[MikeCH]

Originally Posted by solstice

CanAutM3 said all that need to be said on this subject.

- AWD cost more. ( Purchase and maintenance).
- AWD add drive train inertia.
- AWD impact weight and weight distribution negatively.

That said, in locations like CH with it’s awesome driving roads you want to be on the best performance tires as long as possible but also have AWD traction for surprise snow and cold temperatures across passes I can see AWD take rate being near 100% making RWD obsolete once AWD is available.

CH has awesome driving roads that you are only allowed to drive extremely slow
Only place you can have some fun is at the mountains...

RWD is not a need fot the vast majority of the roads here. Never had issues with both RWD cars I own.

[MikeCH]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I have family in Switzerland. Winter tires are mandatory at least in Zurich in winter but people swap tires afterwards.

They are not mandatory.
Insurance will cover even if you are on summer tires during winter.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by MikeCH

They are not mandatory.
Insurance will cover even if you are on summer tires during winter.

I was surprised last time I landed in Geneva and picked up a rental to drive to La Grave in France in early March. The car had summers on and we had booked chains. Turned out that it was blizzard conditions and night time when we started to climb up towards La Grave and the chains were nowhere to be found...luckily the FWD Seat I was driving was a trooper and we made it albeit with sweaty palms...

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by MikeCH

They are not mandatory.
Insurance will cover even if you are on summer tires during winter.

Are you sure that's the case in all Switzerland?

Ah, yes, this article reminds me. Not obligatory but if you have an accident you can have trouble
https://www.ch.ch/en/winter-tyres/

[Hedoniste]

I live in Swiss Alps and honestly ground clearance is a major issue. I was in trouble with my X1 when there was a lot of snow. So it depends where you live but there is a reason people buy SUV if they live in the mountains.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Hedoniste

I live in Swiss Alps and honestly ground clearance is a major issue. I was in trouble with my X1 when there was a lot of snow. So it depends where you live but there is a reason people buy SUV if they live in the mountains.

Knowing your own country, what take rate in Switzerland do you estimate of G8X AWD when it become available? Over 50%?

[Hedoniste]

Originally Posted by solstice

Knowing your own country, what take rate in Switzerland do you estimate of G8X AWD when it become available? Over 50%?

Yes clearly >50% and AWD will bring new customers.

[sparkyg]

Originally Posted by solstice

CanAutM3 said all that need to be said on this subject.

- AWD cost more. ( Purchase and maintenance).
- AWD add drive train inertia.
- AWD impact weight and weight distribution negatively.

That said, in locations like CH with it’s awesome driving roads you want to be on the best performance tires as long as possible but also have AWD traction for surprise snow and cold temperatures across passes I can see AWD take rate being near 100% making RWD obsolete once AWD is available.

AWD will not fix winter driving with all season tires. Winter tires and RWD is still very driveable.

AWD will pull more buyers no doubt but a low clearance car in winter has limited use anyhow.

I spent several winter storms pulling snow out my my lower intakes.

Once the roads are plowed winter tires are still the best driving tool.

[DecemberStorm]

AWD will bring in more customers in countries like Canada where most car shoppers "need " AWD .. you only wish the same attitude exists for winter tires. I've seen too many cars with all seasons on when it's -20 Celsius and snowing... Or only 2 winters on the drive axel!!!

As pointed out already , biggest problem for a car like a m3 during winter is not just traction , also ground clearance. The latter a more frequent challenge in a flat urban environment with good snow plowing.

[heavyD^2]

Yep. It's why I opted for an X3M as while I got around fine in my M2 over a couple of winters (winter tires of course), I still had to be very selective of what routes I took, avoiding areas of slow traffic inclines (I don't care how good your winter tires are a if you are RWD on a steep, icy hill and have to stop or drive very slowly you are screwed) and roads that aren't plowed, swerve to avoid running over big ice chunks falling from the undercarriage of pickup trucks, etc, as well as having to only take parking lot entrances that are plowed out of fear of the front end catching on ice banks. With the X3M I never have to worry about where I'm going or where I'm parking regardless of how bad the weather is and it does a very good impersonation of an M car in the process.