[jbsails]

I have been looking for the front/rear power ratio info on the AWD model of the Terrain for a while. The dealer couldn't tell me and when I ask GMC directly they had some trouble locating the info. After two week they finally found an answer for me and I thought other people would be interested in the response.

This is copied directly from the email they sent me:

Greetings from GMC customer Assistance Center!

I am very sorry for the delay in providing answer to your inquiry. Here is the information that I was able to gather.

Torque split - torque delivery to the rear is constantly changing in response to driver input, vehicle state and traction available. For example:
• On a high coefficient wide open throttle launch, 20 to 50 percent of the torque will be sent to the rear wheels to eliminate front wheel spin and maximize vehicle acceleration. Changes with vehicle speed.
• Front tires on glare ice, rear tires on high coefficient, 100 percent of torque will be delivered to the rear and reacted by tires there
• Steady state road load at highway speeds – essentially 0 torque to rear for reduced drag
• Low coefficient surfaces – wheel slip input is a large part of torque distribution calculation. 0 to 100 percent rear depending on where traction is highest

We hope the information inscribed through these sights would aid you in your search and we wish you good luck with your future endeavors.

Again, thank you for contacting General Motors.

Sincerely,

The General Motors Consumer Support Team

 

[Terrain]

100 percent to the rear? I'm surprised by that... 50% max is what I thought the system could do.

 

[gearhead]

Excellent info, thanks jbsails.

 

[NY_Joe]

Another case of GM not doing a good job touting their own horn. I probably would have paid more for AWD (their was an AWD scheduled a few days after I got mine - as it turned out, it arrived before mine), if I had seen this.

I just don't understand why they can't change their business model to provide as much information as possible. It shouldn't take them weeks to provide this data, and it shouldn't require any time to "gather the information". In today's world of Internet "instant access" and "The Google", it is in any companies best interest to get as much information out there as possible, and let the consumer analyze the information and make informed decisions.

This goes along with my frustration with their inability (unwillingness?) to be more forthcoming with vehicle delivery. I have a friend who works for UPS that tells me in 1-2 years, your going to be able to track your package to the actual truck it is on and use Google earth to pinpoint where the truck is when you go to track your package (he's not sure that they are going to put the info online, because it would make it too easy for the bad guys).

My point is that the technology is there. Hell, with OnStar, they can tell me where my vehicle is.

Grrrr..... Now you got me riled up again...

You shouldn't have been so impatient then. Had to have the car.

 

[RIT333]

Well said. GM better get their act together if they want to increase market share or the Japanese and Koreans will eat their lunch.

 

[NY_Joe]

Luckily when I test drove it was a day after 2 inches of snow.

I proceeded to my sons daycare parking lot with it, knowing it never gets plowed until last minute.

Sans salesman in passenger seat, I put it through my own tests. I was very impressed with power distributuion, traction control and the overall handling of the conditions by the Terrain. I would have to say it handled it better then my Acadia.

I will miss the actual choice of having 4WD and AWD as I did in both of my Envoys. Now with that truck, I never had a fear of getting stuck in anything, 4wd rocked on that. AWD was even a step up.

 

[NY_Joe]

Yes, I did. It was Cash for Clunkers time.

But here's the thing. If GM had a tracking system in place, and could give customers realistic expectations of when the vehicles would be delivered, along with ALL of the information to make the decisions (my sales guy couldn't get any info on the AWD - it should be readily available) I could have made an informed choice.

You are about the 5th person who has tried to push responsibility back on me. GM needs to step up and get the information out there, or producing good vehicles won't matter. There are simply too many tools available to get information to consumers. To remain relevant, they have to start using them

Your wife told me its your fault. She said most things are. She is also blaming the economy downturn on you.

 

[gearhead]

Your wife told me its your fault. She said most things are. She is also blaming the economy downturn on you.

You guys absolutely sure...

You forgot the war in Afghanistan...

you're not talking about my wife???
LOL!

 

[gearhead]

Yes, I did. It was Cash for Clunkers time.

But here's the thing. If GM had a tracking system in place, and could give customers realistic expectations of when the vehicles would be delivered, along with ALL of the information to make the decisions (my sales guy couldn't get any info on the AWD - it should be readily available) I could have made an informed choice.[/color]

You are about the 5th person who has tried to push responsibility back on me. GM needs to step up and get the information out there, or producing good vehicles won't matter. There are simply too many tools available to get information to consumers. To remain relevant, they have to start using them

It's not only GM, I'd say.
With all this JUST IN TIME delivery, most suppliers get caught with their pants down and have to expedite parts to the assembly plants, at their own expense, cuz the manufacturers can't predict when an assembly line is going to break down or for how long.
Build schedules seem to change hourly, as does petitioning the labour force for overtime at the last minute, etc, etc.
Just an observation of mine over the years.

 

[Islander]

Wow SnowItch---You have the perfect solution...gps tracking. I could watch my new Terrain in transit from CAMI to Florida. Could tell when the transport driver is spending too much time at the TruckStop and when the vehicle is just sitting at some depot lot somewhere for days on end. Now that would drive me crazy....or again, maybe not!

 

[Islander]

I can just see it now. 6 vehicles on every transporter, beeping away with a location down to 15 feet and the driver knowing that the new owners of every one of them is tracking his every move.

 

[noncon]

What is odd is that if you order a Camaro, you can track it almost to your doorstep.

KJ

 

[NY_Joe]

All of the long-haul companies are doing it, and the drivers hate it. Its hard to say you didn't pull over for that 3 hour nap when the GPS sees you pulled over for the 3 hour nap.

LOL ;D