Why do we still have drivetrain badges?

"450X_FTW" (mistermic) 06/22/2015 at 10:01 • Filed to: None

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4x4 AWD why do our vehicles still have these badges on them? I haven’t seen a car with FWD or RWD badges but I’m sure they exist. But for what purpose? Who is using this information? Want to know if the car you’re buying has 4x4 or AWD look up the VIN or look under the vehicle.

pip bip - choose Corrour > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:06

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marketing.

450X_FTW > pip bip - choose Corrour 06/22/2015 at 10:08

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But what are they marketing? That the vehicle has the ability to deliver power to more than just 2 wheels?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:08

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Because when you pull in to your driveway and flash that new X-Drive/AWD/4X4 badge you can visibly see how much better you are than your neighbor with his piddling base model. That peasant couldn’t afford to spend the extra to have all four wheels be driven even though your regional climate hardly sees any snow, you are now prepared and will be invincible if it does.

Having those badges means you have a bigger dick than everyone else. Even if you’re a woman.

Milky > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:09

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Just FYI “s drive” means RWD.

EDIT: WTF is up with the image quality/crop kinja?

original

Snooder87 > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:09

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Yes.

It’s an optional bonus feature which often costs quite a bit more. Makes sense to flaunt it so people can brag about it.

450X_FTW > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 06/22/2015 at 10:09

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Thank you for that. I needed the reassurance

Alfalfa Romeo > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:09

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You likely also know what make/model you’re driving, why do we have those badges? It’s so everyone else knows. Especially where most people think that FWD and RWD are always incredibly inferior to AWD for 4WD.

CalzoneGolem > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:10

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It’s safer in the winter because.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:10

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Yes.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:10

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They’re selling an image. “Grrrr check out my rugged AWD BMW X3. I bought this thing because I enjoy spirited driving but also have to drive up the gravel driveway to my cabin in fall. Sometimes there are leaves in the way! You wouldn’t understand with your wimpy 2WD car. Some of us real men need to get out in nature some times.”

pip bip - choose Corrour > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:10

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marketing dept / advertising companies use crap like that to SELL SELL SELL.

put “sport” on it , show a young couple having fun , then people will think “if i buy one of those look at the fun i’ll have”

as the old saying goes “there’s a sucker born every minute”

450X_FTW > Milky 06/22/2015 at 10:11

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Leave it to the Germans to make up new terminology

450X_FTW > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 06/22/2015 at 10:12

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I couldn’t help but read that in Jeremy Clarkson’s voice. Brilliant

Milky > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:13

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Ze Germans know best.

crowmolly > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:13

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I always wondered why BMW still uses the “i”.

Every car is injected these days. If you want to differentiate from diesel you can just add the letter “d”.

So you’d have a 330 and a 330d. 330i is not necessary.

Is being proud of fuel injection really still relevant?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:15

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On cars it’s a marketing thing, pandering to ego’s and so on.

On trucks, it’s partly that, but it’s also a styling feature to break up up the slab sides (which are more noticeable on a 4x4 because they tend to ride higher), whether it was intended that way or not, and anyway they just look cool.

In any case I’m glad they’re there. It makes it easier to find the vehicle you’re looking for without scrutinizing the underside of every vehicle you look at or taking down lists of VIN numbers.

450X_FTW > crowmolly 06/22/2015 at 10:15

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Jeremy Clarkson’s thoery is that auto marketing people use lower case i because it makes eco consciounces people think it’s amazing. iPhone iDrive iTarded

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 06/22/2015 at 10:17

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I wouldn’t call that selling an image, I’d call that being delusional. I guess you could argue they’re selling an image different to the one they think they’re selling...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CalzoneGolem 06/22/2015 at 10:19

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All other things being equal, it most definitely is. Can we finally put this to rest?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > crowmolly 06/22/2015 at 10:20

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Direct injection is still catching on.

BeaterGT > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:23

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Fewer the badges the better but oddly enough, I rather see the full AWD/4WD badge than just “4” after the model name.

crowmolly > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/22/2015 at 10:23

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My understanding is that it doesn’t signify direct injection, it’s for general fuel injection. As in “no carburetor”.

CalzoneGolem > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/22/2015 at 10:24

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Never said it wasn’t. That’s one of the selling points.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CalzoneGolem 06/22/2015 at 10:25

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OK...

I took you for sarcastic. sawwy

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > crowmolly 06/22/2015 at 10:28

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In that case... srsly?

While we’re on it, does BMW use Direct injection yet, or do they still use multiport?

crowmolly > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/22/2015 at 10:32

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I want to say most (if not all) of their engines are DI at this point.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:35

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As pip bip said - marketing. Because everyone knows that 4WD/AWD is invincible in the face of whatever dastardly plan Mother Nature has in store for the human race.

DrScientist > crowmolly 06/22/2015 at 10:37

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i thought i read somewhere the bmw “i” came from its inline 6. (the trailing i, not the leading i)

what was the first model with the i?

crowmolly > DrScientist 06/22/2015 at 10:43

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I’m pretty sure the trailing i stands for injected? Maybe somebody else can verify.

2000tii I believe, in 1969.

I’m not really up on my BMW history though.

Under_Score > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 10:46

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I actually like the idea of using a badge to say whether or not a car is 4WD. Here where I am, most of the vehicles (anything from a CR-V to a Suburban) are FWD or RWD. When I see the occasional AWD badge, I’m like “hey, that car has something different.” I really don’t know how else to explain it, except that I’m not suspicious about the car’s drivetrain.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 11:08

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This, this is why we have drive train badges.

450X_FTW > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 06/22/2015 at 11:09

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HAHAHA that is great

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 11:12

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I couldn’t find video of the Camry with chains getting installed on the rear wheels, but it is out there somewhere.

ly2v8-Brian > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 11:33

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Helps me know what to avoid. I don't want 4x4 at all. It's useless for my uses therefore just several hundred pounds (and dollars) of equipment that would go unused.

ly2v8-Brian > Milky 06/22/2015 at 11:35

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Ja

Haase > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 11:48

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The problem with looking up the VIN or looking under the hood is that most car shoppers today are ignorant and don’t know anything. You can take pictures of 4X4 badges and transfer-case switch/lever, put it in all caps in the description and even post a walkaround video of the car and mention 4x4 or AWD right off the bat....and they still don’t have a clue.

It’s infuriating how stupid some people are.

Snooder87 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 06/22/2015 at 12:21

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Especially if you’re a woman.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 06/22/2015 at 13:27

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People that don’t know what wheels are driven on their rental cars shouldn’t be driving, let alone people that don’t know which wheels are driven on their personally-owned cars...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 13:28

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Have you tried trawling craigslist for 4x4/4wd/AWD vehicles before? If it wasn’t for these badges, it would be harder than finding a Camaro owned by someone that knows how to spell the name properly.

450X_FTW > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/22/2015 at 13:29

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But just because it has the badge does not mean it has it and vice versa

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 13:31

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True, you have to also carefully evaluate the interior shots, but they really do help when they’re there.

I suspect this is why Wranglers and Broncos have such good resale values: People know with certainty that they are at least 4x4s.

911e46z06 > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 15:01

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When 4wd or chains are required on a snowy road, if your car doesn’t say ‘4x4’ or ‘AWD’ on it, the authorities will stop you if you’re not rocking chains and inspect your car for 4wd or awd.

450X_FTW > 911e46z06 06/22/2015 at 15:04

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Sucks for people that debadge their cars

911e46z06 > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 15:08

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Yeah. It’s not a big deal. My Tahoe doesn’t have 4x4 badges, so I used to get stopped all the time. They come up, and you show ‘em the 4wd button. Just a minor annoyance.

TahoeSTi > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 15:50

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around here with have Chain Control, and if you don’t have awd or 4x4 on there you better have chains on. If you do you usually just need snow tires to keep going with out getting turned around. On this note i have seen a few 4Motions Jettas....that always cracks me up.

Manic Otti > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 06/22/2015 at 16:40

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Man, there’s nothing worse than when a woman has a bigger dick than me.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > 450X_FTW 06/22/2015 at 21:03

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Tow truck drivers can use them to know how to tow a vehicle properly; If they do not tow it properly they can usually be responsible for the damages.

An AWD and many 4x4 vehicles cannot be towed with an axle on the ground or else it will cause severe drivetrain damage. They have to be towed on a flatbed truck, although many 4x4 vehicles can be towed with an axle-lift truck because they can be switched into 2WD or even neutral, which is the best option as it completely disconnects the transfer case and allows the vehicle to roll freely.

Normal RWD or FWD vehicles can be towed with either method as it is a lot easier to prevent damage.

thebigbossyboss > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/17/2015 at 11:17

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This is my favourite thing you’ve ever written. Had to laugh coworker sent me that Bricklin article you did. I was like “I know that guy”. #celebrity status

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > thebigbossyboss 07/17/2015 at 11:26

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Thanks man! When will you be in TO again?

thebigbossyboss > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/17/2015 at 11:30

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I hope soon, possibly sunday. We are driving back from Brantford that day, so maybe I could stop by. I am not sure how our day would go. We’d stop in no later than 1 or 2. And by we I mean me and my travelling companion Grant. I can text you if you’re free, but I am not sure how it will play out.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > thebigbossyboss 07/17/2015 at 12:07

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I’ll actually be in Idaho this weekend for a friend’s wedding :(

thebigbossyboss > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/17/2015 at 12:38

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Very well. Enjoy!!!

I was recently not in Idaho, but it might pass for it.

Potato world NB. lol.