Why is 4x4's preferred? This is going to end up as a long topic. But I am serious.

1. You have the ability to get out of certain "stuck" situations than with a 4x2.

2. You have 4x2 and 4x4 all in one.

3. They are alot of fun.

4. Having 4x4 is like Insurance...you glad you got it when you really need it.

5. You get to make fun of people with 4x2 Xterra's.

6. Resale is better than a 4x2.

7. FUN...FUN...FUN !!!!

On a more serious note, is 4x4 only used when 'having fun' or when you're stuck? Or is it used all the time?

What about for the guys that live in the snowy regions? When do you guys/gals use it?

I suppose its like asking why get an Xterra.

There are other vehicals that get better mpg, hold more people or cargo, can go faster, etc...

A 2wd SUV is kind of like a cramped minivan...and has none of the suv advantages.

The primary reason to get an Xterra should be to go places you wouldn't otherwise be able to go...its small enought to fit on Jeep trails, yet large enough to carry enough equipment and supplies, etc.

I liken the concept to buying a corvette with chevette running gear...it looks like it can go fast and handle well, but its a fiberglass chevette, not a sports car.

Buying a 2wd SUV is the same concept...it LOOKS capable, but its just a minivan.

If you want a minivan, a Honda Odessy for example is a better minivan than a 2wd Xterra.



If you want a minivan that LOOKS like an Xterra, then a 2wd Xterra is the way to go.

If you can go where you want , and do what you want to do with your minivan, you don't NEED 4wd...



If you need to be able to go more places and do more things than the minivan can handle due to a lack of traction, THEN you need 4wd to help you get there.

As for when you USE the 4wd....its whenever you want more traction in slippery conditions...there are no rules except the slippery part.

If its not slippery, the 4wd binds from too much traction on turns.

The 4wd also has a low range that the 2wd doesn't. This gives you a lower gear set for power pulling, and or slow speed maneuvering, etc. w/o stalling...and, the ability to let the engine brake all 4 tires on the way down a steep hill.

So - you can drive in 2wd until you are stuck, or better, until you see conditions that would stop a 2wd...so you don't GET stuck.



In short - except for wanting your minivan to look like an Xterra, there's really no point in getting a 2wd Xterra...and, if you Need 4wd, then a minivan's a bad choice....

And

You can use 4wd any time you want as long as its slippery.

Personally I love having the 4x4 for the long treacherous trips up north here in BC. The highways get slippery, and any more traction the better. Heading down to Whistler Mountain in confidence is also a plus.

To me, getting a 4x2 suv is like getting a mercedes benz without the leather interior...it's not right. Now if you just like the look of the xterra, by all means, no one will fault you for that, its an awesome looking truck...or 'pseudo' minivan if that's your flavour.

No words necessary:

What about on a day to day basis? Does anyone use 4WD more than a couple times a week, for daily driving.

I very rarely need it non-recreationally in Texas... but it comes up from time to time.

I use it almost everyday...as I have to go through some sloppy areas for work, mud, snow, etc.

The average day on pavement is all 2wd, just like my wife's mini cooper.

I only shift into 4wd when its slippery...if you live where its slippery more, you use it more, etc.

By slippery, I don't mean its raining...I mean its muddy, icy, snowy, etc.

In summer, on pavement, I'm pretty much always in 2wd...you don't need 4wd on pavement, or all the 2wd cars wouldn't make it, would they?

In short, if you are looking to justify keeping the 2wd, or geting the 4wd...you are asking the wrong question...as how often others use it means nothing, they don't live where you live, work where you work, fish where you fish, etc.

You need to determine if the 2wd has been limiting you...if not, you are fine with 2wd.

If yes, then getting 4wd to overcome those limitations is reasonable.

Because you can't do this with 2wd.



In case you are wondering that is PonyBoy's rig.

4X4 comes in very handy when the roads and passes get snow covered here in CO. I love being able to shift in and out of 4X4 as conditions dictate.

I had a 2wd "truck" and it was one type of stuck after another in the winter. Driving 2wd makes you apreciate when un-stuck is some times as simple as shifting a lever, as opposed to getting the shovel out. If I didnt go off-road, I probably wouldn't care as much, but then I would be driving a car.

here is a great example of why you need 4x4. check out the photos on the www.4x4parts.com under xterra and just scroll down untill you see a photo of a bulldozer and a black xterra 4x2 stuck deep in mexico. I am man enough to admit that is me...........and thank god a bulldozer was near by to pull me out.. other wise i would have been bandido meat....

You mean this one right here?

yes that one, it was 5 pm and after they pulled us out the bulldozer got stuck blocking the easy way out. we had to speed through 30 feet of mud and water in 3 different places, by the time we hit the highway it was 9pm. i know that if i had 4x4 it wouldn't have been a scary situation.

Kaiser,

Where is your third picture taken from. That picture is AWSOME!

A picture says a 1000 words...



A friend busted a mud puddle on the side on the road in his 2WD. He's stuck. Had to be yanked out. If he had 4WD...

:p

A few thoughts.

- Too many people use 4WD to compensate for poor driving. Can't count the number of knuckleheads I've seen driving way too fast in icy or slick conditions because "by God, I got me the four-wheel-drive and them anti-lock brakes." Next stop, inverted in a road-side ditch. There's an overlap where a well-driven 4x2 can equal or exceed the capabilities of a poorly driven 4x4, on-road or off-.

- Don't let the hardcore 4x4 types who use their big bad 4x4 to compensate for their own personal shortcomings influence your thinking. There are plenty around and they say stuff like "2WD Xterras are nothing but "grocery-getters," "mall crawlers," soccer taxis," etc.

- Take the emotion out of the decision. I personally would like to have a 4x4, but the fact is that I don't need one living in a large urban area with a schedule that does not allow getting out in the woods as much as I'd like. So why drag around the extra cost, weight, and complexity of 4x4? For the (maybe) 5 times a year I get to use it on trails or in poor local weather? That's one thing about this subject that makes me - the people who bash 4x2's while their own 4WD handle hasn't been touched three times since they drove off the dealer lot. Talk about posers.

Example of objective decision-making: I recently bought tires and narrowed the choice to Toyo's Open Country model, either the all-terrain A/T or the H/T highway model. Loved the A/T's but it just didn't make sense for 98% of my driving, so I bought the H/T's and am very happy with them.

At the end of the day, if your Xterra takes you where you want to go, you made the right choice. My 2WD does that. If tomorrow I get a job in Colorado or Oregon, well, I'll be trading for a 4x4 because I know the opportunities to use it will be far greater in those places than in North Georgia.

Make the choice that's right for you. Good luck!

Just curious, did he have LSD?

Also curious to know whether 4WD is truly that. A 2WD vehicle without a limited-slip diff is actually a 1WD, right, because power is only delivered to one wheel? Does 4WD actually deliver power to all 4 wheels or is it a similar deal where you're really only getting power to 2 wheels, front and rear?

1WD, hardly. As long as both wheels have traction they both get equal power, but if one breaks loose, it get's all the power.

SCCX just went on a run which we wound up going through a canyon with rocks. Every one was 4x4 except for the 4x2 tacoma, he even had lockers and I will say he did awsome. However there are some situations where a 4x2 hasn't a prayer. Soft/deep sand, a stock 4x4 with open difs had absolutely no problem, toyota got stuck if he didn't have momentum and wasn't on a hard surface. Also with a 4x4 the power to the front wheels will actually lift the front of the truck on top of the obstacle, and without momentum a 4x2 won't be able to get up something that is too tall, regardless of travel.

I'm sure you can tell that I'm talking about recreation here, There is 0 need for a 4x4 here in Santa Barbara, CA but I still wheel at least once a month, but I was in Big Bear, CA and I was sure glad to have a 4x4 there, yes a 4x2 would have worked, I just would have needed to be more carefull.

But the short answer: If you're asking the question then the answer is no, you don't need a 4x4, you would know if you did. But if you wanted to go offroading then yes I would highly recomend getting a 4x4.

All 3 pics are from a trip I took last August to Ouray, Colorado and the surrounding area. The last two are on Black Bear trail/pass, leading down into Telluride, CO. The one you asked about is near the bottom of the trail (after the hard part, anyway). It is called Bridal Veil Falls.

More pics from that trip HERE

I need to wheel in Ouray. This is my normal view of Bridal Veil Falls:

Is that correct? Seems to me that the wheel that breaks loose (spins) is not the one you want getting power. The LSD should distribute power to the wheel with traction.

And maybe it's only true for passenger cars with no LSD, but I'm pretty sure only one wheel gets power.

Of course, this may be one of those subjects where I know just enough to be dangerous.

Sure, of course you don't want the spinning wheel to get all the power, but you don't get to choose, unless you have a decent LSD (Not OEM) or a Locker as in the '05 up OR's. The point is that an open Diff, or OEM LSD, isn't the best for offroad where articulation and traction count.

As a matter of fact, there was this one place that I had tried multiple attempts with my '03 SE S/C, couldn't do it with any line I took, however, locked in my '05, walked right up with out issue, to show off, I stopped halfway and reversed back up it. No Problem! I LOVE my locker! The added HP was a bonus!

Ice. Snow. Mud.

Use 4WD daily all winter to go the last two miles to the house.

In regards to Santi Romo, I read your comment on the website you mentioned with your picture above it. You said.... "I bottom out and had to pay 100.00 for the dozer to come and pull me out. So now i am looking into buying a lift & winch."

So that just makes me curious, how would these help a 2WD? I'm being very honest, and I know it sounds stupid question, but I'm new to the off road scene.

I didn't think being in CA I'd need a 4x4, but I may be going to Alaska in the future, and it probably wouldn't be smart to trade in my month old 2WD for a 4WD one.

Also, stay tuned for more questions... from me about driving 2WDs in 'slippery conditions'.

The way that the winch would help out on a 2wd is that he will be able to recover himself if he got stuck like that again. Of course there has to be something that he can anchor off of within distance of the winch. He'll be spending a lot of money to get that. He's got to get a winch bumper then the winch, etc. You're looking at about $2k for that stuff. Then you have to include the amount that is needed for the lift kit then installation if he's not going to be able to do it himself. Over all with all of the money spent on it, it would be better to save the money needed to do a trade in and then have a 4wd truck. You'd also want to get better tires as well since the stock ones really suck.

2wd's will go pretty decent as long as you have good driver's skill and remember that momentum is your best friend. I wheeled my 2wd X with the 4 banger in it for two years before trading in for the new x so I know what it's like to only have 2wd. As far as slick surfaces you're not going to be able to go that far. The ABLS will help some but not take you as far as a truck with 4wd could. For snow and ice you're going to have a hard time especially if you have to go up a hill and have to come to a stop then start again.

If you're going to Alaska I would really take a hard look at the amount of negative equity that you have in the truck and getting that money together to do a trade in for something with 4wd. I wouldn't go up there with a truck that only has 2wd. You'd probably be stuck every couple of feet. Any other questions just ask. Hope that helped some.

i use 4WD a lot in the winter, however i still try and drive safely and responsibly

Well, you gotta think. Not everyone in snowy regions have 4WD, and they make it through fine. Like my dad drove his 1990 GMC Sierra 2WD to work everyday, and never got stuck... Hmmmmm....

Anyways, I'd like to keep the 2WD since it's sooo new. I've barely driven it... It's only got 1000 miles on it now.

So, what can I do to the 2WD to make it more capable in 'slippery situations'? If you have anything for this, please list the advantages of each. Thanks guys!

From another 4x2 converted to a 4x4, here's a few things you can do (other than those mentioned, above). Like you, I wasn't in a position to trade to a 4x4 when I wanted to, but eventually things swung my way. Until then, I used the following tactics to help off-road:

1. Buy really good all terrain (A/T) tires. Long Trails (assuming that's what your truck has) look a little rugged, somewhat luggy, etc., but they have a hard, long-wearing rubber compound. Trade up to some BFG A/T KO's or Bridgestone Dueler Revos. Avoid buying mud terrain (M/T) tires, even though they look like they'd do even better (they will, to some extent), because you'll just be tearing up the trail.

2. Buy a decent air compressor that will run off 12V. Carry it with you. Also, invest in a good tire gauge (see #3).

3. At the trailhead, air down to about 15 to 18 psi. That'll gain you some more traction than you would get at street pressure. You could optionally leave the fronts closer to street pressure (say, 28 to 32 psi), but the lower air pressure will let the fronts roll over sharper obstacles better. Lots of goopy mud would be a good reason to leave the pressure higher in the front. Sand is an excellent reason to lower them down.

4. Disconnect or remove your rear anti-sway bar when off road. OPtionally reconnect or reinstall it once back on pavement. The jury is still out on how much a disconnected or removed rear anti-sway bar affects the ride quality on road. Mine is permanently removed. If you have a lift, though, you will miss it more than if you are at stock height.

5. A winch bumper (such as Shrockworks) would help with front approach angles and, amazingly, to hold a winch. Never hurts to be able to pull yourself out. Plus a winch bumper looks much cooler than a brush guard and/or the stock plastic bumper.

6. Remove the mud flaps and step rails (temporarily or permanently - your choice). If permanently, you can get some good money for the step rails on Ebay. They're relatively cheap to ship, too.

7. Carry plenty of recovery gear. Straps with loops, not metal hooks - buy from a 4x4 place, not Walmart. Have a recovery point front and rear (tow hook on the front frame, Class III hitch reciever in the rear works well). Take a shovel with you, too. Bring water, extra socks and shoes and invest in a set of rubber front floor mats with deep grooves to catch the junk and protect your carpet.

Hope that helps.

I drove just one bad winter with my 2 wheel drive Frontier and ended up trading it in for my 4 wheel drive Xterra the next year. I would never go back... save yourself the drama and just start out with the best to begin with!

Thanks alot Xorand! Plenty of info. If anyone else has some more info like this, please share it!

If I were to get a winch, would it mount onto a brush guard. I don't want to get a whole new bumper. I just want an add on component that would allow for a winch.

For all of you that say, start out with the best. It's hard for a 20 yr old with only 2 years of credit history to be able to buy a new 4x4 Xterra. Maybe in about 5 years or so, I'll be able to do something like that.

Anyway, its a step up from the '02 Ford Focus I had which was my first 'new' car. I got it at 18% APR, which was a rip off I know, but I was a first time buyer with the car in only my name, and no co signer.

Well I got the Xterra at 10% APR, which is so much better. So maybe in about 5 years, I'll be able to get a much better rate.

Anyways, that's a little off topic... so back on track!

You definitely need a winch bumper to mount a winch. Most brush guards fit too closely to the bumper to allow a winch to be mounted. Even so, most of the brush guards mount down low and a winch sitting up higher would torque the brush guard right off the mounts before it would pull your truck any measurable distance.

An alternative to a full-out winch is to buy a Hi-Lift jack and their off-road kit. This allows you to use the Hi-Lift as a come-along, hand winching yourself out of a stuck.

It's a bit more dangerous and much more tedious than letting a motor pull you out, but I've used that combo by myself to get my truck out of a situation where I high-centered the rear-end of the frame on dry ground with my wheels in deep, thick mud.

Took about 45 minutes of dedicated work on my part, but I finally got 'er loose. Using chain for one end of the pull is a necessity, so you'd need about 15' or more of good, heavy-duty trucker's chain, but you can pick up a bucket of that at Lowes.

Extra bonus - a Hi-Lift and Off-Road kit costs about $125.

Edited to add: Link to Hi-Lift jack and Off-Road kit .

Edited again: Instructions on using the Hi-Lift as a winch.

Thanks for the responce Dan. My comments about winch and lift are the quick answers to the problem i was faced with. I have to say that i spoke to my mechanic that knows where i go in mexico and he told me i wouldn't need 4x4. In the past i had a 4x4 and i never had problems i had the 4 wheel drive shaft removed to save gas. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong xterra. Once i told my buddy/mechanic that i got stuck, he said "why didn't you get a 4x4 xterra". I guess i called him after he drank a 12 pack. I did make it through some pretty intense terrain and the only changes i will make are tires.......any suggestions? plus i am going to actually buy the tow truck in a box product and see if it really works.............i just cant be spending money on trading for a 4x4 or lifts or winch.

2¢ worth - Just clarifying some of the LSD misconceptions posted earlier and not yet corrected...

The LSD does not transfer the power to the wheel with traction.

The open diff sends the torque to the fastest wheel, as that's typically the wheel on the outside of a turn, and you would want to push from that corner logically.

Off road, with an open diff, the fastest wheel is potentially in mid air, or slipping on mud, etc...and of no use propulsively.

An LSD keeps the two wheel turning at the same speed ALL THE TIME...unless (Unless) the difference in traction is high enough to BREAK FREE the LSD's lock, and allow the faster tire to get the torque.

So - you are driving straight on pavement, the LSD is locked...you turn sharply to the right for example, and the speed the right tire is trying to turn at is just TOO different from the speed that the left tire is turning at, and the LSD lets go, and the left tire (Outside tire), gets the go go juice...and the right tire (Inside tire) gets to coast along for the ride.

If the LSD was too tight for the turn, the two tires would continue to turn at the same speed, except the one tire would be anchoring, and the other dragging its partner along...skidding and chirping, etc.

Off road, the LSD will turn the tires the same way...at the same rotation speed, until break away torque was reached, and it lets go.

This means you get more traction than with an open diff, untill the slippage of one tire is too great, and THEN it lets go.

So - There's no transfer "from the one that slips to the one that grips", a la Subaru's ads, etc.

Limited slip diffs are usually fairly loose. They need to slip during turns (outside wheel turns faster than the inside), so they can only apply a limited amount of power. I don't know if his has LSD, but it really didn't matter. His rear diff was sitting on a high spot. He was done at that point. Both front wheels were on solid enough ground to have pulled him out if he had 4WD.

You are correct about 4WD not really being 4WD. Even if he had 4WD and only put the tires on one side of the truck into a rut or loose mud, he would have been stuck. It wouldn't matter that the tires on the opposite side could have been on dry ground. Had a friend get his Jeep stuck like that. Rather embarrassing!

His was an earlier version. However, the new Xterras have ABLS (Active Brake Limited Slip) on the front AND rear axles. The brake is automatically pulsed on a spinning wheel(s) to transfer power to the other wheel. This keeps power to the wheels that have traction. Not a true locker front and rear, but mimics it, at no extra cost. I'm very impressed with ABLS so far.

In his case, only having 2WD and being high centered on the rear diff, ABLS wouldn't have helped. He needed to be dragged off the high spot, either with a 4WD front axle (if he had one), or by a buddy.

OK my turn! I am also 2WD and although I hit myself for not getting 4WD I have opted to make my 2WD as capable as possible. I also live in sunny SoCal so there is not much need for a 4WD in a daily basis. The wheeling I like to do is also ocassional and recreational, therefore, I dont do it much...perhaps once a month if that. I opted to do the following because 1) I love my Fronty and its looks. 2)I have invested too much time and sometimes money (when I dont get hooked up... ...it pays to work for an aftermarket company!)and 3)I would be on the negative if I trade it. Oh yeah and 4)My wife would divorce me...she's a keeper! (both the Fronty and the wife).

I have lifted my truck via a PML (poor man's lift), rear Calmini shackles, downsized to 16" wheels from stock 17" and added 32" BFG AT KO's, Bilstein shocks, GFX (Grand Forks Xterra) donated his Hi-Lift to me (Thanks bud!) I just need a handle for it (anyone know where I can get one?), just recently added an ARB air locker, I am waiting on a set of Shrockworks sliders and waiting on recovery kit from ARB (straps, hooks, etc.) and a steering stabilizer kit. I am also looking into getting a 12V air compressor to air up my tires after airing them out when needed, and of course my handy dandy shovel, leather gloves and first aid kit. . Thanks to all the info from here and TUNFS I was able to outfit my 2WD to its most mechanical capabilities, now I just need to be a wise wheeler and know my limitations of my Fronty so that I dont end up loosing it. What do you guys think? Is my 2WD Fronty pretty much trail ready (at least as much as I can)?

Thanks, 2manytoyz, you explained that well and I appreciate it.

Yes Very true, Perhaps you can correct this, I have heard a limit slip can also porportion the power to the wheels when slipping. So that when one of the wheels slips it doesn't get 100% of the power it gets, say, 80% of the power and the wheel with traction gets 20%. Can you confirm this?

chiefkeith,

you might also look into getting an aftermarket locker for the rear differential. I'm not sure if one is available for the 05 yet, but if you can find one, and it's not too expensive, it will definitely help off-road.

BTW, I've driven quite a few 2x4 vehicles in ice and snow; and I have to tell you that, if I had to choose a 2x4 to drive on a slick road, I would choose a Honda Accord (read: front-wheel drive car) over the Xterra every time. The Xterra is rear wheel drive and you'll spin out really easily. Whenever there is a big snowstorm here in Ohio (only twice so far this winter ) we add 240 lbs of sandbags in the trunk of my wife's Mustang. With my old fwd Oldmobile I didn't have this problem at all.

Rear wheel drive in snow/ice SUCKS! Period. If you must drive a rwd vehicle in snow/ice, try to coast SLOWLY around corners without touching your gas pedal at all. Step on the gas after you've straightened out again.

Good Luck!

Nah, it's just waaay too much fun, especially if there's no one the street and you're playing 'rally' in your truck! Provided you be reasonable...

I'd have to disagree with you on this. Front wheel drive cars have no advantage over rear wheel drive cars in snow or otherwise and are approprietly also knows as "wRong Wheel Drive".

The whole "You'll get more grip on snow with fwd" statement is a myth proven by simple physics.

Also I'd much rather have to deal with oversteer than understeer any day of the year.

The $1000 or so 4X4 costs is cheap insurance. If I get forced off the road into the mud (everything that's not paved down here is mud) one time and get out on my own, instead of walking or waiting for a couple of hours, and I'll feel like its paid for.

It floods down here quite a bit too, and sometimes its hard to find the paved spots when they are under water (see previous note about mud everywhere its not paved).

In the long run, when you sell the truck, you'll probably get your $1k back.

Heck, you can double your fun and keep the cost they same by getting 4x4 with a manual tranny

The best reason to get 4x4? You can't really add it later (not cost effectively anyway!) - and when you need it, nothing else will do quite as well.

Well, if you drive smart and slow then you won't have to deal with either.

Also, you are mistaken. It's easier to pull (fwd) than push (rwd) a car through snow.

Also, fwd has the ability to dig out the snow underneath them when more gas is applied instead of just piling it front of them as in case of the rwd.

It's strange that you say that, as you would have felt the difference if you drove a rwd and a then fwd in snow.

Um, you will get better grip with a FWD than a rear wheel drive
On top of what AHTOXA posts -
The tires need more downward force to help them grip the road when there is snow on it compared to no snow. In this regard, FWD are much better than RWD.
You get better traction because the bulk of the weight in the vehicle is over the front tires. That's why 2wd Pickup trucks put weights over their rear axle in their beds to help with traction when driving on snowy roads, otherwise the rear instead of moving forward wants to move sideways.

The only time you may get a slight advantage is when you are stationary and you're trying to accelerate on a slippery surface (in a straight line only). That is when the weight helps you out.

The moment you are in motion and taking a corner you are accelerating with the same tires you are steering with therefore you're actually making it lose traction quicker. Not to even mention if you happen to be breaking... very easy to overload the front tires and lose all control.

Most cars these days (excluding pickup trucks) have a pretty balanced weight distribution and so steering with one set of tires and accelerating with the other is an advantage.

I'd draw a few free body diagrams for you guys but I don't have a way of scanning them.

Actually in California you DESPERATELY need 4x4. Where else can you wheel in isolated country from lake, to lake, to lake...for weeks on end.....?

4x4 is for 2 reasons, Need and recreation. More of us have it for recreation then need. Modern traction control systems mean incredible highway performance in the snow. I would not even consider living in a snowy area without it. NEW systems DO ALOW for higher speeds.(I know that will generate flaming) And if you work in construction, live in the sticks, ect you might need it.

Recreation wise I use it for fourwheeling primarily, but many outdoor hobbies require 4x4 to safely get to a location. Fourwheeling cannot be done without 4x4. Yes, you might make it through other hobbies if you dont mind an occasional stuck.

If you are one of those " Why heck, my bad A$$ 4x2 can go anywhere your 4x4 can" you are sadly mistaken. You wont get far on even a basic 4x4 trail applying full, violent throttle. I have experimented around some,(even with a rear locker on in 2wd) and without that front wheel pulling, youll go nowhere. Even open diffs provide little capability.

The Mexico story, is an interesting, common one. I went to Mexico at Christmas in our new 05. Not only did I not worry about the hundreds of miles of easy to moderate roads, but I crossed the hardest trail, and one of the most beautiful locations in Baja off the to do list, stock except for sliders. 2wd? Try a 24 mile BACK PACKING trip. And, even a simple trail in Mexico has silt pits that had me frantically grabbing for the 4x4 dial to keep from getting stuck. You can see the Baja 1000 vehicles plow into them. Buy a SUV or Off-Road truck and get 4x4, otherwise get a mini-van

See, you didn't clarify your post. From what you posted it seemed as if you were implying that it doesn't matter which wheels drive under any circumstance, as long as it's snow.

As for cornering in snow and the rear wheel drive vs. front wheel drive argument... Take your foot off the gas and you will turn just fine in either one, however... At slow speeds during an understeer you can pull the car out with front wheel drive easier than with rear wheel drive.

Bottom line is that if I had to pick either front or rear wheel drive in snow (no 4x4) I would sure go front wheel drive, just because I've driven a Maxima (and before a Sentra) in Chicago winters for many years.

At times when it snows here I keep my truck in rear wheel drive and don't even bother with 4x4, however it's a lot less forgiving, even with skilled and more precise driving. That doesn't mean that it can't be done.

You're comparing a front wheel drive sedan to a rear wheel drive truck... I believe that if you test drove two cars of similar power and weight distribution in winter conditions (only difference being rwd vs. fwd) you'd see that rwd is ggz

I have. I drove a Crown Vic and a Chevy Lumina in snow. They are similar in weight distribution and are of similar class.