Hey guys! happy new year!

I'm just about to buy an 03 tj AWD, to replace my tj FWD.
Is there any problems i should be looking for, or are they just as reliable as the FWD's?

And can anyone tell me if there is a big difference in the way they handle?

Hey mate.

They are just as reliable if not more reliable then the FWD.

As for handeling, there is a whole thread on here about that.

In short, not a huge difference in the dry. You wouldn't even know it was an AWDdriving normally.

But in the wet, they are just awsome. Cant compare the two. You can drive an AWD in the wet like it was dry.

You will love it mate.

IMO, the condition of the transmission in the AWD is a little more important as I assume it's under more load than a FWD.

Differences on the road?
In the dry, the AWD would be slower, but goes around corners a little better - it still understeers with stock suspension, even with power it understeers a little - not terminal/straight ahead understeer like a FWD, but the front can drift wide if accelerating a little too much on a roundabout in the dry.
In the wet, full power from the lights and zero wheel spin. Cornering with full power is different - look out for power slides especially on roundabouts as they are often off-camber too.

Fuel consumption is considerably higher:
Around the suburbs, with lots of stop start and lead foot driving, I can hit 16L/100km easily (<400km a tank).
I just did a 200km trip up the F3, sitting just over 110kmh most of the way, occasionally accelerating hard after slowing in traffic and that returned 11.9L/100km with a full tank of gas and me in the car, nothing else.
So holiday trips with a loaded car would be unlikely to beat 11.9L/100km.

I _think_ my car is 'normal' for an AWD. Personally, it's a more rewarding drive for me than a FWD - especially the manual Mazda 6 that I test drove before buying the Magna.

IMO, the condition of the transmission in the AWD is a little more important as I assume it's under more load than a FWD.

Differences on the road?
In the dry, the AWD would be slower, but goes around corners a little better - it still understeers with stock suspension, even with power it understeers a little - not terminal/straight ahead understeer like a FWD, but the front can drift wide if accelerating a little too much on a roundabout in the dry.
In the wet, full power from the lights and zero wheel spin. Cornering with full power is different - look out for power slides especially on roundabouts as they are often off-camber too.

Fuel consumption is considerably higher:
Around the suburbs, with lots of stop start and lead foot driving, I can hit 16L/100km easily (<400km a tank).
I just did a 200km trip up the F3, sitting just over 110kmh most of the way, occasionally accelerating hard after slowing in traffic and that returned 11.9L/100km with a full tank of gas and me in the car, nothing else.
So holiday trips with a loaded car would be unlikely to beat 11.9L/100km.

I _think_ my car is 'normal' for an AWD. Personally, it's a more rewarding drive for me than a FWD - especially the manual Mazda 6 that I test drove before buying the Magna.

I drove to Perth, still there, in my AWD KL with a full boot, wife, 2 kids an myself and averaged 110km/h the whole way and the best I averaged was 9.6L/100km I've just bought roofracks and travel pod, to bring back pressies, and so far I average 10.2. So good economy can be had.

And I also agree that the AWD's have good simple system which I think brings out the best in the chassis.
And yes you can get these cars sideways, mine was unintentional.

no torque steer on hard take offs, or wheel spin

Thanks guys. i had pretty much expected most of that but i thought i would get opinion's of people who own them.

I have a TWII VRX AWD and 2 TJ Execs autos. In identical conditions with me solo trying for economy the AWD gets below 9 l/100 km and the TJs drop into the 6s. Without trying too hard the AWD is around 10-11 and the TJ in the 8s. Loaded, and trying, the AWD can end up in the 15s.

Love the bends and the AWD, and the extra gear too. The VRX AWD will tighten a line under power, not really oversteer as such, but you just undwind lock as you exit a turn under full throttle in 2nd or 3rd gear earlier than you might expect. Love it.

Steve

I did say I was trying for economy, and my 2 TJs, which are even the same colour, and autos, both achieve the same economy. Trying means driving solo on the open and not very hilly road, negligible 'stuff' on board, not using the cruise, max speed 90-95 km/hr and treat the throttle like there is an egg between it and your foot. Also don't use the brake, anticipate. The trip computer will show 6.7 on a trip to Canberra. A return trip of about 300 km including driving into the city and about nets 7-7.2.

I don't always drive this way, but sometimes I find it an interesting challenge. The bottom line for me though is that the kids cars are cheaper to run than the wife's VRX AWD (mine too, but she drives it mostly, unless I'm aboard, because I have my 4wd ute as well), and I can be a much more economical driver than they can, and I challenge them to better my results. Its a game we play, and it makes them better drivers too because they learn to anticipate better, which makes them safer.

I still like to play though, and I have my dirt and road bikes to play on too, but I pick my time and place, and so far I still have a licence.

We used to have a number of TW AWDs in the work fleet which is what convinced me to get my own. The best deal on the day was a VRX and I have not regretted it, it definitely handles and grips better than the standard sedans, which are so much better again than the 2wds under power. If you don't use the throttle, then the AWD is not much value, but power on on a windy mountain road and the only problem is not enough power from time to time.

Steve

Fuel consumption is considerably higher:
Around the suburbs, with lots of stop start and lead foot driving, I can hit 16L/100km easily (<400km a tank).
I just did a 200km trip up the F3, sitting just over 110kmh most of the way, occasionally accelerating hard after slowing in traffic and that returned 11.9L/100km with a full tank of gas and me in the car, nothing else.
So holiday trips with a loaded car would be unlikely to beat 11.9L/100km.

I _think_ my car is 'normal' for an AWD. Personally, it's a more rewarding drive for me than a FWD - especially the manual Mazda 6 that I test drove before buying the Magna.

Yikes. I get 10.1 combined Sydney traffic/F3, with 2 adults and 2 kids, stroller, travel cot, esky and other random crap you need to take with kids. Check your 02 sensor, its a little high...

Yikes. I get 10.1 combined Sydney traffic/F3, with 2 adults and 2 kids, stroller, travel cot, esky and other random crap you need to take with kids. Check your 02 sensor, its a little high...

I'm with Heath (btw Heath - long time no hear - hope all are ok)
On long highway runs I can get around 9
On normal freeway runs 10-11 is the norm. 11.9 is too high