SH-AWD works... or doesn't.
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Age: 44
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SH-AWD works... or doesn't.
I hear that the SH-AWD only works when accelerating. So if you were to go through a turn, only the VSA will hold you in place and the outside rear wheels won't spin. You have to accelerate on turns for the SH-AWD to kick in. Is this true, have people experience the same thing. If is like that, then MY TL is just as good. Have people also experience this in the snow, when your wheel slips, you have to press the gas pedal for the system to help you out in the torque diff from left to right in the rear. I would like to hear your inputs.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
#2
goodbye RL for now...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Age: 43
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just posted something similar that I didn't like with the RL. Just step on it! It definitely will work and help you out on the tight cornering! I use to have the 05 TL and I have to say that the RL does feel better. I hated the body roll in the TL, and the RL is just a bit better. Of course, the older TL Type-S that you have is a great vehicle and I think is better with the handling.
An RL with the A-Spec suspension is the way to go!
An RL with the A-Spec suspension is the way to go!
#3
Youse Gots Sacked
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Morristown, NJ
Age: 36
Posts: 2,930
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
well...theres a few ways to simply just fix this...if u have an 04,05,06 TL....u can get the comptech rear sway bar...which GREATLYi improves body roll...i have it...and i am so happy with it.....ull definatly feel the difference....
and its very simple....with the RL's SH-AWD...just accelerate through the turn....
and its very simple....with the RL's SH-AWD...just accelerate through the turn....
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Age: 44
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
But why would I have to accelerate through a turn? This makes no sense to me. So your telling me, that my 2002 TL-S is better at turns than a '05-06 RL without accerating through turns?
#5
Three Wheelin'
According to Acura's web site, SH-AWD works when the car is acceleration or decelerating in a turn.
#6
Instructor
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe it works at all times. The car just feels different than other "sport sedans" that compete with it. It has a sharper turn-in and the car just tracks the curve without having to make any effort to keep the line - it wants to turn and continues the turn effortlessly. I believe it is more noticeable when one accelerates through a turn but the car just feels different to me than other cars, because of it.
#7
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
Originally Posted by AltecBX
But why would I have to accelerate through a turn? This makes no sense to me. So your telling me, that my 2002 TL-S is better at turns than a '05-06 RL without accerating through turns?
Trending Topics
#8
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Mississippi
Age: 79
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
You don't have to be accelerating. However, the effects are most dramatic when you are accelerating. Otherwise, because the amount of torque available to split is fairly low, the system works rather unnoticeably.
#9
Instructor
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Los Angeles CA
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recently had a great experience with the SH-AWD.
This past christmas and New Year's I was staying lin Lake Tahoe. Drove up from Vegas.
Anyhow, all of northen CA/Nevada was hit with some bad weather. The only way to get up and down to and from Tahoe was with Chains. Roads were extremely icy, heavy snow fall, you get the picture. Anyhow it was so bad, that the only vehicles you saw on the road were SUV's and large trucks all with Chains. having faith in my RL I decided to really test out the AWD by attempting to take it down the mountain. I am happy to say that the SH-AWD saved me from slipping all over the place. Right in front of me I saw AWD Suv's sliding from one side of the road to the other, with chains. My girlfriend was freaking out and worried, but after we got down the mountain without a hitch, she was amazingy surprised and had a new respect for the RL.
All I can say is this baby is solid. I use to have an X5 a few years back, and this blows it away in terms of handling.
This past christmas and New Year's I was staying lin Lake Tahoe. Drove up from Vegas.
Anyhow, all of northen CA/Nevada was hit with some bad weather. The only way to get up and down to and from Tahoe was with Chains. Roads were extremely icy, heavy snow fall, you get the picture. Anyhow it was so bad, that the only vehicles you saw on the road were SUV's and large trucks all with Chains. having faith in my RL I decided to really test out the AWD by attempting to take it down the mountain. I am happy to say that the SH-AWD saved me from slipping all over the place. Right in front of me I saw AWD Suv's sliding from one side of the road to the other, with chains. My girlfriend was freaking out and worried, but after we got down the mountain without a hitch, she was amazingy surprised and had a new respect for the RL.
All I can say is this baby is solid. I use to have an X5 a few years back, and this blows it away in terms of handling.
#10
Three Wheelin'
Wow, now I want to go drive in some snow!!!
#11
Black
Originally Posted by AltecBX
But why would I have to accelerate through a turn? This makes no sense to me. So your telling me, that my 2002 TL-S is better at turns than a '05-06 RL without accerating through turns?
As a former Audi quattro racer, I recommend you do some research and understand what and how the benefits of a mechanical (TORSEN-style), viscous coupling (see: Subaru or Haldex) or electronic/mechanical hybrid (SH-AWD) system.
And for the record, you don't have to be "accelerating" through a turn. You need to provide positive torque to allow the system to effectively distribute power to different driven wheels. Accelerating will provide all-wheel drive benefits; taking your foot completely off the gas pedal will only continue to provide benefit if there is ample torque (during engine braking for example).
-josh
#12
RL in the snow
I too have a tremendous amount of respect for the SH-AWD system.
My last vehicle was a very capable Infiniti QX-56 SUV. Believe it or not, the RL's AWD system is BETTER than the SUV's was. The only thing the SUV had on the RL was ground clearance.
I have taken both vehicles to the W.Va mountains (Canaan Valley) and the RL is extremely solid in the snow.
And in regular conditions, it turns like it's on rails. I had a Porsche Boxter previously and although it's not quite as lean-free as the Boxster was, it's amazingly close.
Great job, Acura engineers! Now just get some marketing people to actually Sell the thing!
My last vehicle was a very capable Infiniti QX-56 SUV. Believe it or not, the RL's AWD system is BETTER than the SUV's was. The only thing the SUV had on the RL was ground clearance.
I have taken both vehicles to the W.Va mountains (Canaan Valley) and the RL is extremely solid in the snow.
And in regular conditions, it turns like it's on rails. I had a Porsche Boxter previously and although it's not quite as lean-free as the Boxster was, it's amazingly close.
Great job, Acura engineers! Now just get some marketing people to actually Sell the thing!
#13
Originally Posted by lindros2
.... viscous coupling (see: Subaru or Haldex) .....
-josh
-josh
http://www.haldex-traction.com/default.htm
#15
Quit stealing my avatar!!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Bay Area, California
Age: 60
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DROdio
My last vehicle was a very capable Infiniti QX-56 SUV. Believe it or not, the RL's AWD system is BETTER than the SUV's was.
#17
The difference between my 2002 A6 4.2 and the RL is noticeable. I picked up my RL about 3 weeks ago, so the experience is recent. I am close to getting through the 600 mile break-in period, so I'll have some experience at WOT and higher speeds soon.
I have a nice sweeping turn on my drive home every day and the RL definitely takes the corner flatter with less push to the outside of the turn. The feeling is smoother than the A6 which felt really smooth to me. This is on a car with touring tires in cold weather vs. my A6 with high performance summer tires. I'm looking forward to getting my summer setup (in April, since I live in the Chicagoland area) and getting a better comparison. By the way, the front/rear weight balance between the 2 cars is the same, so that shouldn't be influencing what I feel.
On snow, I can't offer a direct comparison because the all season touring tires on my RL just don't have the grip my winter setup had on my A6. The feel is very similar given you don't do high speed cornering on snow....unless you want to increase your insurance rates! Haven't had a chance to drive up my steep driveway in a few inches of snow yet to compare there, either.
The RL has many other qualities that I find to be an improvement from my A6. I did drive a 2006 A6 3.2 and while it's improved, the RL is still better. One of these days, I'll post a driving impressions comparison if anyone is interested.
I have a nice sweeping turn on my drive home every day and the RL definitely takes the corner flatter with less push to the outside of the turn. The feeling is smoother than the A6 which felt really smooth to me. This is on a car with touring tires in cold weather vs. my A6 with high performance summer tires. I'm looking forward to getting my summer setup (in April, since I live in the Chicagoland area) and getting a better comparison. By the way, the front/rear weight balance between the 2 cars is the same, so that shouldn't be influencing what I feel.
On snow, I can't offer a direct comparison because the all season touring tires on my RL just don't have the grip my winter setup had on my A6. The feel is very similar given you don't do high speed cornering on snow....unless you want to increase your insurance rates! Haven't had a chance to drive up my steep driveway in a few inches of snow yet to compare there, either.
The RL has many other qualities that I find to be an improvement from my A6. I did drive a 2006 A6 3.2 and while it's improved, the RL is still better. One of these days, I'll post a driving impressions comparison if anyone is interested.
#18
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Age: 44
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea, let me know. I want to jump the RL gun, but don't want to pay so much for a V6. Other than the nice navi and awd that I won't use often, I think the TL will do just as good and I can get for $32K.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joflewbyu2
5G TLX (2015-2020)
105
08-18-2019 10:38 PM