Land Rover. Photo by John Kloepper
A 4 wheel drive car or SUV simply means that all four wheels are being used to drive the vehicle a certain way. It does not mean that all wheels are turning at the same time and at the same speed. If you live or are travelling in South Africa and plan on exploring its rural areas, the 4WD is a better bet than a 4×2 wheel drive vehicle because of its ability to manoeuvre under extreme road conditions. Also, since there are very few 4WD cars available in the market, and because South Africa is known for its diverse terrain, it doesn’t make a lot of sense not to get a 4 wheel drive SUV or mini SUV.
Comparing the 4WD to the 4×2 wheel drive, it is possible to turn your 2WD into a 4×4 with a little driver’s trick of stepping slightly on the brake pedal. However, it’s tricky and may not always work. Suppose your SUV is slipping because of the wet road, a 4WD would automatically shift weight to the wheel(s) that is/are slipping to give it more power. With a 2WD, there’s a small window of opportunity to do this which most inexperienced drivers would be unable to manage under extreme and stressful situations. Besides, why go through that kind of trauma when a 4WD mini SUV is not that far off in price, especially if you get something that is slightly used but in good condition?
Kinds of 4WD
You can choose between a full time 4WD or Part-time 4WD. The difference is that with a full time or permanent 4WD, the vehicle’s engineering gives full power to all the 4 wheels so you get maximum traction. With part-time 4WD or a 4x2WD, there’s a switch that allows the vehicle’s driver to select. Also, with 4x2WD, if you accidentally leave it on the 4WD mode, you could end up bringing your vehicle in often if you are using it exclusively on smooth, dry terrain or paved roads.
The third kind is the automatic 4WD where there is no switch to activate and the vehicle simply adjusts accordingly. For South Africa, this would be the ideal 4WD to buy.
Why Buy A 4WD?
Most countries that don’t get snow do not need a 4WD as their roads are paved and dry. South Africa is not included in this list because there are many opportunities to go off-road. In addition, the country has extreme terrain so when the rains come, some roads may be inaccessible to 4x2WD. This is definitely a factor to consider when researching cars for sale on the new or used market. Wouldn’t you want to just drive anywhere without having to worry about damaging your vehicle because of uneven terrain or sandy, unpaved roads? This would be the ideal South African weekend – exploring unchartered territory or seeing the country’s different landscapes. With this said, if, for example, you’re planning on buying some of the beautiful property for sale in Knysna, a 4WD could come in handy if you plan on towing a boat or trailer, or even if you plan to frequent some of the splendid nature surrounding the area.
After all, South Africa is more than just cities, wildlife farms and safaris; it’s also about visiting and basking in the waterfalls, beaches, sandy dunes, mountains, and majestic views.
You can’t simple drive off any time you want with your 2WD. That’s a trip that has to be planned properly while waiting for the right weather conditions and time of year. In South Africa, nothing beats a 4WD vehicle … nothing!