Which do you prefer

Selectable four wheel drive or permanent is the question.

I am not including systems like on my Pajero where it can be used permanently in 4WD or 2WD at choice and has a limited slip diff..

I have to admit I like permanent - had it on my Ravs and now on my Freelander.
I also like being able to select it only when I want it.
There are times though such as on slippery roads when it is nice to know it will be there automatically when the going is slippery.
The problem for me is that permanent 4x4 tends to create maintenance problems that I really could do without.
I realise that some devout off-roaders that like rock climbing or mud-plugging will say selectable but for more general all round all year use what wold you choose?

I like selectable. For road use I don't see the need for 4wd in general driving conditions. On the very rare occasions when it's bad enough to need 4wd (hasn't happened for me in the past 3 years) then it's no bother selecting it.
As for off-road, driving around fields and farm tracks is a lot more entertaining in 2wd than it is in any permanent 4wd. The Jimny in particular is a great car to thrash along un-paved roads, handles bumps at speed more comfortably than most and drifts effortlessly in 2wd. That's something that always puts a smile on my face!

For road use permanent 4WD, I had a Mazda Bongo for a good few years and now have an Ignis 4Grip. The AWD systems have impressed me in snow and ice. On one occasion the Bongo's AWD kept me out of a hedge when I hit black ice on a nasty bend, it was quite interesting to hear the drive moving from one wheel to another to another but it went round with barely a twitch. It also got me up and down the hills of High Wycombe in the snow a good few times when 2WD was useless. So far I haven't encountered any bad conditions in the Ignis.

All wheel drive for mainly tarmac selectable 4x4 for an off road car.

I am with Busta on this one Plus auto.

I had a Subaru that was a great road car in all conditions but offroad I think my favourite one was
my Shogun. Auto gearbox, super select system and a rear air locker as standard. Makes even an
average driver look good offroad.

1066Boy wrote: offroad I think my favourite one was
my Shogun. Auto gearbox, super select system and a rear air locker as standard.

What happened to it, sounds great?

My Mitsubishi has the choice of both. Rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, 4 wheel drive with centre diff locked, low range with centre diff locked and low range with all diffs locked. Goes very well off road and is safe on wet slippery highways.

Shep wrote: My Mitsubishi has the choice of both. Rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, 4 wheel drive

Yes my Pajero too and I think it has spoiled me for other types but if you had to choose AWD or selectable 4WD which would you go for?

helijohn wrote:

1066Boy wrote: offroad I think my favourite one was
my Shogun. Auto gearbox, super select system and a rear air locker as standard.

What happened to it, sounds great?

Rust on the chassis was getting bad and the headgasket was on its way for the second time in 2 years.
The poor old girl was getting tired after working hard all its life.

I need true 4wd with Lowrange which you don't get with all wheel drive cars