I am the proud owner of a 09 Escape awd hybrid with every know bell and whistle.

The only awd I could find in the LA area that I could buy TODAY was a limited with nav.

Wow a lot to learn.
Got 4500 for the blazer plus 1000 back and the tax break at the end of the year.

The Prius will be Paid off in NOV. so I am BROKE until then.

SO who want to go 4 wheeling with me.

 

LOL, AWD and 4WD are definitely NOT the same thing

 

With Ford's Intelligent 4WD system "most" of the torque is sent to the front wheels but this also means that "some" of the torque is sent to the rear wheels making it a form of AWD. The term 4WD isn't the same as it was years ago, it's a very "loose" term now. In Ford's WorkShop Manual the system is refered to as AWD too.

 

I know I can't go rock crawling with it.
I do drive on desert dirt roads and in the mountains on dirt roads that can be a little sketche(sp).

 

LOL back at you! You are correct only in that AWD is WORLDS ahead of the primitive and inefficient locked drivelines of 4WD

 

the 4wd system on the FEH is not the same as lets say 4wd on a wrangler. but a FEH will most likely go all the same places that a wrangler will, it is all about how you approach the hazard, wither it be a snow covered road or a slippery dirt road. Actually in my opinion i like the 4wd that the FEH has to offer, sometimes the roads where i live (Up state NY) get really slick and sometimes the car will kick out sideways on you. But with 4wd all the time it is really easy to recover with a slight turn of the wheel and a tad bit of gas.

 

I grew up in Michigan with a rear wheel drive 73 nova.
What fun in parking lots I had.
All this skid control can really ruin a guys fun.

 

Did you know that some of Ford's AWD systems have a locked mode and auto mode? Since Ford doesn't explain too much in their owner's manuals or even their shop manuals as a matter of fact, I can only guess that locked mode is a 50/50 split.

 

My dad owns a 01 dodge 24valve diesel and tell you what now that is some fun in parking lots and back roads during winter.

 

Have fun! I recommend a trip to Big Bear/Angeles National Forest right away. It's a great summer drive and there are very few forest roads up there that will hurt your new truck.