach a corner. I drive my 4x4s just like I drive a regular vehicle - with trepidation.

This is why I usually say that for general use a permanent 4x4 is more practical. It is one aspect that may discourage me from getting a 2018 Jimny.

Does anyone know; is the fact that the driven wheels of the Jimny are RWD (when in 2WD) due to some kind of performance consideration or more of an engineering/design choice?

Why was it not designed as selectable FWD/4WD as possibly seems a better application than RWD in the Jimny?

Young Pretender wrote: Does anyone know; is the fact that the driven wheels of the Jimny are RWD (when in 2WD) due to some kind of performance consideration or more of an engineering/design choice?

Why was it not designed as selectable FWD/4WD as possibly seems a better application than RWD in the Jimny?

I agree with you......it is a question I asked myself a lot. I am not sure but I think the Fiat Panda used to be like that.
If someone wants primarily front wheel drive with 4WD then going to the rear wheels many of the permanent (not selectable) 4WD are along those lines with about a 60/40 split. Very often Freelanders have the RWD facility disconnected when the centre coupling goes wrong and peeps drive around in FWD.
I personally think that the answer to your question is the age of the design. Back then when Jimny was possibly just a dream to copy the Willys Jeep in an designers head most vehicles were rear wheel drive and so 4x4s were rear wheel drive primary.
The Ignis today is front wheel drive with the rear wheel coming in to play as needed. I love this approach but unhappily the Ignis does not have sufficient ground clearance for me...........if it motor cannot take on a kerb or steps or clear a foot of snow then I am not interested. As a road car though I love it. It is a 4x4 version of my Celerio lol.
TBF, apart from the few days of snow who even needs a selectable 4x4?